Commission asks staff to research options for youth swim instruction after resident suggests lake-based lessons

Jim Bamker, a Liberty Lake resident and member of the city planning commission, urged the Parks & Arts Commission June 2 to explore summer swimming instruction for youth using the county park’s south-end beach or other local pools.

“My name is Jim Bamker, and, I'm a resident of, Liberty Lake. I'm also on the, planning commission,” Bamker said in public comment, and described a gap left after the local athletic club pool closed.

Commissioners and staff discussed possible venues, including county park waterfront, nearby municipal pools (Coeur d’Alene, Spokane Valley, Post Falls) and school or commercial facilities. Recreation coordinator Mikkel Stevens warned that instructors commonly carry general liability insurance but struggle to afford the higher premiums required for child-related coverage (often labeled abuse/molestation coverage), which can limit availability.

Stevens also noted operational hurdles: many lakes no longer host lifeguards, which affects insurance and safety protocols; county parks would require an intergovernmental agreement to host city-run instruction at a county-owned site; and hiring seasonal city lifeguards or instructors would require a budget/staffing decision during the fall budget process. Commissioners asked Stevens to research three items: feasibility of hosting lessons at county or neighboring-municipality pools, comparative liability/insurance costs for pool versus lake instruction, and options to “piggyback” on existing programs at nearby pools for 2026 planning.

No formal program or budget was approved; commissioners characterized the research as a next step that will return to the commission when staff has concrete cost and insurance information.