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Monrovia Unified hears aquatic center concepts; approves temporary Citrus College lease for teams
Summary
After extensive public comment urging a home pool, architects presented five aquatic facility concepts (50m to 25yd options) and board members discussed costs, CIF compliance, CEQA, tennis-court impacts and schedule. The board approved a temporary lease with Citrus College for high school water polo practice (Aug.25Oct.31).
Monrovia Unified School District trustees heard an architectspresentation of five aquatics concept options for Monrovia High School and received more than a half hour of public comments urging a home pool before approving a temporary lease for team practices at Citrus College.
Architects from Little Diversified Architects and Aquatic Design Group presented options ranging from a 50-meter Olympic-style facility to several 25- to 33-meter configurations and described construction and "soft" costs (design, surveys, DSA fees, contingencies). Jim Cordova, senior associate with Little Diversified Architects, said the largest concept would require rebuilding adjacent surfaces and could displace existing tennis courts; Michelle Gable, the aquatics consultant, said equipment and ADA items were included in construction-cost estimates.
"One of the concepts was covering the existing pool, coming up with a 50 meter pool," Cordova said during the presentation, noting that larger options would require relocating tennis courts and additional contingencies.
Public commenters pressed the district to move faster. Abigail Feldman, speaking for parents, summarized rental and transportation costs for hosted practices and contests: "Most of the public doesn't realize that it costs $1,200 a day to transport the kids to a different pool," she said, adding season and rental estimates that she said could put one season's costs at tens of thousands of dollars. Coach Julie Burns urged a regulation pool to support CIF competition and reduce long-term expenses.
Board members repeatedly cautioned that the evening was informational and that no funding or final decisions would be made tonight. "This evening is to receive the information from a staff report. That is it," President Hammond said before the architects' presentation.
Board members pressed the consultants on costs and compliance. Presenters corrected a misread figure and said the 50-meter option's total project estimate shown in the slides was $19,000,000; staff later noted adding typical soft-cost contingencies could push a realistic total closer to the mid-$20 millions for that option. Consultants also said only the 50-meter configuration would be clearly CIF-compliant for water polo without waivers.
As an interim measure, the board ratified a facility lease with Citrus College Community College District to allow Monrovia High School boys' and girls' water polo teams to use Citrus College's pool for practices and meets from Aug. 25, 2025, through Oct. 31, 2025. The motion passed by roll call, 5-0. President Hammond and other trustees described the lease as a temporary fix while the district continues study of permanent options.
Next steps the board requested: updated, clearly labeled cost breakdowns (construction vs. total project cost), a list of nearby pools for site visits, and transparent posting of those figures on the district website. Architects said the baseline schedule for construction, once authorized, would be about 15 months and that some options will require CEQA review.
The board did not vote on any pool concept or on bond funding for the project at this meeting. It approved the temporary Citrus College lease and asked staff and consultants to return with refined estimates and site visits to inform future decisions.
