Residents press council to save municipal pool; council refers pool and parks levy back to finance

Multiple members of the public urged the council to repair and reopen the municipal pool, and one resident offered to privatize and fund operations without city money.

"I'm asking for y'all to make a motion to privatize the city pool... I'm willing to take my money, my friends, and have that pool open by next year. No money from the city," the resident (speaker 11) said during public comment. Council members responded that a written plan and proof of funding would be necessary before any change in ownership or operation could proceed.

Chair explained a legal limitation: the park containing the pool had been donated with conditions requiring it remain a city park, and the city may be unable to transfer the property in a way that would remove the obligation to keep park uses intact. "We can't because that park was donated, and there's some legislation somewhere back when it was donated to us that we have to keep it as a park and keep it with the city," Chair said.

Council later referred the pool-and-park levy back to the finance committee for adjustments and indicated any levy that passes would provide free pool admission while it lasts. Council also announced a special council meeting to follow the committee meetings later in the week to take up finance items and the levy resolution. The council did not take final action to sell or privatize the pool at the meeting; members asked for formal plans and funding commitments before any transfer would be considered.