The Kevin Moran Task Force, an ad hoc committee asked to produce a single plan for the park's development, presented the council with two plans. Both plans were nearly identical, including restrooms, gardens, increased parking and a half-sized practice soccer field. However, one plan had a full-sized contiguous playing field and the other did not.

Strong, organized opposition by neighbors to a full-sized field at Kevin Moran Park has blocked the placement of a soccer field there for decades. The demand for more soccer playing fields for Saratoga's youth soccer players has made the nearly 10-acre park a tempting location for fields since the park was built. The conflict between neighbors, who want to retain the quiet nature of the park, and those who want more soccer playing fields in Saratoga has created a logjam that divided the task force and divided city residents over the issue.

More than 80 people spoke out late into the night for and against a soccer field in the park in public hearings. More than half of the speakers spoke for soccer in the park, repeating the view that parents were driving their children outside of Saratoga to play soccer due to the lack of fields in the city. Speakers against a full-sized field described traffic problems in the neighborhood and the destruction of the park's ambience if a playing field were put in.

Former mayors Marty Clevenger and Stan Bogosian both spoke against a full-sized soccer field, explaining that earlier councils had resisted soccer fields at Kevin Moran Park because of the same issues that exist today, with traffic safety in the residential neighborhood bordering the park being of particular concern. "Let's look for a piece of property that will work," Bogosian said.

After the public hearings and a discussion period, council members Nick Streit, Ann Waltonsmith, Aileen Kao and Kathleen King all voted in favor of a full-sized field. Mayor Norman Kline was the one dissenting vote. The vote means the city will now begin the planning stages for placing a soccer field in the park.

Kline said he voted against the plan because of money, traffic and questions about planning. The city has allocated $320,000 from a park bond from the state and $98,000 in city capital funds for construction of the park. Kline said the plan for a full-sized field would tack on an additional $150,000 to $200,000 to the allocated amount. He explained that the street that borders the park, Sculley Avenue, was a small residential street that would see a big impact if a game field were put in.

"Stan Bogosian said the same thing; it's just not a good location for a soccer field," Kline said. "Traffic can be mitigated to a degree but there's still going to be 60 cars getting in and out."

A sticking point for Kline involved the continuation of meetings of the Kevin Moran Park Task Force. "During a task force meeting, I said that no matter what the city council decides, I will work to ensure the task force continues to help the design company implement the vision of whatever option was chosen."

The council voted 4-1 to allow two more meetings of the task force to review the designs for the park. Streit was the opposing vote. The first meeting will take place before March 1 to review a rough draft design. A second meeting would then be held to review the final design. City Manager Dave Anderson was chosen to facilitate the meetings.

AYSO regional commissioner Howard Miller represented sports user groups on the task force, along with CYSA representative Mary Ann Escobar. Miller has fought long and hard for more playing fields in Saratoga. "I'm happy but nervous," he said after the council's decision. "I took a lot of arrows from the neighbors in there. It's frustrating that there's so much anger and animosity against our fellow citizens."

Miller said that he hopes the task force can stay together during the design process.