The reality of municipal swimming pools for fun and competition
takes another step forward at Wednesday
’s City Council/RDA meeting. The council will review the
schematic design of the Aquatic Center project and, if it approves,
authorize the design development and construction document phase to
begin. Council will also consider an operator.
The reality of municipal swimming pools for fun and competition takes another step forward at Wednesday’s City Council/RDA meeting. The council will review the schematic design of the Aquatic Center project and, if it approves, authorize the design development and construction document phase to begin. Council will also consider an operator.
The project, at Condit and Barrett Avenues, east of Highway 101, was given number one priority among all construction projects – public or private – by the council, in order to ensure completion by Memorial Day 2004.
In December the council approved an extra $2.7 million, added because the original estimate of $10.2 million was too low to complete phase one of the project as the council intended. The $2.7 million included items from phases two and three that the aquatic subcommittee considered necessary to phase one. Of the original $10.2 million estimate, the Redevelopment Agency would pay $9,444,000. A $750,000 donation from developer Robert Eves of Venture Corp. and other sources completed the funding.
A third pool has been added to the plan – a four-lane instructional pool for swimming lessons offered by the city’s recreation department. Mayor Dennis Kennedy said that the subcommittee is recommending that this pool be expanded to six lanes to make it eligible for competition as well.
“Swimming lessons are an important revenue-generating factor in the facility,” Kennedy said. “The driving theme, as we developed the central design, is to help the center pay for itself.”
The city has hired the Sports Management Group to oversee the operating and pricing planning for the facility so it will achieve maximum revenue return. Construction can be paid from Redevelopment Agency funds but those funds cannot be used for maintenance and operations.
Besides the design, council will begin discussing who will operate the center. It can function as a municipal public facility run by city staff – the recreation department – or in partnership with a private operator as a for-profit or not-for-profit. The Morgan Hill Aquatics Foundation and two private groups have expressed interest, according to the staff report.
Other additions to the plan are a second slide, an enlarged concession area with room for a grill and frier and expanding the four-lane pool to six lanes. The windscreen and team lawn might be moved to allow more deck area around the recreation pools, the clubhouse exterior changed from wood to masonry and the building’s west side enhanced with a sign and mural art work plus a possible tile mural in the entry area.
If the schematic design is approved by the council the “pool package” can go to bid March 27, general contractor out to bid June 9 and construction could begin by July 17, finishing up with the grand opening splash-in on May 28, 2004.
City Council and/or the Redevelopment Agency meets at 7 p.m. Wednesdays in City Hall Chambers, 17555 Peak Ave. Details: 779-7271. www.morgan-hill.ca.gov
