The City Council has approved significant revisions to the Athletic Field Use and Allocation Policy to distribute athletic fields for community use equitably. The new measures clarify documentation deadlines, define violations more clearly, and introduce a field allocation formula to resolve conflicts among different user groups. Additionally, priority classifications are established for City programs and events, along with penalties for nonpayment.

Originally enacted on November 5, 2019, the policy was designed to enhance clarity and enforce rules governing priority group qualifications, field allocation processes, and compliance procedures. The City’s athletic field permit management occurs in two months, from February to June and July to January, focusing on monitoring proper allocation and usage.

“City programs and Partner Groups receive priority when it comes to allocating these essential community resources,” said a City representative. Fees may be charged to recover operating costs related to the maintenance and administration of parks and athletic facilities.

The revisions also reflect engagement with local youth sports organizations, aimed at providing diverse athletic opportunities while ensuring field safety and quality. The proposed changes include:

• Fair distribution of available fields to maximize playing time.
• Incorporation of ‘turf recovery periods’ to maintain fields in safe, playable conditions.
• Clear regulations on field use to prevent disputes among user groups.

Staff presented these updates to the Parks and Recreation Commission on December 9, 2024, discussing challenges in the current allocation process, particularly regarding the growth of local sports leagues and the need for an effective conflict resolution formula. The Commission directed staff to recommend updates to the existing policy.

During the Annual Compliance report presented on February 10, 2025, staff highlighted partnerships and identified policy violations within the previous year. Notably, outstanding balances owed by the City of Fullerton Partner Groups were not classified as violations under the existing policy, raising questions about accountability.

Significant proposed revisions include:

• Priority Group Classifications: Prioritizing City programming for field use.
• Field Allocation Formula: Introducing a tiebreaker approach for conflicting requests from Partner, Competitive, and Rental groups.
• Compliance with Field Use Rules: Outlining necessary documentation and defining violations now include the lack of submitted documentation by deadlines and outstanding balances.

The Parks and Recreation Commission considered and approved the Minor Field Allocation Policy Revisions on April 14, 2025, Commissioners McKendry and Talavera were absent from the meeting.

The City will approve this in the consent calendar on May 6th, 2025, City Council meeting. Full policy is below: