Council narrows aquatic center plan to 8-lane pool, opts not to add extra deck space

Councilors on July 28 signaled a consensus to pursue an eight-lane, 25-yard competition pool alongside a community room and retractable bleachers while declining a proposed extra deck-space option that would have added roughly $840,000 to the project estimate.

Consultant Erica Dunn (on Zoom) presented design options and costs that ranged from a base $88.76 million concept to $89.6 million if additional deck space and locker reconfiguration were included. Dunn said adding two more competition lanes (an 8-to-10 lane change) would add about $2.75 million in soft costs and roughly $3.0 million in total capital, and that additional warm-up lanes would increase annual operating subsidies roughly $65,000 to $135,000 depending on configuration.

Adam Garvin, city manager, summarized the council's questions about naming rights and private funding for upgrades, and said the city would engage bond counsel to calculate a tax-rate impact per $1,000 assessed value for a May bond measure. "So this 88.76 design is what you guys are looking for?" Garvin asked near the meeting's close; the council confirmed the 8-lane, 3-warm-up-lane layout without the extra deck.

Park and Recreation Director Jeannie (last name not specified at the meeting) said staff will continue outreach to user groups including swim teams and the school district to refine program needs and gallery/bleacher seating. Councilors stressed balancing multiuse recreation needs with fiscal responsibility; Councilor Tukulski said he would support additional deck space only if it could be privately funded through naming rights.

Staff will return with bond-counsel calculations and planned outreach; Garvin said staff will bring a refined $89 million bond proposal to council for scheduling and outreach leading up to a May 2027 ballot if the city moves forward.