Meeting to Seek Public Input in Forming Pay-for-Play Plan : Proposal: L.A. school district aims to set up fee structure by Aug. 1 for teams or groups using its athletic facilities.

An informal meeting will be held today at the headquarters of the Los Angeles Unified School District to seek input into a proposal that would charge teams or groups wishing to use district athletic facilities.

The meeting is the first step in the finalization of a pay-for-play proposal. Deputy Superintendent Sid Thompson will chair the meeting, which is open to the public and will begin at 4 p.m. in the district board room at 450 North Grand Ave.

According to Don Wertz, the recreation director in the district’s department of Student Auxiliary Services, the meeting will address the controversial user-fees proposal. The fee structure is scheduled to be in place Aug. 1.

A tentative fee structure has been outlined by district officials but has been criticized heavily by several groups, who claim an excessive pay-for-play charge would bankrupt their programs.

The Los Angeles Board of Education last month eliminated $1.4 million in Student Auxiliary Services funding that was earmarked for on-campus youth services coordinators at district schools.

When the new fiscal year began July 1, the district closed the gates to its athletic facilities until a plan is finalized that would make the youth services positions financially self-sustaining by charging user fees.

Wertz said that many of the youth athletic groups that had their use permits revoked have been invited to offer suggestions on how the user-fee proposal can be improved or modified.

“That’s the main reason for the meeting,” Wertz said. “People will be asked to present some options to Mr. Thompson on how costs can be adjusted.”