Residents challenge proposed aquatic park costs and water use ahead of Monte Vista public hearing

Multiple residents urged the Monte Vista City Council and staff to reconsider or oppose placing a proposed aquatic park on the ballot, saying costs have risen sharply and water use in an agricultural valley makes the project inappropriate.

“How much will it cost by the time they get to build it?” resident Rena Bowser asked, pointing to new assessment figures and a recent jump in the project estimate. Bowser told the council the aquatics group on its website is now asking for $40,000 to complete designs and estimated construction costs; she said she had seen earlier estimates of $10 million and, more recently, $25.5 million.

Margo Alexander, identified in the record as a Monte Vista homeowner, submitted written comments for the record opposing the aquatic park and warned of the project’s water demands. “We live in an agriculture environment where water is precious,” Alexander wrote; she asked the council to consider the valley’s water supply before moving forward.

Council and staff reiterated that the project will be the subject of a public hearing: city staff announced a public hearing on the aquatic center scheduled for Monday, April 21 at 6 p.m. at Sky High Park. The transcript also records residents urging attendance at a separate public hearing referenced by one commenter at the Outpault Center; dates and locations were stated at different points in the meeting, and the city notice above is the staff announcement in the official agenda segment.

Speakers at the meeting said the aquatics group has not shown evidence of site control or final funding sources, and residents expressed concern about increased property taxes and commercial assessments tied to the proposal. City officials did not vote or take a formal action on the project at the meeting; council members and staff encouraged public attendance at the upcoming hearing.