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Assessment: Carpinteria pool needs nearly $1 million in repairs or phased upgrades; council receives report
Summary
The Carpinteria City Council received a consultant condition assessment of the city’s community pool on May 27 that found a deteriorating cantilevered gutter/deck, aging mechanical systems, and manual chemical controls; the consultant estimated roughly $969,382 to address identified pool repairs (excluding bathhouse renovations).
The Carpinteria City Council received and filed a consultant condition assessment for the city’s community pool on May 27 that identified several significant structural and mechanical issues and offered phased repair options. Council accepted the report and directed staff to return with a work plan and funding options.
The assessment, prepared by Counsilman-Hunsaker (presented by Beau Ilgenfritz), reviewed the pool shell, deck and gutter, filtration and chemical systems, heater, and the bathhouse. The consultant identified the most pressing concern as the cantilevered portion of the gutter/deck: "I would say the largest issue that I we encountered on the visit was the cantilevered portion of the gutter," Ilgenfritz said, pointing to major cracking, corrosion and pieces of concrete breaking off into the pool.
Other findings included missing inlet covers and damaged inlet threads (a safety and maintenance concern), worn and noncompliant pool markings and stair escutcheon plates, filters and piping at or beyond typical service life in some areas, a lack of automated flow metering tied to the variable frequency drives (reducing potential energy savings), and a chemical feed process that relies on manual mixing and multiple chlorine sources rather than a single automated feeder. The ozone secondary sanitization system in place is not functioning and the pool heater is about 13 years old (approaching typical 15-year service life).
An ADA accessibility survey from 2015 and a 2016 transition plan were noted; staff said they have an ADA transition plan and are aware of violations, and risk management has advised that having a plan in place reduces liability while the city works toward remediation.
Cost estimates: staff said the consultant’s scope estimate to address the pool work identified in their report is approximately $969,382; that figure did not include a full bathhouse renovation or electrical-system upgrades. The consultant offered a three-phase option (immediate, three years, five years) and noted that a full replaster in phase 3 would add materially to cost; replastering and escalation account for much of the difference between phased and comprehensive estimates.
Council members and staff discussed funding approaches, including private fundraising (the city has used public-private fundraising for prior park projects), state and county grants, and potential changes to assessment districts to free general-fund capacity. The council unanimously voted to receive-and-file the assessment and asked staff to prepare a work plan showing phased options, estimated timelines and potential funding sources.
What’s next: staff will refine cost estimates for bathhouse and electrical upgrades, prepare phased scopes and funding scenarios, and return to council with a project work plan and outreach strategy to seek possible private and public funding partners.
