TO: COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
FROM: MELISSA VOLLARO, RECREATION AND HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR
DATE: OCTOBER 7, 2026
SUBJECT:
Title
APPOINTMENT OF ATHLETICS SPORTS GROUP TO THE YOUTH SPORTS COMMITTEE
Body
SUMMARY
Athletic Sports Group, a national non-profit sports group, has filed an application to join the Claremont Youth Sports Committee and obtain field allocations. Under the Youth Sports Committee Policies and Procedures, the Community and Human Services Commission is responsible for the appointment of organizations to the Committee.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the Community and Human Services Commission appoint Athletics Sports Group to the Youth Sports Committee.
Body
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the staff recommendation, there are the following alternatives:
A. Deny Athletics Sports Group’s request for appointment to the Youth Sports Committee.
B. Request additional information from staff.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The staff cost to prepare this report is estimated at $683 and is included in the operating budget of the Recreation and Human Services Department.
ANALYSIS
The mission of the Youth Sports Committee, as set forth in Section A of the Youth Sports Committee Policies and Procedures, “is to be fair and equitable in coordinating the needs of all youth sports organizations’ participants nineteen (19) years of age and under in the City of Claremont, while managing the City and School District’s resources; Identify and anticipate future facility and maintenance needs; and Oversee fair and equitable consideration to all youth sports organizations in the community.” As part of this mission, the Youth Sports Committee is responsible for reviewing requests from qualifying youth sports organizations seeking membership and making recommendations to the Community and Human Services Commission regarding eligibility and participation in the Committee. Section C of the Youth Sports Committee Policies and Procedures establishes the process for organizations seeking membership on the Youth Sports Committee. Organizations seeking membership must submit a membership request and supporting documentation to City staff for review. The Youth Sports Committee reviews the application and provides a recommendation to the Community and Human Services Commission, which considers the request and determines whether to approve membership. For organizations seeking field allocations beginning January 1, membership requests are submitted in July, reviewed by the Youth Sports Committee in September, considered by the Community and Human Services Commission in October, and, if approved, may submit field allocation requests in December for the January through June allocation period.
Athletic Sports Group has submitted an application requesting membership on the Youth Sports Committee. According to the application materials, Athletic Sports Group is a national non-profit organization operating locally and is comprised of teams that were formerly affiliated with Claremont AYSO’s United Program. The organization does not currently maintain a formalized local chapter.
Section H of the Youth Sports Committee Policies and Procedures requires that 65% of an organization's registered participants using City or School District athletic facilities be Claremont residents or students attending Claremont schools in order to qualify for Youth Sports Committee membership. Based on the information provided, seven of Athletic Sports Group's ten teams meet the 65% residency requirement. Athletic Sports Group has indicated that only those seven teams would utilize City athletic facilities. Residency percentages for all teams are included in the attachments to this report for the Commission’s review. Please note that membership on the Committee would not limit future use to existing teams and future expansion is possible.
For the upcoming season, Athletic Sports Group is requesting use of La Puerta Sports Park north field, La Puerta Sports Park south field, and Padua Avenue Park upper field Monday through Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and is not requesting use of District-owned athletic fields. However, future requests may include other fields based on the organization’s needs.
As part of its review, the Commission may wish to consider the requested field allocation in relation to existing field use demands, available capacity, and the Youth Sports Committee's responsibility to provide fair and equitable access to City and School District athletic facilities. During the Fiscal Year 2026-28 budget priority-setting process, several Youth Sports Committee organizations and residents expressed concerns regarding the availability of athletic field space and the ability of existing organizations to accommodate participation demand. In response, the City Council adopted Priority 3.5, directing staff to "Present to City Council a report with options to increase available hours of sports fields."
Staff notes that the teams identified in the application were previously practicing on athletic fields allocated under Claremont AYSO’s spring/summer field use permit, which expired June 30, 2026. At present, Athletics Sports Group has been issued a paid field use permit via the City’s normal field rental process for organizations who are not members of the Youth Sports Committee. This permit includes shared use of the Lewis Park field Monday-Thursday from 5:00-8:00 PM and Sundays from 2:00-6:00 PM as well as Padua and La Puerta Parks on Saturdays using space relinquished by Claremont AYSO.
In accordance with the Youth Sports Committee mission and functions outlined in the Policies and Procedures document as outlined in Sections A and B, staff is recommending that Athletics Sports Group be appointed to the Youth Sports Committee to ensure existing resident youth participating in the program continue to have access to local fields.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
On September 15, 2026, the Youth Sports Committee voted to recommend that the Community and Human Services Commission deny Athletics Sports Group’s request for membership on the Youth Sports Committee on the following vote:
Committee Member Dorman moved to recommend that the Community and Human Services Commission deny Athletic Sports Group’s application to join the Youth Sports Committee, seconded by Committee Member Roberston, and carried on a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Committee Member - Dorman, Robertson, Sanchez, Terrell
NOES: Committee Member - Eide, Gailey, Smith
ABSENT: Committee Member - Batres
An excerpt from the draft September 15, 2026, Youth Sports Committee meeting minutes is included as Attachment C.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a paper copy, please contact the Recreation and Human Services Department.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Melissa Vollaro Eric Ey
Recreation and Human Services Director Recreation and Human Services Manager
Attachments:
A - Athletic Sports Group Application for the Youth Sports Committee
B - Athletic Sports Group Conceptual Seasonal Application Packet
C - Excerpt from the September 15, 2026, Youth Sports Committee draft minutes
D - Youth Sports Committee Policies and Procedures