Artesia Council votes for Youth Baseball fee increase while canceling the Pre-School Program

By Jerry Bernstein

The Artesia City Council unanimously approved an increase in fees for the Youth Baseball League and in a 3-2 vote canceled the city’s Preschool program at its Feb. 8 meeting.
In her report to the Council City Manager Maria Dadian said the Youth Baseball/Softball program annual cost to the city is $45,416. Under the current fee schedule approximately $24,000 is taken in. “ That means the city is subsidizing the program by $21,416,” she stated. Turning to the pre-school program, she said the yearly cost is $85,733. Revenue received under the current fee schedule is $20,000. She added, “That means the city is subsidizing this program by $65,732. The pre-school program recommendations included full cost recovery. Dadian said the program includes three 10-week sessions- Fall, Winter and Spring. To recover the costs for the three sessions the cost recommended was $595 per child. For a six week summer session the cost per child was $357. This includes resident and non-resident participants. She said an increase in fees was necessary in order to recover as much as possible costs of the programs to the city. In a 3-2 vote the Council voted to cancel the preschool program. Voting no was Councilmember Sally Flowers and Mayor Pro Tem Victor Manalo.
In a unanimous vote the Council approved the following fees for the Youth Baseball/Softball program.
Residents:
• 4-6 years - $50.
• 7-14 years - $59.
• Additional child $10 discount.
Non Residents:
• 4-6 years - $69.
• 7-14 years - $81.
• No discount for additional children,
Uniforms are the obligation of the teams
In her report to the Council, the City Manager said the staff went to the Recreation Commission seeking its support of its proposed fee schedule. She said the commission was told the city wanted to recover as much as possible of the sports program subsidies. She said they proposed the following: Residents: 4-6 years old $50. Non-Residents $69. Uniforms $25. Residents 7-14 years old $59. Non-Residents $81. Uniforms, $30. Uniforms would be optional at time of registration.
The Commission however recommended residents age 4-6 years $50 for first child, $30 for each additional child and $25 per uniform which would be refundable at the end of the season when the uniforms were turned in. For ages 7-14 years $59 for first child and $30 each additional child and $25 for uniforms/refundable amount.
For non-residents, the Commission proposed age 4-6 years, $69 for the first child, $40 for each additional child, and $25 per uniform/refundable amount. For ages 7-14 years, $81 for the first child, and $40 for each additional child, and $25 per uniform/refundable amount. She said both recommended fee schedules were inclusive of umpire fees, game equipment, trophies and a $25 uniform fee. The commission also recommended an annual evaluation of youth league fees in the fall of each year.
She said the fees recommended were not there to recover the total amount but to encourage people to participate in the program. It was also pointed out that the city’s funds were very limited and staff’s recommendation was based on cost recovery.
Councilmember Sally Flowers said she would go with the Parks and Recreation Commission proposal. She said she thought the full recovery fees would destroy the program. ”I like to see the children out there playing.” Councilmember John Lyon said he was not sure which way to go. He said his problem was if the council implemented cost recovery for other things it would be hard to justify when and where to implement full cost recovery elsewhere. Councilman Larry Nelson said he also had mixed emotions on which way to go. He stated the city couldn’t afford to subsidize each organization any longer. “We’re hanging on by the skin of our teeth and I don’t know where the line is. “ Mayor Tony Lima agreed. Mayor Pro Tem Victor Manalo agreed with Councilmember Flowers noting the city was subsidizing more than 50 percent of the Parks and Recreation costs.
Clarification
At the Feb. 8 City Council meeting Councilman Larry Nelson stated he favored the proposed computerized valet parking structure over a surface parking lot for Pioneer Boulevard shoppers. However, he would go along with the majority of the council to move forward with a surface parking lot with the understanding the Council was not “scrapping” the parking structure but would return to the proposal if it was seen additional parking space would be needed.