City schedules public workshop on proposed aquatic center with competition pool and lazy river

Paul Perino, parks and recreation director, outlined a proposal for a new aquatic facility that would include a 0‑entry kiddie pool with interactive features, a resort‑style pool with a lazy river and a competition lap pool with starting blocks that could host meets. Perino said locker rooms and family restrooms would be added to meet needs and ADA requirements and that the high school currently uses the city pool but cannot host meets because the existing pool does not meet competitive standards.

Perino said the city has a conceptual design contract with Kimley Horn and scheduled a public, open‑house workshop on Thursday, January 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Venina Springs Recreation Center to solicit community preferences on features such as slides, concessions, shade and concession partnerships. He described design examples from other municipalities and said some jurisdictions bring in temporary vendors or food trucks for events rather than maintaining permanent concession staffing.

A council member cited examples of competition pools that generate municipal revenue and said such facilities can bring business to downtown; Perino agreed that competition venues often become revenue generators but emphasized the city will solicit public input and study programming and staffing needs before committing to a configuration.

Next steps: the city will host the open house, circulate flyers and gather public preferences to inform design decisions and budget planning. Staff said they will present options and cost estimates in advance of any formal council action.