A men's soccer league that had been paying $10 per day for use of city fields is seeking a waiver of new fees of $25 per two-hour slot.
Council members differed on whether the new fee was fair, but Mayor Adrian O. Mapp said the fee reflects the governing body's "wise decision" a couple of years ago to require fees for use of city fields.
In discussion at Monday's agenda-fixing session, Public Works Director Eric Watson said the fee was based in part on "security." Asked to clarify, he said it was based on a police report. Councilwoman Rebecca Williams questioned the fee being based on security and Corporation Counsel Vernita Sias-Hill clarified that the $25 per two-hour slot was for field use by adults.
Councilwoman Vera Greaves said of the new fee, "That's doable," but later siad "no" on moving the resolution to the May 11 agenda. Councilman Cory Storch noted the recent waiver of fees for the Joe Black baseball league and asked whether other leagues can request waivers. The answer was yes, and Storch said it should be addressed as a policy, or fees should just be waived for everybody.
"The mayor is saying we need this," he said.
Councilwoman Gloria Taylor also questioned the reason for dealing with each situation separately. Council President Bridget Rivers said she voted to give the baseball league a waiver because "they were just getting started." Williams said she thought the baseball league did not have a 501c3 exemption and Greaves said they were "in the process." Williams said it was "opening a Pandora's box" to grant a waiver based on a promise to obtain 501c status.
In fairness, she said, "springing 10 times the amount" was the issue, though she said the fields are getting a lot of use and the city has to get something for it. She called the ten-fold increase "a hardship."
Councilwoman Gloria Taylor asked why consideration should be given to the adult soccer league and City Clerk Abubakar Jalloh said, " I think it's the amount."
In the end, a majority reluctantly agreed to put the matter up for a vote on May 11, though Greaves and Councilwoman Tracey Brown said "no."
The May 11 meeting is 8 p.m. in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.
--Bernice
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$25 for a large group of adults for 2 hours ?? Let's so it goes 4hrs.. that's $50.
ReplyDelete2 teams, 11 players each team that's 22 ADULTS.
$50 divided by 22 is less than $2.28 each....
Seriously ?? A WAIVER ON THE FEE ???
Go find someplace cheaper.
This is a silly waste of everyone's time. $25.00 for two hours use, divided by the number of players, 22, is $1.14 each. And they want that waived? Really?
ReplyDeleteThe demands of these soccer leagues are ridiculous. The right to play soccer on city or county property is not a free privilege. The fields need to be maintained and police need to provide a presence. The adult soccer leagues destroy fields. If you don't believe me, take a look at the field across from Cedarbrook Park. As for security, when hundreds of people gather to watch soccer games, there is plenty for the police to do. Public urination and intoxication, drug use, sale of alcohol, noise, trash, trespassing. The list goes on and on. Just because they want to play soccer, doesn't mean they get it for free.
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