By Jim Shilander
The San Clemente City Council approved partnerships with four San Clemente recreational sports leagues, as well as negotiations with San Clemente Aquatics for a new partnership agreement.
The Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission had recommended each of the four approved leagues, American Youth Soccer Association, San Clemente Little League, San Clemente Girls Softball and South Coast Youth Football, for “senior partnerships”. The designation is given to organizations serving more than 300 area children, 90 percent of which must be from San Clemente. The leagues must also compete in San Clemente. Leagues receiving the designation receive priority scheduling for fields, as well as discounted rates on their use compared with other organizations. The Council approved the partnerships for one year each, and agreed to examine the partnership policy more closely.
The council also approved negotiating with San Clemente Aquatic for its own agreement. Since the area’s pools can accommodate more than one activity at a given period, the organization hoped to come to a different agreement than one that would be in place for field sports.
The Council tabled the discussion of a partnership for Elite Soccer. The league’s petition for partnership had been based on a desire to be included in the priority list for field allocation, league officials said. The league has been using non-city athletic fields, such as middle schools, for practices to hold down costs. The commission had recommended denying the league’s application due to having lower levels of recreation level participation, as well as paying coaches, officials and staff.
