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Home My WebLink About04/16/2002 Adjourned Meeting 489 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL APRIL 16, 2002 - 7 :30 A.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL 1. ROLL CALL Present: Council: Mayor Mary Place, presiding, Council Members Clarence Barnett, Lynn Buchanan, Paul George, Larry Mattson, John Puccinelli, and Bernard Sims Staff: Dick Zais, City Manager; Chris Waarvick, Director of Public Works; Denise Nichols, Parks and Recreation Manager; Debbie Wadleigh, Aquatics Program Supervisor; John Thomas, Parks Maintenance Supervisor; Lynn Quesenbury, Administrative Assistant; and City Clerk Roberts Also: Parks and Recreation Commission Members Mike Nixon (Chair), Phil Hoge, Rod Bryant and Jacquelline Meyer; and Terry Raspberry from the YMCA 2. REPORT FROM PARKS AND RECREATION DIVISION ON POOLS AND AQUATIC PROGRAMS Denise Nichols explained that this report is a follow -up from the unbudgeted policy issue submitted during the last budget process regarding the boiler problem at Washington Pool. Without the resources to repair or replace the boiler, the question was whether we should try to keep the pool operating. This question evolved into a bigger issue to review the many variables among all the outdoor pools. • Staff Reviews the Report Staff reviewed salient points contained in the report: • Section I of the report provides information on the 2002 budget policy issue • Section II of the report provides information on the demographics of the pools, including location of the pools and census tract information on the numbers of citizens the pools could serve in its neighborhood service area. • Section III of the report compares the outdoor pools' revenues against expenditures. ➢ Research shows that expenditures keep rising whereas revenues are staying relatively flat. ➢ Property tax receipts are about 50% of the division's revenue. If we are limited to 1% property tax growth in the future, it would mean a $16,000 growth if the Council chose to put it all towards recreational programs. ➢ Expenditures rose 5% from 2000 to 2001 primarily due to the increase in minimum wage. 49 0 APRIL 16, 2002 ADJOURNED MEETING > Attachment H gives a five -year history on the pools' revenues and expenses and level of self - support. It also provides information on the 2001 actual cost to operate each pool, giving a breakdown by staffing, utilities, maintenance, miscellaneous expenses and direct administrative costs. > Franklin Pool, at 66.8 %, has the highest level of self - support, due to the slide that attracts attendance from outside the pool's neighborhood service area. Miller Pool has the lowest level of self - support at 13.5 %, with Washington Pool close behind it at 15.2 %. > It costs about $5700 each week to operate the pools compared to operating costs of some playground programs at $700 to $1,000. > Washington and Milerl Pools' fees are lower to encourage attendance. A session at Franklin Pool costs $1.75; Eisenhower and Miller Pools have a cost of $1.50 and Washington is set at $1.00. > We have issued free passes to the eastside schools, but have only had a usage rate of 10 %. > There are a number of other competing activities available for children. • Section IV provides information on pool attendance with, an average cost per swimmer for each of the outdoor pools. > Attachment P provides information on the cost per swimmer: Eisenhower Pool was $3.98; Franklin Pool was $2.17; Miller Pool was $8.98, and Washington Pool had an average cost per swimmer of $6.72. • Section V addresses the physical needs of the pools. > Attachment S shows the history of the major maintenance of the pools, including the conversion to liquid chlorine, which was a safety issue. > Miller Pool is the oldest of the five pools, built in 1923, and Eisenhower Pool built in 1973 is the newest pool. > Attachment T shows the future capital needs for the pools: The replacement of all the shower boilers by 2006 generated a discussion regarding the quality of the boilers that are being purchased. > Attachment U illustrates what could replace the swimming pool at Miller Park, e.g. new basketball court, parking, skate park, picnic shelter, or new interactive spray toys. • Section VI is staff's list of options and alternatives for Council's consideration. > Attachment V consists of pictures of samples of spray toys that cost between $75,000 and $200,000. The spray toys operate on a sensor or button, have zero depth and don't require lifeguards. • Discussion Commenced Ms. Nichols offered options for Council's consideration if a pool is not opened for the summer: recruit sponsorship dollars for seasonal swimming passes for youth; offer free transit rides to any neighborhood pool during the summer swim season for youth 17 years old and under; and /or enhance supervised playground programs in parks without a pool. She stated that, ideally, communities are looking at aquatic centers; however, spray toys are on the market and are popular with the youth. 2 491 APRIL 16, 2002 ADJOURNED MEETING Mike Nixon spoke about the Parks and Recreation Commission's annual review of the Division's budget trying to balance it with the desire to serve the community. Their recommendation is to look at closing one or more pools and replace them with some kind of day park program. Denise Nichols stated that Yakima is above the state's average for swimming pools for the size of our community by two or three pools. Council Member Sims commented that if a pool is closed, we would want to find a replacement activity that includes the neighborhood's desires for activities in the park. Council Member Buchanan expressed his concern that if an east -side pool is closed, it is possible that many of the citizens will go swimming in the river where there are no lifeguards available. Terry Raspberry, YMCA, stated that this may be the time to consider building an aquatic center that offers multi - purpose pools at one location for different aquatic programs and events and includes a 50 mm pool, a shallow pool for young children, and separate pools for diving and therapy /exercise. • Staff Recommendations /Council Direction Chris Waarvick stated that staff would like direction from Council within the next few weeks about closing one or more of the pools. Staff is recommending that we keep Washington Pool open and close the pool at Miller Park; however, spray toys could not be installed this year. City Manager Zais suggested that Council be given two or three weeks to digest this information and that staff come back with additional information. Mr. Waarvick cautioned that staff would need a decision in time to prepare the pools that will be opened. Council Member Buchanan commented that staff is talking about closing Miller Pool because it has 2% less return, however, it's swimming fee is at a higher rate than Washington Pool. He advised staff that they would hear more from that neighborhood because its citizens are better organized. Council Member Puccinelli countered that Washington Pool's area has more children and less commercial zoned property. Mayor Place thought that we should consider an aquatic center in the future and a skate park for the eastside of the city. Council Member Puccinelli asked if staff considered charging a higher rate for non -city users. Ms. Nichols responded that staff considered a discount for city residents, but the kids don't know where the city limits are in relationship to where they live. Phil Hoge stated that it doesn't matter what the participation rate is for swimming pools, the tax subsidy for each pool is about the same at approximately $34,000 per pool. What is apparent is how we can spend that money. If we close a pool we could offer a 7 -8 hour day program for about the same cost. Mayor Place said that staff will go to the neighborhood and talk to the people and come back with a recommendation. She commented that she didn't hear Council saying "no" to closing a pool. • Comments from the Audience Gailon Gentry, Apple Valley Kiwanis, advised Council that his group has made a board decision to spearhead a funding program for a skate park in the eastside of the city. 3 492 APRIL 16, 2002 ADJOURNED MEETING 3. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:58 a.m. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: _ / �� C• N'' MEMBER / •ATE /__ OUNCIL MEMBER 'BATE ATTEST: X alt-e-vt-/ 5.2 (A/K..( CITY CLERK MARY PLACE, MAYOR Minutes prepared by Karen Roberts. An audio and video tape of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office 4