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Council approves $14.5 million guaranteed maximum price for Long Center renovation amid debate over indoor pool
Summary
City approved a $14.5 million guaranteed maximum price for the Long Center renovation, including the indoor pool and related work; council debated whether to convert the facility to an outdoor pool and asked staff to pursue private funding and fee reviews.
The Clearwater City Council on Jan. 16 authorized a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $14,504,354 to Creative Contractors Inc. for the Long Center renovation project and approved a supplemental architectural work order of $298,380. Council members also directed staff to pursue private funding and review user fees as part of budget planning.
Marcus Williamson, Public Works director, presented the item and noted staff had provided supplemental information at the earlier work session. "We did send some supplemental information in," Williamson said, and staff stood by to answer questions on design and construction.
The central debate concerned the facility's indoor pool. Several council members and public speakers discussed whether converting the pool to an outdoor facility would lower long-term costs and better match other Florida communities. Staff said a conversion would be expensive because the Long Center was inherited in its current configuration and many systems (electrical service and shared restrooms) are integrated across uses. Williamson offered a rough order-of-magnitude estimate that converting the pool to outdoor use would likely cost in the "8 to $10,000,000 range" because of needed demolition, rework and envelope changes.
Mayor Bruce Rechter and other council members said they did not want to close or dismantle the Long Center and urged staff to seek private contributions; the mayor said he hoped the Long Center Foundation's annual $200,000 support would continue but invited the swimming community to pursue philanthropy. Council member Lina Dechayo and others urged analysis of fee structures to recover more operating costs and suggested staff look for grants or community partners to offset capital expenses.
The council voted unanimously to accept the GMP and move forward with the renovation; during the discussion the council asked staff to evaluate removing a proposed sun deck to reduce costs, to explore private funding, and to reassess user fees for programming.
Ending: Council approved the construction contract and supplemental work order and directed staff to return with potential private funding options, fee changes, and any cost-savings that could limit taxpayer burden.
