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Council approves advertising bids, funding for Monroe Street Pool renovation after robust public support
Summary
After presentations and extensive public testimony from swimmers, coaches and school officials, Carlsbad's council authorized advertising for bids and appropriated construction funding to renovate and expand Monroe Street Pool to a 33‑meter facility, with estimated construction costs just under $23M and additional appropriation requested.
City staff presented plans to replace the 42-year-old Monroe Street Pool with a new 33-meter facility and asked the council to adopt a resolution approving plans, specifications and contract documents and to appropriate construction funding.
Parks and Recreation Director Kyle Lancaster and municipal projects manager Steven Stewart reviewed three design options developed from public input; the preferred option (concept 3) increases lane capacity and adds amenities. Stewart and staff described proposed site features (reoriented mechanical building, additional family restrooms, shade structures, on-site stormwater collection and a solar water-heating system). The project is CIP project number 4724.
Finance Director Zach Horash outlined the voter-approved Measure J spending limit (language from 2022) and an updated construction cost index that raised the authorized cap to $26,250,000. Staff presented a current construction estimate just under $23,000,000, noted prior appropriations of $4.8M, and requested an additional appropriation of approximately $18.15M to allow advertising for bids and future contract awards. Staff estimated operating costs could rise by about $370,000 a year after completion but said additional fee revenue would offset some of that increase.
Public comment included more than a dozen residents, student athletes and coaches who urged the council to proceed. Several students and coaches asked the council to consider a 50-meter pool to meet elite athletic needs; staff explained that a 50-meter configuration would reduce solar panel area, increase neighborhood impacts, require more parking and likely exceed the voter-approved funding limit and environmental review assumptions. Carlsbad Unified School District representative Eric Dillon thanked the council and said the district would coordinate to meet school needs during construction.
Councilmembers discussed timing, cost escalation, and closure impacts on other city and regional pools. Several members said restarting the design process for a 50-meter pool would delay construction by at least a year. Councilmember Melanie Burkholder moved to adopt the resolution to advertise for bids and appropriate $18,158,361 in construction funding; the motion passed unanimously.
Staff said they expect to return in early 2025 to request award of a construction contract and an inspection/management contract and that Alga Norte Aquatic Center and other pools will be managed to reduce service disruptions during construction.
