Gilroy awards one-year contract to Swimming Swan to operate Christopher High aquatic center

The Gilroy City Council voted 6-1 on Feb. 3 to award a one-year contract to Swimming Swan LLC to operate the Christopher High School Aquatic Center for the 2025 season, authorizing a total not-to-exceed payment of $258,998.39.

Council members and staff discussed whether to award a multi-year contract or approve a single-year term while the city studies alternative delivery models. Council Member Klein moved to approve a one-year agreement and Council Member Ramirez seconded; the motion passed with Council Member Bracco the lone no vote.

City staff said outsourcing operations reduced the city’s administrative burden and transferred major liability to the vendor. The staff report noted a $2,000,000 insurance requirement for the operator and said Swimming Swan supplies its own lifeguards, cashiers and janitorial services. Recreation staff provided attendance numbers showing growth since 2022: roughly 6,800 recreational swims in 2024 and 1,883 swim‑lesson registrations in 2024. Staff said swim‑lesson enrollments are counted as eight‑class sessions and that optional programs offered by the vendor are not fully reported under current contract requirements.

Speakers during the discussion urged caution in locking long-term contracts without reviewing costs and options. Luis Ramirez, who identified himself as a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission, recommended approving one year now to preserve the program this summer while staff studies whether to return the program in-house in future years. Council members expressed concern about seasonal staffing, the city’s limited capacity to hire temporary lifeguards, and the tradeoffs between a guaranteed management fee and the city bearing operational risk.

The council vote: yes — Fugazi, Marks, Hilton, Klein, Ramirez, Mayor Bozzo; no — Bracco. The council approved the one‑year agreement and authorized the city administrator to execute contract documents pending final negotiation.

The contract requires the operator to provide group and private swim lessons, recreation swim, and offers optional programs (aqua yoga, lap swim, party rentals and certification classes). The vendor must also provide scholarships for income‑eligible youth under criteria matching the city’s youth scholarship program; staff reported 31 scholarships awarded in 2024. Council directed staff to explore alternatives, including a one‑year term and further budget review, but did not remove the 2025 season contract.

Background: The city operated the pool directly until 2020; service resumed in 2022 under an outside vendor. Staff said prior attempts to solicit vendors without a management fee drew no responses; the management fee was added to secure a vendor. Staff also said operating the pool in-house requires expanding recreation staffing and a longer procurement timeline that could prevent a 2025 opening if council delayed action.

The council’s action preserves swim programming for summer 2025 while leaving open longer-term policy and budget decisions.