REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Discussion of the George F. Haines International Swim Center Visual Observation Assessment Conducted by LPA, Inc. and an Overview of Next Steps
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Sports, Recreational and Arts Assets
BACKGROUND
The George F. Haines International Swim Center ("Swim Center") has been in operation since 1967. The Swim Center includes an administrative building, support buildings for restrooms and storage, concrete viewing stands, a 50-meter x 25-yard competition pool, a 6-lane x 25-yard instructional pool and a diving pool with a diving tower that accommodates five springboards and a 10-meter diving tower.
The Swim Center is operated under the auspices of the City's Parks and Recreation Department which offers a vast array of aquatic programs for the public. In addition, the Swim Center has historically served as the home facility for local swimming groups such as the Santa Clara Swim Club, Aquamaids and the Santa Clara Dive Club.
The Swim Center, currently in its 56th year of operation, has far exceeded the standard useful life of a community pool which is generally accepted to be in the range of 25 to 40 years. Moreover, many of the amenities within the center have also exceeded their useful life as noted in the 2018 Parks & Recreation Facility Condition Assessment Document (Attachment #1 - Kitchell Report).
Over the years, there have been numerous discussions regarding the need for a renovated or rebuilt facility; however, polling results of Santa Clara voters has indicated that the level of support is not sufficient to warrant a revenue measure for a new Swim Center. Furthermore, the City does not have an existing capital improvement budget that could support the scope and magnitude of a renovated or rebuilt facility without negatively impacting the City's other unfunded capital needs which is estimated to be in excess of $571 million dollars. Consequently, the City has invested its limited resources ...
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