Crystal Beach pool staffing, grants and maintenance plans outlined as season ends

Parks staff told the Parks and Recreation Board they will restructure pool staffing and use recent grant funds to support programming as Crystal Beach moves into off-season maintenance.

Tanya Burnett, operations manager, told the board the September profit-and-loss statement for Crystal Beach included a $19,925 grant from the Bethany Legacy Foundation and $1,200 from Jane's Kids to cover swim visits for families on WIC and SNAP. Burnett said the pool showed a net gain of roughly $36.85 for September after accounting for those grants and other line items.

To reduce payroll costs next season, staff proposed eliminating multiple teenage head lifeguard roles and instead hiring three rotating adult managers so an adult manager would be on duty at all times; one head lifeguard, Emily, will be retained to run swim lessons. Burnett said the change is intended to lower labor expenses and keep an adult on site to make operational decisions such as weather and dismissals.

Staff also said they will continue off-season repairs and punch-list work at the pool and that a contractor will return to address cracks in the pool bottom; pumps are set and the pool has been winterized. Christian Hansen, grounds manager, said contractors will perform punch-list work and that winterization and routine off-season projects are already scheduled.

Board members asked for clarification on how grant dollars were reported; Burnett pointed to the September profit-and-loss statement and said grant income was included in that month’s figures. She also told the board she will present an appropriation request at the next council meeting to cover a $13,000 shortfall in Crystal Beach payroll, to be funded from campground reserves.

The board discussed off-season work and asked staff to include anticipated maintenance costs in future budget transfers; staff said they will bring transfer recommendations to the next council meeting.