The Board of Aldermen voted to forward a proposed agreement with Real WC Soccer Club that would allow the club to bring in temporary telescoping lights and store them on fields for scheduled fall and spring evening practices, contingent on the club securing adequate insurance and other operational conditions.

Mister Fuchs, representing the club, told the board the club operates as a 501(c)(3) with about 350 players, has used similar lights elsewhere and would bring trailers of telescoping lights that raise and lower by remote. He said the unit height is about 8 feet at final working height and that the lights are lockable and have wheel and tongue locks. The club requested use in late February through mid-June for spring and again in the fall; the club said it would remove the lights between seasons.

City staff raised several concerns before forwarding the request: storage location and security for equipment left on city property, liability and insurance coverage, effects on turf and mowing operations, generator noise, proximity to active fields and whether city crews or staff should be authorized to move towers in an emergency. Amy (city staff) said the city typically requires insurance equal to the sovereign-immunity cap, noting a figure of about $3.7 million; she asked the applicant to secure an insurance policy naming the city as additional insured or provide the coverage required by city policy. City staff also said the agreement should require the club to guarantee field rentals for the dates in the proposed schedule, with standard exceptions for weather cancellations.

Alderman Hill moved, and Alderman Wissbrough seconded, to forward the proposed agreement and the request to the full board with the caveat that the club obtain the city-required insurance coverage and that staff work out operational details (storage, movement authority, and turf protection). The motion carried on a voice vote.