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Smith Park pool reopens; City lays out summer swim lessons, rental fees and staffing plans
Summary
City aquatics staff told the commission the Smith Park pool heater is operating, preseason lifeguard training is underway, resident registration for swim lessons opens May 18 with general registration May 26, and rental rates include $100 plus $30/hour per lifeguard (nonprofit rate $75/hour).
The Smith Park pool is back in service and city aquatics staff outlined the summer program details to the Community Services Commission on May 4. Andy, the aquatics lead, reported the heater is "up and running," lifeguards are in preseason training and the pool will operate on an expanded recreational schedule beginning June 6.
Andy said recreational swim, lap swim and five cycles of swim lessons will run through the summer: registration for residents opens May 18 with a special 5:307 a.m. office window and remains resident-only until May 26; general registration opens May 26 at 9 a.m. Classes begin June 8, with a Saturday cycle beginning July 11. Class lengths are roughly 30 minutes for morning sessions, 45 minutes for evening sessions and 50 minutes on Saturdays; some beginner classes are capped to keep instructor-to-student ratios low.
On fees and rentals, staff said the pool is heated to about 83 degrees and outlined rental pricing: private rentals carry a base $100 fee plus lifeguard staffing at $30 per hour; nonprofits receive a reduced $75 hourly rental rate. A refundable $200 deposit applies to all rentals. Andy said junior-lifeguard and semi-private lesson (SPSL) options return this summer to help develop an instructor pipeline, noting the junior program asks participants to complete about 30 volunteer hours as a feeder into paid lifeguard roles.
Staff also described improvements to registration processes: new credit-card machines are expected to reduce delays, and the department plans to monitor enrollment across cycles to add capacity if more instructors become available. Assistant Director Matthew Morales Stevens told commissioners the aquatics program is funded through the general fund and was not affected by the loss of CDBG support.
The commission asked about rates, staffing, locker-room access during rentals and program economics; staff said core programming (lessons) tends to cover direct instructor costs while facility operation remains a public service. Commissioners suggested follow-up items including posting fees and reservation details clearly at the pool and confirming the exact pool rental hourly rate on the city website.
