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Councilwoman Dr. Adams
Title
Amending the Toledo Municipal Code by enacting a new Section 953.21, Youth Sports, requiring Youth Sports Organizations serving Youth Athletes and utilizing City Parks or facilities or receiving City funding to meet minimum safety requirements; and declaring an emergency.
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SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
In the Fall of 2018, the Mayor’s Recreation Task Force concluded its report on policy recommendations regarding the City’s parks and recreation services. Included in this report was the recommendation that any person or organization working with youth as a coach or volunteer to meet minimum safety requirements, should that person or party be using City of Toledo parks or facilities or receive City of Toledo funding. Toledo City Council recognizes the need to inspire changes in youth sports to make the experience safe, positive and fun for everyone involved. In order to realize the true value of youth sports participation and to provide a safe, positive and fun environment for youth and their families to participate, we must raise the standards among the users of our City’s youth sports facilities.
Summary
NOW, THEREFORE, Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That a new Section 953.21 of the Toledo Municipal Code is enacted as follows:
953.21 Youth Sports Organizations Requesting Permit to Utilize City Parks or Facilities
Definitions:
1) "Youth Sports Organization" means a public or nonpublic entity that organizes an athletic activity in which the athletes are not more than nineteen years of age and are required to pay a fee to participate in the athletic activity or whose cost to participate is sponsored by a business or nonprofit organization.
2) “Youth Athlete” means an individual who wishes to practice for or compete in athletic activities organized by a Youth sports organization; a person under the age of 18 or eligible to participate in school sponsored sporting events.
3) “Coach” means a person involved in the direction, instruction, and training of the operation of a Youth Sports Organization.
Any Youth Sports Organization serving Youth Athletes utilizing City of Toledo parks or facilities or receiving City of Toledo funding must certify the following to the City of Toledo in order to obtain a permit:
(i) Adherence to the City of Toledo Youth Sports Code of Conduct by all administrators, Coaches, volunteers and youth participants.
(ii) Completion of a background check pursuant to standards established by Ohio Revised Code Sections 109.574 through 109.577 by all Coaches and any person with authority to supervise Youth Athletes in the absence of coaches.
(iii) Completion of a fundamentals of coaching training.
(iv) Completion of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training by all Coaches.
(v) Completion of a certified concussion response protocol course by all Coaches.
(vi) Completion of first aid training by all Coaches.
(vii) Completion of Sudden Cardiac Arrest Training provided by the Ohio Department of Health by all Coaches.
(viii) Provision of adequate security measures for all activities anticipating over 100 participants or as approved by the Division of Parks and Recreation.
(ix) Accident Insurance provided for Youth Athletes no less than $25,000 per person per accident. Public liability and property damage insurance in an amount no less than $1,000,000 per occurrence. The City of Toledo must be named as additionally insured.
SECTION 2. That this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and property of the City, and for the further reason that this Ordinance is required to be immediately effective in order to require sports organizations serving Youth to meet minimum safety requirements and to improve the welfare of the City and its residents; wherefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect immediately after its passage or at the earliest time allowed by law.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas 12, nays 0.
Failed: March 19, 2019, as an emergency measure: yeas 2, nays 10.