Sebastopol Youth Soccer League Pursues Adding Mini Fields Downtown

City Council signals support for temporary soccer pitches on vacant lot slated for hotel project.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:21pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a youth soccer game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette, conveying the dynamic movement and energy of the sport.A conceptual illustration captures the dynamic energy and spatial complexity of a youth soccer match on a temporary downtown pitch.Santa Rosa Today

Youth soccer players in Sebastopol could soon have two new mini fields for play and practice in the downtown area after the Sebastopol City Council unanimously directed staff to work with the Western Sonoma County Youth Soccer League (WESCO) on submitting a preliminary application to use a vacant lot owned by Piazza Hospitality. The temporary soccer courts would be installed for up to two years while the long-stalled $40 million hotel project on the site remains on hold due to budgetary constraints.

Why it matters

The new mini fields would provide much-needed additional playing space for WESCO's growing youth soccer program, which currently relies on fields at Ragle Ranch Regional Park that are often in poor condition or requires teams to travel to neighboring communities. However, the proposal has raised some ethical concerns due to a WESCO board member's role on the city council.

The details

WESCO plans to partner with Piazza Hospitality to construct modular, movable soccer courts on the vacant downtown lot. Before construction can begin, the club must work with city staff to explore zoning changes, potential deed restrictions, and pay for staff time. The fields would cost between $150,000 and $200,000, funded largely through sponsorships and donations, and WESCO would be responsible for maintenance.

  • The Sebastopol City Council unanimously directed city staff on Tuesday to work with WESCO on the preliminary application.
  • If approved, Yob said the courts could be installed within four to six months.

The players

Western Sonoma County Youth Soccer League (WESCO)

A youth soccer organization that serves about 1,300 players each year and hosts around 750 games annually.

Piazza Hospitality

The owner of the vacant downtown lot where WESCO hopes to install the temporary soccer courts.

Sebastopol City Council

The local government body that unanimously directed city staff to work with WESCO on the preliminary application.

Steve Yob

A WESCO board member who presented the proposal to the city council.

Phill Carter

A Sebastopol city council member who also serves on the WESCO board as a non-voting member, raising ethical concerns about his involvement.

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What they’re saying

“I see soccer build confidence in these kids and give them things to do outside of electronic devices. This is a really good thing.”

— Tim Elliot, Sebastopol parent and youth soccer coach

“We have a council member ... driving this and we know that we're going over the hours. I am concerned that this wasn't communicated to any of us. How did this happen? That is what is concerning me.”

— Jill McLewis, Mayor of Sebastopol

“I saw all this joy and opportunity for economic development. That was my passion and that's why I brought it forward with the naïveté I had.”

— Phill Carter, Sebastopol City Council Member

What’s next

Before construction can begin, WESCO must work with city staff to explore zoning changes, potential deed restrictions, and pay for staff time spent on the project. The city council will also need to formally approve the preliminary application.

The takeaway

This proposal highlights the ongoing challenge of providing adequate recreational facilities for growing youth sports programs in small cities like Sebastopol, while also navigating potential conflicts of interest and ethical concerns when city officials are involved.