Irvine : Council Ratifies Soccer Contract With College

Irvine’s 2,700 youth soccer players soon can play at night on lighted fields, now that the City Council has ratified an agreement with the Saddleback Community College District that will open playing fields at Irvine Valley College to city-sponsored teams.

Terms of the agreement--which were reached last May but not approved by the council until this week--will permit Irvine soccer players to use the fields four nights a week and one weekend day from mid-August through April. In return, the city will install and maintain floodlights on the fields. The agreement, which will cost Irvine $125,000, also calls for the city to erect portable bleachers on the fields. While the lights will remain city property and can be removed upon termination of the agreement, the bleachers will be owned by the college.

Garth Nelson, Irvine’s director of community services, said installation of the lights and bleachers could begin by October.

The council originally considered the issue July 30 but delayed action after area residents asked for time to review the agreements with city and college officials.