Whether or not San Clemente could be home to an elite French soccer academy will be up for consideration by the city council Tuesday.
The French Soccer Institute approached the city to build a multi-million-dollar facility with two fields on unused city land at Richard T. Steed Memorial Park, with a deal to develop two interim fields at the Vista Hermosa Sports Park. The Vista Hermosa fields would revert to the city after the Steed Park facility construction was finished.
The Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission in May recommended that city staffers begin negotiations with the institute, which would act as a farm for highly skilled players to enter the pros -- a model for shepherding young athletes through their early careers similar to that used in Europe.
The city council won't be voting on an actual contract Tuesday, but on whether to start lease negotiations with the French Soccer Institute, according to the agenda report.
The San Clemente City Council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the San Clemente Civic Center, 100 Avenida Presidio.
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