El Segundo council hears 50% update on aquatics business plan; parents, coaches press for earlier pool times

Consultants and staff presented a 50% progress update on a business plan for the City of El Segundo aquatics program on July 1, and multiple parents and club coaches urged the council to preserve earlier pool times for youth water polo.

The consultant, Miklos Valdez, said the presentation was an interim review and that “all of these numbers will change before the end of the project,” asking the council for feedback on direction and data needs. The plan models three operating concepts — Current, Enhanced and Elevate — and will further examine fee schedules, staffing and lane allocation in later drafts.

Why it matters: The city operates three aquatic facilities — Hilltop, the El Segundo Aquatic Center (ESAC) and the Plunge — and councilmembers asked staff to reconcile competing goals: increase cost recovery for ESAC while keeping the Plunge affordable for recreational swim and learn-to-swim programming. Those policy choices will determine lane allocation and fee recommendations the consultant is developing.

Public comments opened the discussion. Meredith Kittner, a parent, and her daughter Sydney, who plays for South Bay United Water Polo, said late evening practices cause sleep and travel problems for young…