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04/23/2002 Resolutions 2002-118 I I I RES 0 L UTI 0 N 2002-118 WHEREAS, as a result ofincreased demand from various groups and organizations to use the City's baseball, softball and soccer fields for practice and competition, it is necessary to implement a policy for the scheduling and access to the City's athletic fields; and WHEREAS, it is recommended that such policy attached hereto as Exhibit "A" be approved and adopted effective immediately. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA, that the Parks and Recreation Department Policy for Scheduling and Access to Athletic Fields attached hereto as Exhibit "A" is hereby approved and adopted effective immediately. Adopted by the City Council of the City of Grand Island, Nebraska on April 23, 2002. Qcf\~~ C(Q lA-~~ RaNae Edwards, City Clerk Approved as to Form T ~ April 19, 2002 ... City Attorney I I I PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT POLICY SCHEDULING AND ACCESS TO ATHLETIC FIELDS The Grand Island Parks and Recreation Department is faced with ever increasing demand from various groups and organizations to use the City's baseball, softball and soccer fields for practice and competition. Additionally, the Department, on occasion, must deal with unauthorized use of fields, scheduling conflicts and questions concerning the Department's discretion and authority to manage the fields. PRINCIPALS GOVERNING SCHEDULING AND ACCESS In order to clearly state the nature and extent of the Department's authority and discretion, as well as providing writtengtiidelines of the factors considered by the Department in resolving various conflicts, disputes and issues regarding athletic field management, it is theUU intent of the Department, with the approval of the Mayor and City Council, to state the general principles and priorities of the City of Grand Island regarding athletic field management. T_he Department considers the two overriding principles are as follows: a. It is the intent of the City of Grand Island in the course of athletic field management to give priority to organizations and teams open to all members of the public, with consideration given to teams consisting of youth as noted below. This policy recognizes that the City of Grand Island and its athletic fields were created to serve the public interest and provide as broad as range of recreational opportunities as can be made available to residents of the City of Grand Island and the public. Recreational programs and leagues with prior proven experience in meeting the public purposes of this policy will be given first consideration. b. It is the intent of the City of Grand Island in the course of athletic field management to give priority to organizations and teams with players made up exclusively of youth, this term meaning boys and girls, ages 18 and under. This policy recognizes that the class consists of persons generally of school age, with less resources, mobility and access to athletic fields other than those operated by the Department as compared to older players. For purposes of illustration only the following demonstrates the application of the foregoing priority system by the Department: a. b. c. Recreational programs open to all youth. Programs open to all adults. Competitive programs sponsored by non-profit entities and/or inter-scholastic competition (i.e. Legion baseball). Competitive or club teams or leagues consisting of youth. ("Elite" teams) Competitive or club teams or leagues consisting of adults or a mixture of youth and adults. d. e. Exhibit "A" I I I f. Any team or league consisting of 50% or more persons that are not bona fide residents of the City of Grand Island. g. Special uses, clinic, etc. The foregoing policy is also applicable to the scheduling of practice play on City athletic fields. Any dispute, conflict or issue relating to athletic field usage and/or scheduling shall be resolved by the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department in the Director's sole and exclusive discretion. A THLETIC FIELD ACCESS AND MAINTENANCE The Parks and Recreation Department shall have sole and exclusive discretion in determining when athletic fields are available for play or closed due to field and/or weather conditions, maintenance or other reasons making the field and/or surrounding premises unsuitable for use by teams, officials or spectators; This would include nclosuresrelated to ordinary maintenance, field preparation and the availability of safe and sanitary public facilities. Teams using the Department's athletic fields are prohibited from making any physical changes, whether permanent or temporary to the athletic field or surrounding premises. Any team violating the Department's restrictions on access and maintenance shall be subject to discipline, including but not limited to, limitations on future athletic field access and usage, temporary suspension or permanent suspension from usage of the Department's athletic fields with such discipline being imposed by the Department Director at the Director's sole and exclusive discretion. Any person or team found on a athletic field in violation of signage posted to indicate the field is closed or not available for play, shall be considered as trespassing and may be cited for a violation of the City Code. Exhibit "A"