Brawley council: pool repairs moving, but legal review limits public detail

Dozens of residents and swim coaches told the Brawley City Council on April 1 that the long-closed Line Center pool is a safety and community priority and urged immediate repairs and clear public timelines.

The plea came during the public comment portion of the council meeting, where Carly Feaster, a lifelong Brawley resident and former swim instructor, said the community has collected “hundreds of signatures” asking the city to restore and maintain the pool. “Without a safe designated space to swim, many children may be tempted to cool off in nearby canals, which are extremely dangerous,” Feaster said.

The council responded that staff and the city’s attorneys have been negotiating insurance coverage and a repair plan. Interim City Manager (present at the meeting) said the city expects to receive a repair plan and a coverage determination within one to two weeks; however, because of active attorney involvement and potential litigation, staff would not provide more specific details in open session. “For a year and a half, we’ve been dealing with attorneys constantly trying to get this handled,” the city representative said. Council members said the project has been a top priority and that they are exploring all funding paths to complete the repairs.

Speakers emphasized the public-safety stakes. Feaster noted the high summer temperatures in Brawley and said local families rely on the municipal pool for affordable swim lessons and safe swimming. Another resident who identified himself as a longtime instructor said early exposure to pools is critical for developing confident, safe swimmers: “If children don’t have exposure to swimming in a pool by the age of 4, their confidence drops, and a not-confident swimmer is not a safe swimmer.”

Council members said they are monitoring insurance conversations and legal considerations and signaled willingness to use city funds if needed once the coverage and repair estimate are final. One council member said staff expects the repair plan within one to two weeks and that the city is preparing a financial plan to act once the scope and coverage are known. No formal action or vote was taken at the meeting on the pool; councilors said they could not disclose details while legal work continues.

The council did not provide a final cost estimate, contractor name, or a firm reopening date at the meeting. Officials said they would return to the council and public with more details as soon as legal constraints allow.