Agenda

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City Council Regular Meeting

Meeting Date:

05/04/2021

BACKGROUND

The Wendy Swan Memorial Park Pool was formerly an HOA-owned pool in the Northcliffe subdivision and as such was only designed to serve a small amount of people at one time. The capacity of the pool area is 50 people, but the pool rarely reaches capacity. Its small size does not afford a lot of opportunities for activities, so it is not as in demand as our other pools. When the pandemic hit in March 2020 there were capacity limits placed on facilities including outdoor pools, and the 25% capacity allowed at the start of the summer would have only allowed 12 people to enter the pool. City staff and YMCA staff (who are contracted to manage the outdoor pools) deemed it not feasible to open Wendy Swan Memorial Park Pool at that time.

City staff began researching the idea of converting the small residential-sized pool into a splash pad utilizing the existing filtration equipment which is in fairly good condition. The proposed small splash pad will fit into the existing footprint of the old pool, will utilize the existing restrooms and covered porch area, and the fence will come down for access. Currently, the pool is only open from Memorial Day Weekend through the start of the school year in August. Converting to a splash pad would eliminate the need for the facility to have lifeguards and thus allow for an extended season of March - October.

In February 2021 Texas experienced Winter Storm Uri and many facilities suffered damage from freezing pipes, including the Wendy Swan Memorial Park Pool House and Restroom Facility. Bidding is complete and the repairs are extensive at the pool house, so City staff is pausing to combine the repairs into the larger splash pad project to convert the restrooms to continuous public access like at other parks, and to ensure the restrooms are fully accessible.

GOAL

The goal is to convert the Wendy Swan Memorial Park Pool into a small splash pad by utilizing the existing filtration equipment and incorporating the existing restroom facility and porch overhang for potential birthday party rentals. There is also an existing picnic pavilion behind the restrooms that would be more desirable for party rentals if the pool was converted to a splash pad.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT

The community will benefit from this conversion by having a new splash pad that has open public access and an extended public season. The only splash pad that is currently in the city is integrated with the Recreation Center and Aquatic Center and there is currently a fee associated with accessing that splash pad. Instead of the existing facility only being utilized May – August from 12-7 pm, this new facility will be open March – October from 10-8 pm (may vary based on Daylight Savings Time.) In addition, non-swimmers can utilize this facility, so many families with young children will benefit from this facility conversion.

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED ACTION

Approve Resolution 21-R-35

FISCAL IMPACT

Preliminary estimates for this conversion are approximately $250,000 - $300,000. The goal is to cancel the management agreement for the Wendy Swan Memorial Park Pool which costs the city $89,939 per year (half of the total outdoor pools management fee of $179,878.) After some discussion with the vendor it has been determined that between 60-80% of the vendors costs are spent on managing Pickrell Pool, thus city staff is proposing to renegotiate the contract and pay 60% of the original contract price to operate Pickrell Pool going forward ($107,926.) The annual savings to the city would be $71,952 per year. The city would construct the splash pad utilizing reserve funds (after coming back to council for authorization to proceed with construction) and the savings from the cancellation of the management contract, would pay back the reserve fund in 4 years.

RECOMMENDATION

Approve Resolution 21-R-35 to amend the existing license and management agreements with the YMCA by canceling the management of the Wendy Swan Memorial Park Pool.

Attachments
Resolution 21-R-35
Outdoor Pool Amendment