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City Park Pool project moves forward; contract bids lower than early estimate, pool will be closed this summer
Summary
Commission heard details on the City Park Pool construction: bids came in near $14 million versus an $18 million early estimate; alternates including heaters, a UV disinfectant system, a climbing wall and a third diving board were accepted; staff said the pool will be closed this summer while construction proceeds.
Julie, the Parks and Recreation director, told commissioners that bids for the City Park Pool project “came in closer to $14, but realize we still have the design and consultant fees on top of that and all of our equipment and everything else. So it's still going to end up being closer to that $18,000,000 estimate that we had out front.”
She said staff were able to accept all alternates on the project, and listed features added to the contract: separate heaters for each of the three pools, a UV disinfectant system, both a climbing wall and a third diving board in the diving well, new water main and storm sewer connections, removal of an existing restroom at Upper City Park, additional shade structures, and landscape seating elements.
“We were able to add in a few more [shade structures],” Julie said, and later stated plainly that “officially means that City Park Pool will not be open this summer.” She said a pre-construction meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday to begin the contractor’s work.
Commissioners asked about how heating would be used; Julie said operational policy decisions — including whether to heat particular pools and when — will be determined closer to opening and could be tailored for leisure, lesson, or early-season programming. She said the lap pool historically is kept cooler and that staff had heard lap swimmers’ concerns about warm water.
Julie also said that the City Park Pool project does not immediately change plans for other facilities: discussions about the future of Mercer and Robert A. (facility names referenced in the meeting) are on hold until City Park Pool construction is further along. She said if unusual circumstances occur, staff could reassess, but otherwise operations at the other facilities remain status quo.
Ending: The commission did not vote on any changes to pool programming at this meeting; staff will return with operational plans, schedules for heaters and hours, and further cost details as construction proceeds.
