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Editor's note: The name of the aquatic center has been changed to reflect the correct facility.
During an April 13 special session, city staff and council members discussed concerns about the Evergreen Aquatic Facility.
The conditions
The pool, which was built in 1956, has several high-priority issues that need to be addressed before summer, said Parks, Recreation and Facilities Director Ryan Smith.
While presenting a new report on the state of the pool facility, Smith gave council members a list of high-priority issues that include:
The report also included data about operating budgets, staffing costs and average usage. For example, Smith said the annual facility cost is approximately $90,000, with summer staffing costing an additional $82,000.
Diving deeper
In Smith’s presentation to city staff and council members, he recommended addressing all high-priority issues and listed additional repairs that would be beneficial to have done before summer.
The list of additional repairs includes:
During the special session, council members could review and discuss items presented, but were not permitted to call a vote or approve any items, according to the meeting’s agenda.
What they’re saying
Smith also said that even though the pool is outdated, it is still structurally safe for use.
He briefly brought up alternative options, such as renovating, replacing or closing the pool, but city staff and council members focused more on Smith’s recommendations for addressing current concerns rather than future plans.
“The decision now is we've got some challenges with the pool,” said City Manager Sharon Citino. “We want to open it on time according to the normal season, and we want to make sure [City Council] is aware of what those impacts are in terms of the budget ... I think the recommendation from staff is let's really do that and hope that the pool continues to be operational for several years, with an eye on what the future plan is.”
Before you go
From May 15 to June 5, the Evergreen Pool will be open for lap swimming Monday through Friday and leisure swimming on Saturday and Sunday. Starting June 6, the pool will be open daily for leisure swim from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Saturday and 1-8 p.m. on Sunday.
