Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Pools Rules Fees topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee discusses pool rules, ID requirements and resident fees for Schenectady pools
Summary
Health & Recreation members reviewed proposed pool rules including swim diaper requirements, supervision rules for different ages, a proposed photo-ID rule for older teens, and a draft resident/nonresident fee policy and season-pass options.
Committee members and staff spent an extended portion of the meeting reviewing draft pool rules, age-supervision requirements and a draft fee policy for Schenectady’s public pools.
Staff presented draft language that emphasizes lifeguard authority at the pools and lists behavior and safety rules: swimwear only in water, US Coast Guard–approved flotation devices, no regular diapers (only swim diapers with swimsuits for children not fully toilet trained), no diving in shallow areas, no glass or hard coolers, and no illegal drugs or alcohol. The committee discussed how to define and enforce those rules in busy pools and agreed lifeguard direction is central to operational enforcement.
Age and supervision. The draft separates supervision by age bands: children under 3 who are not water-trained must wear a swim diaper and be accompanied by an adult in the water; children 5–10 must have an adult on the deck; discussion focused on 11–16-year-olds. Committee members debated whether youths 11–16 should be allowed without a parent, whether 13 is a better threshold, and whether 16-and-older should be required to show a photo ID. Staff said the school district issues student IDs, and suggested the district could provide on-site verification for students at entry.
Resident prioritization and fees. The draft fee policy proposes free admission for City of Schenectady residents, with the option for up to three nonresident guests per resident; staff proposed a nonresident daily guest fee (discussion examples included $10 for adults, $5 for children) and discussed season passes, family passes and weekly passes as possible options. Committee members asked staff to return with a recommended fee schedule and a mechanism to check residency (school IDs, city IDs or a purchased nonresident ID card). The committee also discussed operational details including whether lifeguards will collect fees and where fee sales would be processed.
Other operational issues: the committee discussed permitted vendors near pools (ice cream trucks) and agreed the city can designate vendor locations and require permits; the committee discussed rules for personal music devices, pop-up tents and service animals and asked staff to add clarifying language. Several committee members urged a better public information campaign before any new rules are strictly enforced.
Why it matters: the rules will shape safety, access and equity for hundreds of pool users in summer months. The committee asked staff to return with a more detailed recommendation on the age bands, the ID check process (including whether school IDs can be used), and a fee schedule and season-pass options.
Next steps: staff will consult with the school district about student ID verification, firm up proposed fees and season passes and present a refined proposal at a follow-up meeting prior to finalizing an enforcement date.
