The Patterson City Council took a bit of a leap of faith at its meeting a week ago when it voted to make the last of two $150,000 payments to the Patterson Joint Unified School District for the remodel of Patterson Community Stadium.

Yes, the city had committed to paying that money, and the payment was due. But the city also had a legitimate gripe that the district had not been living up to promises it made regarding community access to the stadium.

When soliciting the $300,000 to help put in new bleachers, an all-weather track and a beautiful artificial grass field, the district essentially promised the city that the stadium would be open to the public — when not otherwise in use by school sports teams or for other events — from dawn to dusk.

If that was not the promise made, it was at least how some community and council members understood it.

It’s not entirely the district’s fault that a clearer schedule was not put in writing when the council committed to helping out with the cost. The council should have demanded it then.

And the council should have demanded it last week, as council members Annette Smith and Dominic Farinha urged. But three council members had faith that the school district and city staff would be able to work out a new, more community-friendly schedule of stadium availability, and they voted to make the payment without getting it in writing.

Now, the district must reward that faith.

Superintendent Patrick Sweeney has already said the stadium will be open for Apricot Fiesta fireworks viewing, which we think is a giant first step. Sweeney also said the district would meet with the city this week to figure out a new schedule.

Officials from both sides made it very clear at last week’s meeting that they could play nice and get along and come up with something that is more pleasing to the council and the community.

We have little doubt they can. And we’ll be very disappointed if they don’t.