Amid an ongoing staffing and training disruption brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Austin City Council and the Austin Parks and Recreation Department are seeking to once again build up local lifeguard staffing ahead of the summer swim season.
A resolution from District 8 Council Member Paige Ellis aimed at addressing a "critical" staff shortage at Austin pools will be up for consideration at council's March 24 meeting. If approved, Ellis said the direction could see the city consider pay raises, bonuses and waived fees for lifeguards and other seasonal employees in an attempt to fill gaps and clear barriers in the hiring process. A report on those issues would be due to council by April 7.
“Swimming is synonymous with summer. If we can’t hire enough lifeguards for the season, Austinites will not have access to our local pools,” Ellis said in a statement. “For the past two years, many pools have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related supply chain and contractor challenges. Now that repairs and improvements have been completed, the only remaining impediment to opening our pools is fully staffing them with trained lifeguards.”
The hiring efforts come in response to closures and staffing shortfalls through the pandemic, the city said, as well as ongoing workforce shortages nationwide. Hundreds of seasonal positions have yet to be filled in Austin this year, and the anticipated shortfall has already prompted twice-a-week closures at Barton Springs Pool beginning this month.
