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City staff say state budget earmark could fund pool upgrades as lifeguard hiring continues
Summary
City staff reported a potential state capital-budget allocation for pool upgrades, described recent equipment repairs and a new chlorination system, and outlined lifeguard hiring and supervision plans while noting union and scheduling constraints.
The Sunnyside City Parks and Recreation Advisory Board heard an update on pool operations and staffing during its regular meeting; city staff said the state capital budget currently includes roughly $500,000 earmarked for pool upgrades, with additional park-related allocations under consideration.
The pool update matters because staff said repairs and replacements already completed or planned — including a new chlorinator system installed this year, a rebuilt feed for the chemical system, a repaired boiler control panel and a safety cage over a 70-horsepower motor — could be supplemented by the earmarked funds to address longer-term infrastructure and amenity upgrades.
City Manager (name not specified) told the board the capital-budget request “has been earmarked a little bit more than a half million dollars for upgrades to the pool,” but he added the allocation must clear additional legislative steps. “It’s gotta go through a few other rounds,” he said. He and staff said the city has passed the House and Senate phases but remains in “wait-and-see” mode as appropriation committees reconcile final amounts.
Staff described recent work already completed: a new chlorination/chemical feed system that staff said largely removes the need for a separate pump by drawing pressure from the main feed through the tablet container; replacement of a boiler control panel installed last year; and a rebuilt or replaced small circulation pump that cycles water through the new chemical coordinator. Staff also said a cage has been built over the larger motor to address safety concerns.
On staffing, Victoria Gonzales, city staff member, reported the city has received 14 physical lifeguard applications, four resumes submitted to HR and three confirmed certified lifeguard cards. Gonzales said the department’s target is roughly 25 hires to cover open swim, lessons and swim-team needs but that work hours could exceed standard shifts when multiple programs run. “We’re wanting to go to 25,” she said, referring to payroll targets.
Board members and staff discussed supervision and collective-bargaining implications. City Manager (name not specified) and staff flagged potential Teamsters contract issues because previous full-time community-center roles managed pool scheduling and staff. Staff said offering a new seasonal, part-time pool supervisor job could trigger rights-of-first-refusal or bargaining obligations for displaced full-time employees; the city is consulting with labor negotiators to clarify whether a part-time posting would conflict with the collective-bargaining contract.
Staff said they intend to advertise for a seasonal pool supervisor if necessary; they stressed that the current plan is for Mitch (staff member) to remain involved but noted he cannot cover both pool supervision and other public-works duties full time. “I don’t think Mitch should be tasked with… that’s too many moving parts,” one board member said during the discussion.
Staff also raised operational details the board asked to clarify: the bathrooms at the facility were inspected and repaired where needed (including latches and leaks), the boiler cannot be fully tested until the pool is filled, and the splash-pad push button will be tied into an upcoming irrigation upgrade so work can be done at the same time.
Separately, the board reviewed a rental application from a local foundation to operate a free July 4 swim event. City staff said the applicant requested a five-hour block, with two 90-minute sessions (1–2:45 p.m. and 3:15–5 p.m.) separated by a 30-minute lifeguard break; staff emphasized breaks are required under applicable labor rules. The staff report noted pool capacity limits of 250 people at a time and proposed wristbands in separate colors to manage session capacity.
The board did not take any final votes on pool capital spending at the meeting; staff said final project scope and funding will depend on the legislature’s enacted capital budget and further prioritization by the parks board and staff.
