Council approves one‑year operator for Christopher High aquatics season; staff to plan 2026 options

The Gilroy City Council approved a one‑year operating agreement for the Christopher High School aquatics season with Swimming Swan after considering alternatives and seeking additional proposals.

Staff reported that after the council’s February direction to seek a one‑year arrangement, Swimming Swan indicated it would accept a single‑season contract only if the city agreed to an additional $125,000 over its previously proposed annual amount. Staff said the company justified that increase as partly up‑front costs and multi‑year training or other start‑up expenses. Staff also reported it approached other firms that had responded to the RFP and the YMCA; the YMCA told staff it could not safely deliver a 2025 season on the available timeline. One other RFP respondent was willing to offer a one‑year price but staff remained concerned about that proposer’s qualifications.

Council members debated at length. Several members said they were deeply troubled by the timing, the lack of clear revenue detail in some vendor submissions, and that the city previously scaled back in‑house recreation capacity during the pandemic. Supporters of moving forward said not having a swim season in 2025 was not acceptable due to public safety and community demand for lessons; opponents questioned paying a large extra amount to a single vendor without clearer financial backup and urged staff to develop in‑house or nonprofit partnerships for 2026.

After public comment — including a Swimming Swan representative who described the company’s community ties, staffing and training capacity — the council voted 6–1 to accept the Swimming Swan one‑year proposal for the 2025 season and directed staff to develop multiple options for delivering swim programming in 2026 (in‑house, nonprofit partner such as the YMCA, or alternative contractors) and to return with those options by early fall 2025. The roll call was: Bracco — no; Klein — yes; Fugazi — yes; Hilton — aye; Marks — yes; Ramirez — yes; Mayor Bozzo — yes.

Staff said the motion includes an expectation that the city will begin planning immediately for the 2026 program and that staff would attempt to provide costed options for council consideration later in the year. The contract terms and total payment amount for 2025 were discussed on the record; staff indicated the vendor requested an additional $125,000 for the one‑year arrangement but also noted some internal spreadsheet differences in revenue figures provided by the vendor. The council’s motion passed 6–1; Council member Bracco voted no.