CRPD: 'Unfortunate' That Little League is Boycotting Monday Meeting

Park district officials on Monday criticized a decision by the Rosemont Little League to boycott a town hall meeting on a field rental fee increase, saying it will only delay the discussion between the groups.

The Cordova Recreation and Park District is holding an informal meeting Monday to discuss an increase in the fees charged to Rosemont Little League to use its fields. But the league said the meeting, which park district board members may or may not attend, wouldn't amount to anything.

The little league said it would instead pack the public comment of Wednesday's Cordova Recreation and Park District board meeting.

"The goal of the [Monday] forum is to give the community the opportunity to have an open dialogue with the District Administrator and Board, and to make progress toward an agreement - something that cannot be accomplished during the public comment period of a Board meeting," Board Clerk and Executive Assistant Danielle Jones said in an email.

She said the board won't be able to reply to the little league during Wednesday's meeting, since the league isn't on the formal agenda.

League officials say they asked to be put on the agenda Friday, but were told there wasn't enough time to add them. 

Public agencies are required to issue meeting agendas 72 hours before a meeting–that deadline would fall Sunday evening for Wednesday's gathering.

Meanwhile, Jones said she never received a request to add any items to the agenda.

The park district's full response to the little league follows:

It is unfortunate that the Rosemont Little League has decided not to attend tonight’s Town Hall Forum.  The District has already met with the Rancho Cordova Little League and had a very successful, productive conversation that resulted in a mutually beneficial agreement.  The goal of the forum is to give the community the opportunity to have an open dialogue with the District Administrator and Board, and to make progress toward an agreement - something that cannot be accomplished during the public comment period of a Board meeting.  While members of the public are always encouraged to attend and speak at meetings of the Board of Directors, state law does not allow a response, dialogue, or action to be taken on items heard during public comment.  The next opportunity for the Board to respond would be on April 17.  It would be more beneficial and would expedite the process for the League to attend the forum and take advantage of this opportunity to meet with the District Administrator, who has the authority to set the District’s fees.  The Town Hall Forum will continue as planned, and the District welcomes all members of the community to attend and contribute to the discussion. 

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Cordova Recreation and Park District Board of Directors meeting
6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 20
2197 Chase Dr., Rancho Cordova

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