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Payson council forms stakeholder group and orders RFP to explore Taylor Pool options
Summary
After hours of debate and public testimony about costs and community priorities, the Payson Town Council voted to create a stakeholder committee and direct staff to develop a request for proposals to get updated design and cost estimates for Taylor Pool. The motion carried 6–0.
The Payson Town Council on Dec. 10 authorized formation of a stakeholder committee and directed staff to develop a request for proposals to obtain updated design features and cost estimates for Taylor Pool.
The council’s action followed a lengthy staff presentation that reviewed earlier assessments and a range of options — from a basic refurbishment to an expanded facility with additional lanes or a therapy pool — and emphasized that prior estimates excluded essential items such as parking, Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades and replacement pumps. Staff said initial high-level figures ranged widely depending on options and exclusions.
Laurie Thompson, who has been involved in local swim programming, told the council the issue is a public-safety and drowning-prevention priority and offered to lead a capital campaign and stakeholder outreach. “These kids deserve this. It is time to step up,” Thompson said in public comment.
Council members were divided over scope and funding. Some cited a prior RLB assessment that suggested a higher cost and urged caution; others pointed to alternative lower estimates and pressed for a second independent review. A recurring theme was whether the town should fund a full year‑round aquatic complex or focus on a practical refurbishment of the existing Taylor site.
To break the impasse, Councilmember Jim (mover) proposed forming a stakeholder group made up of council‑recommended community representatives, staff and practitioners to define the pool’s desired features, then put specifications out for a design‑build or contractor proposal. The council approved the motion 6–0.
The motion directs staff to (a) assemble the stakeholder committee, (b) define the functional features and programming requirements for a revised Taylor Pool scope, and (c) prepare procurement documents (RFP) so vendors can provide updated, site‑specific cost proposals for council review.
Council and staff said the next step is to return with a stakeholder roster, proposed RFP language and price ranges from responding firms; council members also discussed anchoring the work to the upcoming budget process rather than committing to construction funding at this meeting.
The council also discussed parallel improvements at the fairgrounds and potential borrowing scenarios, but limited the motion to the stakeholder/RFP steps for Taylor Pool. The stakeholder committee is expected to include swim‑instruction providers, parks staff and council‑recommended community members; specific members and a timetable will be returned to the council for approval.
The council’s action does not authorize construction or bonding; it funds procurement and fact‑finding to clarify costs and options.
The council carried the motion 6–0. The stakeholder committee and RFP timeline will be reported back to the council in a future meeting.
