Rec district asks mayor and council to back one-cent sales-tax for new aquatics center

Ken Larson, director of the construction recreation district, told the mayor and council the town's community pool has outlived its lifespan and is increasingly costly to maintain, and he asked elected officials to support a temporary one-cent sales tax to fund a new aquatics center.

"It's gonna go at some point. And I hate to see the community without a pool," Larson said, noting the rec district spent more than $25,000 on repairs in the past year and taught "over 500 swim lessons" in the last season.

Larson said the district commissioned a feasibility study from Verbox Aquatics and Albertsons Engineering that evaluated renovating the current pool and building new. The consultants reportedly found major circulation and mechanical-room problems, corrosion and layout issues that make chemical control difficult; Larson said the pool was designed in the 1980s and cannot accommodate competition standards (it is "actually not 25 yards" and has six lanes) and is not deep enough for diving instruction.

The proposed replacement would sit on city-owned land adjacent to the rec center and include two distinct pools: a warmer pool (about 92'F) for small children and therapeutic users and a cooler pool (about 78'F) for lap swim and events. Larson said the design would add family changing rooms, separate locker rooms, multiple party rooms, an observation deck, concessions and zero-depth ADA entry; he also mentioned a lazy river and a larger hot tub to reduce admissions lines.

To pay for construction, Larson asked the council to support placing a "temporary specific-purpose" sales-tax increase (a one-cent or "penny" sales-tax) on the ballot in a special November election. "I'm here for your support as a municipality ... We would love to do that in a special election in November," he said, and added the rec district will pay for the special election and do marketing and outreach.

Larson provided rough revenue and timing estimates: he said a one-cent countywide sales-tax could generate about $5.8 million a year and gave a sample scenario that a roughly $20 million project (or a $27 million total under a different accounting) could take roughly 4.8 years to retire, depending on project selection and allocation. He cautioned county bonding capacity may be limited (he cited an estimate of about $9 million) and suggested phasing construction so work on a retaining wall and foundation could begin while other projects are funded.

Larson also said the rec district has set up a foundation to solicit donors and will continue to pursue grants (he told council he has not found grants that fully pay for an aquatic center but that some grants can fund ADA equipment). He reported consultations with neighboring municipal councils and asked whether the town would participate in the regional ballot or otherwise support the election.

Council members asked several operational and timing questions; Larson set an internal deadline to submit project information to staff (he said materials should be to "Amanda by July 17") and asked council to review project numbers ahead of that deadline.

Next steps: the rec district and Larson will provide requested project details and cost estimates for council review with the goal of finalizing ballot language and a participation decision later in the spring. The council indicated more discussion and review are necessary before formal action.