REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Update on the George F. Haines International Swim Center (ISC)
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Sports, Recreational and Arts Assets
BACKGROUND
On January 18, 2024, after receiving a report on conditions at the ISC that presented substantial risks to public health and safety, the City Manager directed that the ISC be closed immediately. Since that time, staff has provided regular updates to the City Council on the status of reports from regulatory agencies and the feasibility of re-opening the ISC. In the last update on March 12, 2024, staff noted that the City had received written reports from both the County Department of Environmental Health that regulates pools (County) and the City’s Building Official requiring the continued closure of the facility, but had not secured the cost estimates needed to remedy the identified deficiencies. Following Council discussion of the item, the City Council, by consensus, requested that staff proceed with the development of a punchlist that would get the pools in working condition as quickly as possible and on “a path of least resistance” to ensure compliance and restore service to the community. Prior Council discussion also included options to reopen the ISC or to identify an alternative temporary or permanent solution.
The purpose of this item is to provide the City Council with a status update on those costs and actions that have already been taken to remedy some of the deficiencies.
DISCUSSION
Enclosed as Attachment 1 is a copy of the report from the City’s Building Official.
Attachments 2, 3, and 4 are the three reports from the County Department of Environmental Health that relate respectively to the dive pool, lap pool and training pool.
The following is a summary of the major conditions that would need to be addressed in order to re-open the ISC:
From City Building Official report:
1. All buildings, grandstands, dive tower and dive pool, and all other related areas to be fenced off and closed to the public.
2. Provided conditions are met, the training and lap pools may be open; however, total occupancy for the facility shall be limited to two hundred (200) persons or less.
3. A minimum of two (2) egress paths fully operational and open during pool hours.
4. Provide the requisite number of showers and bathroom facilities required by the California Pluming Code (2022 CPC) based on posted maximum occupancy limits.
5. Inspection and approval of pool conditions by the County required prior to the opening of the facility.
6. All potential falling debris hazards are removed from areas directly above those locations
From County report:
Dive pool
1. Pool shell, bottom and sides shall be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition. City to replaster the pool.
2. Permanent markings shall be properly installed and maintained in good repair.
3. Steps, ladders and stairs shall be properly installed and maintained in good repair.
4. Functional flowmeter shall be provided. Repair or replace flow meters on recirculation system to accurately measure flow rate within 10% of flow.
5. Pool shall be enclosed by fence, building, wall and/or other durable enclosure.
6. All gates and doors shall be capable of being locked during times when the pool is closed.
7. Deck width shall beat least 4 feet around pool as measured from coping lip.
Lap Pool
1. Approved enclosure shall be properly installed and maintained in good repair.
2. Proper size and accessibility of life ring with proper length of attached rope shall be provided.
3. Pool shell, bottom and sides shall be maintained in safe and sanitary condition.
4. Permanent markers shall be properly installed and maintained in good repair.
5. Handholds & pool deck shall be maintained in safe and sanitary condition.
6. Functional Flowmeter shall be provided.
7. All gates and doors shall be capable of being locked during times pool is closed.
8. Deck width shall be at least 4 feet around pool as measured from coping lip.
Training Pool
1. Pool shell, bottom and sides shall be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition. City to replaster the pool.
2. Permanent markings shall be properly installed and maintained in good repair.
3. Functional flowmeter shall be provided. Repair or replace flow meters on recirculation system to accurately measure flow rate within 10% of flow.
4. All gates and doors shall be capable of being locked during times pool is closed.
5. Deck width shall be at least 4 feet around pool as measured from coping lip.
Overall Facility
1. Plans for any structural repairs that are required must be submitted for approval.
2. Pool must remain closed until all safety concerns are addressed.
3. All violations regarding pool enclosure and gates due to safety concerns must be corrected and plans submitted to County prior to any modifications.
Upon review of the two reports, and in alignment with Council’s direction to focus on efforts to explore re-opening the ISC as quickly as possible, staff proceeded to collect estimates from vendors to address the identified deficiencies. The following table provides a punchlist of the least amount of work that will be required to achieve compliance, together with corresponding cost estimates:
|
Action Required |
Estimate |
|
One-Time Costs |
|
Remediation of Lead on Canopy Gutters1 |
$14,600 |
|
Remediation/removal of Canopy Gutters1 |
$24,890 |
|
Exterior Fencing (vendor would only provide verbal estimate) |
$500,000 |
|
Interior Security Fencing & Gates1 (as this would be new fencing, it would be considered a Public Works project. Estimate makes this assumption) |
$310,000 |
|
Replastering of the Pools (expense does not include tile/deck repair; Actual cost will likely increase) |
$1,050,000 |
|
Total One-Time Costs |
$1,899,490 |
|
Ongoing Costs |
|
Porta Potties & 2 station sink (Lawn Bowl) Note: only until restrooms can be open |
$995 per month |
|
Shower Station (if contract is less than 6 months) 2 showers + ADA; 25% discount (if contract is longer than 6 months) |
$5,995 per month $53,955 annually w/discount |
|
Total Ongoing Costs |
$6,990 per month2 Would be reduced by $995 once restrooms are re-opened |
1Because remediation of the canopy is required to re-open the north and south restrooms as well as the storage areas, staff has already instructed the vendor to proceed with this work. The vendor is re-visiting the site next week and is tentatively scheduled to begin remediation on May 2. It is anticipated that the work will take approximately one month to complete. Once this work is completed, the City will no longer need to contract for the porta-potty units that were secured to support the lawn bowl participants.
2 Total ongoing monthly cost includes the shower station costs of $5,995/month and excludes the annual $53,995 cost for the 2 showers + ADA.
Given that the major cost is resurfacing of the pools and in accordance with Council’s desire to revisit whether a lesser option might be available, City staff inquired whether the County would consider repair of the plaster rather than a full resurfacing. The County responded that “Considering the plaster in these pools is more than 20 years old, the plaster needs to be replaced.”
Consequently, if the Council wishes to re-open the ISC, the minimum cost is approximately $1,900,000. It is important to keep in mind that should this investment be made, there is no guarantee that the pool will remain operational for any specific time period as there is no way to predict which piece of equipment might fail next. Moreover, with a maximum allowable occupancy of only 200 persons during the temporary re-opening, the City would be spending $10,000 per participant for those repairs. It is also important to keep in mind that re-opening the lap/training pools will only address the needs of the competitive Santa Clara Swim Club program and the City’s lap swim program as the dive well will remain closed and the ISC does not meet the needs of the Aquamaids who prefer warm, deep water.
Given the County’s April 17th decision to require replastering of the pools, the significant investment associated with that direction, and Council’s prior direction to look at both temporary and permanent solutions that would result in restoring access to City pools, staff is still looking into other potential options to provide access to appropriate facilities. To that end, the City has requested that the consultant team provide renderings and cost estimates for different design options, including a design that would incorporate a modular pool. The renderings are not available at the time of this report; however, they may be available by the time of the Council meeting on April 23rd. As soon as the renderings and cost estimates are completed, staff will schedule an additional Council update. At that time, staff will seek Council direction on a desired course of action and next steps.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(a) as it has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
This report does not have any fiscal impact as Council direction is not being requested at this time.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office and the City Manager.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Note and file the report.
Staff
Reviewed by: Cynthia Bojorquez, Assistant City Manager/Acting Director of Parks and Recreation
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. City of Santa Clara Building Official Report
2. County Department of Environmental Health Report (Dive Pool)
3. County Department of Environmental Health Report (Lap Pool)
4. County Department of Environmental Health Report (Training Pool)