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Director updates: outdoor aquatic center engagement planned; staff cuts and budget gap leave parks department constrained
Summary
Staff outlined upcoming public engagement for the outdoor aquatic center design, said the City Commission approved keeping a 50‑meter pool, and reported three vacant positions and an expected $6.7 million citywide budget gap for 2026 that will affect parks services.
The board received a director’s report that covered next steps for the outdoor aquatic center, a departmental name‑change ordinance, staffing losses and the city’s budget gap.
On the outdoor aquatic center, staff said the City Commission approved keeping a 50‑meter pool and directed design work to provide a separated shallow/zero‑depth pool area. Staff told the board they will hold two drop‑in public engagement sessions—one at a public school and one at an indoor aquatic center time expected to attract families—and then move into schematic design. The goal is to start construction in mid‑summer and complete work in time for the following summer season. The design team will bring two schematic options for initial public feedback.
The director also noted that legal staff is preparing amendments to city ordinances to finalize an approved departmental name change and that parks crews have been responding to recent snow events.
On staffing and budgets, staff said the department has lost three positions in recent months (two in recreation, one in parks maintenance) and those positions are not automatically refilled; requests for new positions are being routed through the city manager for approval. Staff warned the board that the city’s projected 2026 budget gap is approximately $6.7 million and described ongoing public engagement for budget tradeoffs using the city’s Balancing Act online tool; staff said the tool allows residents to simulate service level changes across departmental programs. The director emphasized that any new dedicated funding streams recommended in the master plan would still require City Commission policy decisions and public dialogue before implementation.
What’s next: watch for public engagement notices for the aquatic center design and for the Balancing Act budget engagement window; staff will notify advisory boards about opportunities to provide input on budget priorities and the aquatic schematic options.
