(PENSACOLA) --- A memorandum of understanding (MOU) became a point of contention at the Pensacola City Council meeting.
The issue regarding the East Pensacola Student Athlete agreement for the football program to utilize the Magee Field and Hollice T. Williams Park multi-purpose field was pulled from the consent agenda on Monday by Councilman Charles Bare and added to the Regular Agenda for the July 16 meeting.
Thursday evening, Bare began by noting he is an “ongoing critic of the MOU process,” specifically with signing one without financial statements, as seen with the April MOU for Bill Bond League of Pensacola.
“My problem is I told administration I would not sign an MOU without having those documents,” Bare said. “I realize we have a flaw in our process.”
(Photo: Councilman Charles Bare voted down the East Pensacola Student Athlete agreement on July 16)
According to Bare, who said he was unable to find any financial documentation on the MOU, he is not comfortable giving money to organizations that may not be “financially viable.”
“I know with Bill Bond there had been some embezzling or something going on we don’t really know about,” Bare said.
East Pensacola Student Athlete Program Secretary Lawanna Hamilton told Bare and council members that her group has nothing to hide, including the $10 fee per child, which Bare noted was unfair to city residents.
“We have been more than transparent on our partnership with the city and with any documents that were requested,” Hamilton said. “We do file under $50,000; that is why it (financial information) is probably not available."
Hamilton confirmed the group accepts countywide athletes, saying, “We do collect data and zip codes to make sure our program is serving the neighborhood and children in it."
(Photo: East Pensacola Student Athlete Program Secretary Lawanna Hamilton defends the group at the July 16 meeting)
The issue is not personal, according to the councilman.
“This is not about you,” Bare said to Hamilton, adding that the group’s impact on students is commendable. “I am very happy about what you do for athletes.”
Hamilton, who participated in the program as a student in 1989, wanted it “on the record” that the league does much more than coach, saying, “We do tutoring, mentoring, and community drives" for the more than 260 children in the group.
Bare said he did not support the vote for various reasons, including the flawed process and $10 fee for city residents.
“We pay county taxes, but they (countywide players) don’t pay city taxes,” Bare said.
(Photo: Councilwoman Jennifer Brahier disagrees with city residents having to pay a $10 fee to Parks and Recreation for a local youth sports program)
Like Bare, Councilwoman Jennifer Brahier made it clear to Hamilton that a former MOU “misuse of funds” is not about the East Pensacola league.
“There is an issue here,” Brahier said. “This is an obligation of the city recreation to make sure that these things are as cheap to the citizens of Pensacola as possible.”
Maintaining the fields alone costs approximately $200K a year, according to Brahier, who also objected to the $10 fee, like Bare.
“Every sport the city runs has a differential for city residents versus non-city residents,” Brahier said. “I agree with you that it needs to be addressed.”
Councilman Jared Moore agreed.
“City county, philosophically, I get it,” Moore said. “City residents are paying taxes on those parks.”
Moore made it clear that he did not want to “vote it down” because of the program’s importance. Councilman Tenaide Broughton brought up Parks and Recreation Director Tonya Byrd to ask how the MOU’s are overseen.
(Photo: Councilman Jared Moore said he supports a youth sports program regardless of city-resident fee concerns raised)
According to Byrd, there are more “financial teeth” in the MOU than in the past, informing all leagues that “we would not sign an MOU with them unless all documentation were provided.”
Pensacola Youth Soccer and Bill Bond have both submitted financials, according to Byrd, who noted that the East Pensacola league has not yet submitted financials because the current MOU does not require it.
The conjecture brought Hamilton back to the podium, asking, “How are we being scrutinized under a microscope for something another program did?”
Councilman Delarian Wiggins said he does not want to see more than 250 kids not have anything to do because the council votes down the MOU.
(Photo: Councilman Delarian Wiggins asks the council to support him in a yes vote for the East Pensacola Student Athlete Program)
“I hope my fellow council members will support me on this,” Wiggins said.
Each member voted yes, except for Bare.
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