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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-04-22; City Council; 17148; Alga Norte Community Park Aquatics ComplexAB# 17,148 MTG. 4-22-03 DEPT. Recreation RECOMMENDED ACTION : TITLE : ALGA NORTE COMMUNITY PARK AQUATICS COMPLEX - MASTER PLAN CITY MGR.~~ It is recommended the City Council ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2003-109 accepting the Alga Norte Community Park Aquatics Complex Master Plan report and directing staff to pursue one of three aquatics complex development options: (1) Option No. 7 recommended by the Project Team consisting of City staff and the design consultants; (2) Option No. 5 with the modifications recommended by the Parks and Recreation Commission; or, (3) a different option created by the City Council. ITEM EXPLANATION : On January 14, 2003, the City Council approved the Alga Norte Community Park Master Plan which included a 3.3-acre "place holder" intended for a future aquatics complex (Exhibit 2). The City Council also directed staff to study both the current and future aquatics needs of the entire community and develop a Master Plan for an aquatics complex to be sited within Alga Norte Community Park. Recreation staff, with the assistance of the project design consultants, have completed the Master Plan report which is hereby presented for review and action by the City Council (Exhibit 3). Site Visits and Public Input Workshop On February 6 and 7, 2003, the Project Team, along with City representatives including 3 City Council members and 2 members of the Parks and Recreation Commission, toured three (3) existing aquatics complexes in the Northern California cities of Roseville, Folsom, and West Sacramento. Because the one-day site tours occurred over a 2-day period, at no time did 3 City Council members meet together. Therefore, formal notice of a "Council meeting" was not required. These facilities were selected because they best mirrored Carlsbad's general aquatics program needs along with similarities in population size, demographics, community vision and values, citizens' priorities placed upon active recreation facilities, and other factors. The goal of the site visits was to gain insight from examples that are design possibilities for the Alga Norte Community Park Aquatics Complex. A great deal was learned from these site visits. On February 27, 2003, a public workshop was held at our Faraday conference facility to present six (6) possible design options that were created based upon the Northern California aquatics complex tours along with input from our consultants and City Recreation staff. Nearly 80 members of the general public participated in reviewing and discussing these design options. The focus quickly became defining the priorities of recreation, instruction, and competition pool components. The input from these 80 members of the public revealed the highest citizen priority for the project is a 50-meter competition pool. The second highest priority was found to be the inclusion of an instruction pool component. The group also identified a strong recreation component as a third priority. With respect to the recreation component, it was acknowledged by the majority of the group in attendance that a recreation component could potentially capture greater revenue thereby significantly increasing recovery of ongoing maintenance and operation expenses. There was also discussion regarding the need for an aquatic therapy component to address the needs of seniors, the handicapped, and those requiring ongoing physical therapy. Agenda Bill No. Page 2 17 I 148 The February 27, 2003 workshop was designed and intended to be an opportunity to share ideas, concepts, and priorities and receive direct public input and commentary regarding the present and future aquatics needs of the community. The public members in attendance did express general preferences for particular pool components which best served their individual goals for the Aquatics Complex. Based upon input from the aquatics complex tours and the public workshop, two (2) additional options (Numbers 7 and 8) for the aquatics complex were developed by City staff and the design consultants. The Project Team believes these two (2) options address the current and future needs of the entire Carlsbad community from a number of perspectives including user needs, development and operation costs, and allowing for future revenue generation. These two (2) additional options are depicted within the Master Plan report. Current C.I.P. Budqet Pool Definition, Budqet, and Schedule The current fiscal 2002 - 2003 CIP budget defines the aquatics complex as “a 50-meter pool with supporting facilities.” The budget also identifies a total project budget of $5.9 million for the development of this definition of the aquatics complex and schedules this funding in year 2007. Proiect Team Recommended Option As indicated within the Master Plan report, the Project Team, consisting of City staff and the City’s design consultants, recommend Option No. 7 (Exhibit 4) as the configuration for the Alga Norte Community Park Aquatics Complex. This recommendation is based upon three (3) factors: (1) Option No. 7 is the option which most closely matches up with the existing CIP project budget of $5.9 million for the development of the Aquatics Complex as currently defined within the budget. City staff is obligated to recommend a project solution which best meets the available funding; (2) Option No. 7 is the option which meets the most, but not all, aquatics program needs for the dollars available. Competition, instruction, and partial recreation needs would be fulfilled to the greatest extent possible within the limits of the funds available; and (3) Option No. 7 provides the most flexibility and growth potential for the future of the Aquatics Complex. The area to the north of the 8-lane instruction and lap pool remains open and available for future construction of other pool components. Parks and Recreation Commission Recommended Option On March 24, 2003, the Project Team presented the Alga Norte Community Park Aquatics Complex Master Plan report to the Parks and Recreation Commission at their regularly scheduled meeting. Staff recommended approval of Option No. 7 for the reasons stated above. Following public testimony and considerable Commission discussion, the Commission voted unanimously (5 - 0) to recommend to the City Council Option No. 5 (Exhibit 5) as described within the Master Plan report and to include the following enhancements: (1) increase the size of e Agenda Bill No. 17 I 148 Page 3 the 8 lane instruction pool to 10 lanes, and, (2) include an approximately 375 square foot therapy pool in this option. The Commission completed its discussion of this item by recommending the City Council build the entire aquatics complex portion of Alga Norte Community Park with the initial development of the park construction. The Commission’s recommendation of this option was based upon three (3) factors: (1) Option No. 5, as modified, will meet the City’s complete aquatics program needs in the areas of recreation, instruction, and competition; (2) Option No. 5. as modified and constructed consistent with the schedule for Alga Norte Community Park, is responsive to the November, 2002 citizen’s approval of Proposition “C;” and (3) Phasing or delaying substantial components of the Aquatics Complex construction over time will result in increased development costs when later constructed and years of lost revenue which would otherwise be used to offset annual maintenance and operations expenses. City staff and our design consultants wish to point out there are virtually limitless possible configurations available for the development of the Carlsbad Aquatics Complex. What has been made clear, however, by the considerable public input received, the site visits by City officials to other municipal pool facilities, the input from our design consultants, and the years of experience of our Recreation Department staff managing the current pool facility on Monroe Street is that development of a single 50-meter competition pool at the Alga Norte Community Park site will fulfill only one (1) of three (3) aquatics program areas. A multi-pool complex will be required to meet the current and future recreation, instruction, and competition needs of the entire Carlsbad communitv. With this acknowledgment in mind, it is recommended the City Council, first, define the pool components to fit the program, and second, determine the timing schedule that best fits available funding within the entire CIP budget. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT The proposed Aquatics Complex is a component of Alga Norte Community Park which is located within the boundaries of the Villages of La Costa Master Plan. An environmental impact report was developed for the Villages Project and identified the Alga Norte Community Park site as future City park. Following preparation of the final project description, the Alga Norte Community Park Project, including the Aquatics Complex, will undergo it’s own environmental review and CUP process under current regulations. FISCAL IMPACT: Currently, the Capital Improvement Program budget indicates Phase I (construction of the entire Alga Norte Community Park, less the 3.3-acre aquatics complex) to be completed in 2005, with a budget of $8.25 million. Phase II, the construction of the aquatics complex, has a current budget of $5.9 million and is currently scheduled in the 2007-2012 time frame. The phasing and schedule for the park are subject to change depending upon CIP priorities to be reviewed in May and June, 2003 as part of the CIP budget review process. 3 Agenda Bill No. 17t148 Page 4 Attached are two (2) exhibits which address the development cost estimates for all options (Exhibit 6) and the maintenance, operation, and cost recovery estimates for all options (Exhibit 7). City staff will be reviewing these in detail during the City Council presentation of this item. Staff will also address in the presentation opportunities for partnership and sponsorship programs to help reduce ongoing costs. Upon the City Council’s direction as to which option to pursue, staff will bring back the facility for further direction and scheduling as part of the 2003-2004 CIP process. I 1. Resolution No. 2003-109 accepting the Alga Norte Community Park Aquatics Complex report and recommending consideration of different pool options. 2. Alga Norte Community Park Master Plan adopted by City Council on January 14,2003. 3. Alga Norte Community Park Aquatics Complex report dated March 19, 2003. Copies previously distributed to City Council Members. Copies on file for public review in the 2 City Libraries, Recreation Administration Office, and Office of the City Clerk. 4. Option No. 7. 5. Option No. 5, as modified, by the Parks and Recreation Commission. 6. Development cost estimates. 7. Maintenance, operation, and cost recovery estimates. 8. Summary Report of March 24, 2003 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting. 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 RESOLUTION NO. 2003-109 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, ACCEPTING THE ALGA NORTE COMMUNITY PARK AQUATICS COMPLEX MASTER PLAN REPORT AND APPROVING A RECOMMENDED AQUATICS CONFIGURATION WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California desires to develop an aquatics complex at Alga Norte Community Park to meet the growing aquatics needs of the entire Carlsbad community; and WHEREAS, City staff and its design team consultants have completed an Aquatics Complex Master Plan report addressing the issues related to this project; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California hereby finds it necessary, desirable, and in the public interest to accept the aforementioned report and review the Aquatics Complex options and cost estimates contained therein NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as follows: 1. 2. 3. Ill Ill Ill Ill Ill That the above recitations are true and correct. That the Alga Norte Community Park Aquatics Complex Master Plan report is hereby accepted. That the City Council shall direct staff at this meeting to pursue a pool configuration option, or shall create a new and/or different pool configuration, for the Alga Norte Community Park Aquatics Complex and said facility description and schedule shall be brought back to the City Council along with the 2003-2004 CIP program for further consideration. 5- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Carlsbad City Council held on the day of ,2003 by the following vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: CLAUDE A. LEWIS, Mayor ATTEST LORRAINE M. WOOD, City Clerk Resolution NO. 2003-109 -2- (SEAL) b EXHIBIT 2 NOVEMBER 18,2002 MASTER PLAN FOR ALGA NORTE COMMUNITY PARK EXHIBIT4 - - FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS: ESTIMATED COST OF CONSTRUCTION (2003): $6.4 Million ESTIMATED ANNUAL OPERATING COST (2003): $895,988 POTENTIAL ANNUAL COST RECOVERY (2003): 48 % n MScME8-m 7 MARCH 19,2003 SCHEMATIC AQUATICS COMPLEX OPTION ALGA NORTE COMMUNITY PARK EXHIBIT 5 . FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS: ESTIMATED COST OF CONSTRUCTION (2003): $8.5 Million ESTIMATED ANNUAL OPERATING COST (2003): $1,053,067 POTENTIAL ANNUAL COST RECOVERY (2003): 52% 19. n (I I**).*y*l MARCH 27.2003 CARLSBAD PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION RECOMMENDED AQUATICS COMPLEX OPTION -I ..-A *M UYOII ALGA NORTE COMMUNITY PARK 3 F I 3 3 i 3 3 i t 3 I i I t 5 I t i I t i 3 I i I I 5 r: > ! 6 : EXHIBIT 6 EXHIBIT 7 A U >r i3 n >I - 3 3 3 i - 3 3 5 - 3 3 4 - 3 3 4 - 3 3 3 4 - 3 3 4 - 3 3 3 4 - 3 3 4 - 3 3 4 cr: E e 2 E k I: - E i E E E E E i ! i e E i ! 5 I EXHIBIT 8 March 25,2003 TO: MAYOR LEWIS MAYOR PRO TEM FlNNlLA CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS KULCHIN, HALL, PACKARD FROM: SENIOR MANAGEMENT ANALYST SUMMARY REPORT OF MARCH 24,2003 PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING PUBLIC COMMENT Mr. John McKay addressed the Commission with a request to plant a tree in memorial to Mr. Jerry McClellan. The request was referred to the Public Works Department for review by the General Services Manager. CONSENT CALENDAR The following items were unanimously (5-0) approvedheceived by the Commission. 1. AB #303-1 - Summary Report of the December 16” Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting. 2. AB #302-2 - Receipt of donation from Joan Kindle, volunteer curator of the Carrillo Ranch. 3. AB #303-3 - Citizen’s letter regarding the City Council’s action relative to the Northwest Quadrant Community Park Master Plan Approval. 4. AB #303-4 - A letter from Rick Lank regarding the future swim complex at Alga Norte Park. DEPARTMENTAL RE PORTS 5. AB #303-5 ALGA NORTE COMMUNITY PARK / AQUATIC COMPLEX MASTER PLAN - After staff presentation, public comment and considerable Commission discussion, the Commission unanimously (5-0) endorsed (with additions) the aquatic design complex as outlined by option #5 “The second balanced alternative” identified in the aquatic complex study prepared by Wimmer, Yamada & Caughey. The features that the Commission recommended to add were a 375 sq. ft. warm water therapy pool and an additional two lanes to the existing eight lane training pool. The Commission also reinforced their previous recommendation to build the swim complex as part of the initial development of Alga Norte Community Park. 6. 7. AB #303-6 PROPOSED FEE INCREASES FOR THE EXISTING AQUATIC FACILITY AND PROGRAMS - After staff report and public comment, the Commission unanimously recommended that staff return to the Commission with a fee structure for aquatic programming and facility rental that more accurately reflects a self-sustaining percentage of 52%. As proposed, the aquatic fee revenues vs. expenses for FY 03-04 would have resulted in an approximate 45% self-sustaining percentage. AB #303-7 PROPOSED PUBLIC ART COMPONENT FOR LARWIN COMMUNITY PARK -With respect to the proposed artwork, and comments relating to the public review process, the Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously supported the need for an identification or educational plaque with the artists name and a brief explanation outlining the theme of the proposed art piece. C: City Manager Assistant City Manager Department Heads Commission Staff Liaisons PRC File April 22,2003 TO: FROM: SURVEI CITY COUNCIL CITY MANA INFORMATION RELATING TO PUBLIC F, CILTIES Attached is information that was gathered as part of the 2000 Citywide Survey and the 2001 Paired Comparison Survey. The 2000 Citywide survey, (Attachment l), shows the results of a survey requesting that citizens rate the importance of various public facilities. The list was predetermined and the citizens did not have to rate them in rank order, which means that they could give everything a high value if they wanted. As a follow up to this survey, Council directed staff to conduct a forced choice survey with four specific public facilities in mind. These facilities were: a golf course, city trails, a community park at Pine School, and a swim complex at Alga Norte Park. The citizens were required to choose one facility over another, and the survey asked the questions with and without the financial impacts to better determine the public's choice. The results of this comparison showed that the citizens ranked their preference as: trails, Northwest Community Park, Pool Complex, and Golf Course in that order. Attachment 2 provides the description of the project and the costs used for comparison. Attachment 3 provides the results of the comparison between the pool complex and the NW Community Park. As you can see, the results were that the park was favored by approximately 57%, versus 39% for the pool. If you have any further questions regarding this information, please let me know. ATTACHMENT #1 k'. Table 10: Average Importance Ratings of City Programs and Facilities. Mean Std. N (Average) Deviation Importance of Preserved Open Space Land (Accessible to the Public) Importance of Nature Trails, Jogging and Waking Paths Importance of Picnic Arcas Importance of Children's Play Equipment Importance of Arts and Cultural Programs Importance of Playing Fields Importance of Bike Paths Importance of Swimming Pools Importance of Community Gardens Importance of Basketball Courts Importance of Public Golf Courses Importance of Indoor Meeting Rooms. lmponance of Tennis Courts Valid N (listwise) 989 989 990 986 999 989 992 990 984 98 1 993 978 980 928 8.4 1 7.86 7.33 7.25 7.16 7.12 6.58 6.47 6.06 5.65 5.62 5.44 5.09 2.3 1 2.35 2.29 2.79 2.44 2.71 2.92 2.84 2.68 2.92 3.44 2.66 2.91 QPROGS I - QPROGS I3 HOW important 10 you are each of the following on a scale of 0 to IO. where zero means not at all imponant, and ten means very imponant? In general, residents believed swimming pools to be important. is interesting, though, to examine more closely the ratings of the importance of swimming pools. The distribution of responses rating the importance of swimming pools is displayed in Figure 1. Most (57.2%) of the respondents offered an importance rating between 5 and 8, and there were also many (1 9.2%) that s?id swimming pools are very important. January 16,2001 Version: City of Carlsbad, 2000 - SBIU 18 I I I I I I I I I I 1 I z 1 I 6 1 ATTACHMENT #2 Table 1. Total and Per-Household Project Cost Total Cost Per-Household Cost Citywide Trails Program $3,000,000.00 $90.00 Community Park $7,200,000.00 $210.00 50 - Meter Pool $5,500,000.00 $1 60.00 Municipal Golf Course $25,000,000.00 $740.00 Respondents were informed that, "there is no intent to collect this amount from households; the second figure is being presented merely for comparison purposes." The financial information about the projects was disclosed to add an additional factor in the second round of preference queries. December 14, 2001 Version: Carlsbad Paired Comparisons, 2001 - D3AFT 2 The data come from 510 telephone surveys administered to Carlsbad city residents during June 200 1. The questions concerning comparison choices were assigned in random order and in random blocks to reduce bias in responses. In this way, no one project received priority by being mentioned first in the paired order for every respondent. For example, in the comparison between the Community Park and the 50 - Meter Pool, one respondent would receive the question as .a choice between the park or the pool, and the next respondent would hear the choice read as the pool or the park. Each of the four recreation projects were tested against all others, for a total of six comparison choices. Respondents were read the following descriptions of the four recreation projects in random order: The first project is a SO-Meter Po01 located at a future park site north of Alga Road and east of El Camino Real in the northeast La Costa area. This project includes land acquisition and construction of a 50-meter pool, a Pool House with a locker room and storage, offices and meeting rooms. It could be expanded later into a larger aquatic complex. The next project is a Com~~~unie Park at the former location of Pine School, two blocks south of the Carlsbad Village downtown area, This project could include ball fields, a playground, picnic tables and a community center facility. December 14, 2001 Version: Carlsbad Paired Comparisons, 2001 - DRAFT I 6 The next project is a MIlrjdpd GolfcoanS, located between Palomar-McClellen Airport and Legoland. This project would include an 18-hole championship length golf course, driving range, clubhouse and restaurant. The next project is a Citywide Trail prolzram. This project includes acquisition of land to "link" existing trails within the city, and development of new trail segments. These trails could be used for walking and bicycling, but would not allow horseback riding. These descriptions, along with project financial information, were available to telephone interviewers whenever respondents asked for clarification during the course of an interview. The sample responding to the Paired Comparisons survey was 49.0% male and 51 .O% female. Over one-third of the respondents had lived in Carlsbad less than three years, with 37.0% claiming eleven or more years of residency. Slightly more than half (51.8%) of the residents contacted for the telephone survey lived in the northern section of Carlsbad. About one quarter (26.9940) of the respondents were under 35 years of age, another 33.3% were between 35 and 49, and 20.1% were at least 60 years old. Over one-third (36.3%) of the respondents reported I December 14, 2001 Version: Carlsbad Paired Comparisons, 2001 - DFjAIV 7 ATTACHMENT #3 Flgucu, 1: Community Pa* vn 50 -Meter Pool prr*.Fkrancc, I Community Park I50 - Meter Pool 0 No Preference 57.4% Figure 1A Community Park ~8.50 - Meter Pool Past-Finanea I Community Park I50 - Meler Pool U No Preference 55, 18.4% .5% 9 April 22,2003 The Honorable Bud Lewis Mayor, City of Carlsbad City Hall Carlsbad, CA 92008 Dear Mayor Lewis, On behalf of the Board of Directors of the San Diego International Sports Council I want to express our support to build a multi-pool swimming complex within the City of Carlsbad. The San Diego International Sports Council is dedicated to promoting San DiegolTijuana as the preferred destination for sporting events and activities that benefit the community economically and socially. Currently, San Diego CounQ does not have a swimming complex of national or international caliber. A multi-pool swimming complex can serve the Carlsbad community as well as host swimming, water polo and synchronized swimming events on a regional, national and international level. A single pool will not improve the county's swimming infrastructure. In working with sports commissions around the country and officials from USA Swimming, we have learned that a multi-pool swimming complex serving regional and community needs incorporates the following: ~5O-meter by 25-yard or 25-meter competition pool (shallowest depth at 2-meters) .30-meter by 25-yard diving well that can also be used as a lap pool .Teaching pool for children with a depth of 3-4 feet =Baby or children's pool with interactive toys This type of swimming complex can be a resource for the community as well as a showcase for national and international competition. Annually, we pass on a number of opportunities to secure large-scale youth, collegiate and Olympic caliber swimming events for San Diego. Events within the NCAA, USA Swimming, USA Water Polo and USA Synchronized Swimming can generate operating revenues for the facility and increase economic activity for our region. We strongly support efforts to build a multi-pool swimming complex in Carlsbad and upon its completion will work with the City of Carlsbad to secure these events. We look forward to this opportunity becoming a reality. Sincerely, Ky Snyder President Remarks of Larry David before the April 20,2003 Carlsbad City Council Meeting Subiect: APenda Bill #17,148 For the record and before my time begins, I am Larry David, and I reside at 7042 El Fuerte St., Carlsbad. As a point of information, I respectfully request that a transcript of these remarks along with copies of my April 15,2003 letters sent to each of you be included with the formal record of this meeting. I will give the clerk copies upon the conclusion of my remarks. Thank you. Mr. Mayor, Council Members, you will recall, last June 18th, I posed the question to you, “What do we Carlsbad citizens have to do to get you to build a new aquatic complex as quickly as you purchased a $16 million office building with virtually no due-diligence having been done beforehand?” A purchase that the conclusion, reached at the conference held by the City for three days last month, indicated was a major mistake. Well you gave us the answer to my question, and, we have more than fulfilled your requirements. The citizens, the staff, and the Parks and Recreation Commission have all worked diligently to provide the necessary information and debate, which allowed the Commission to reach its thoughtful and reasonable recommendation, a recommendation amply supported by the record, and specifying, among other components, a 50-meter pool. How this Council can do anything but adopt, at a minimum, the Commission7s recommendation is beyond me, and any other reasonable person. The City Council initiated and supervised the process, which culminates this evening. Each of the current council members, beginning last June and leading up to the November 5th election last year, has publicly indicated their commitment to support the aquatic complex recommendation resulting from this process, which always contemplated the inclusion of a 50- meter pool. After multiple meetings and much debate, the Council put Proposition C on the November 5th ballot. The Mayor, Ms. Kulchin and Ms. Finnila all voted in support of the Proposition and signed the voter pamphlet argument in its favor. The Mayor, aside from supporting Proposition C, has stated the city has about $78 million in reserve, which can be applied to projects.’ Aside from supporting a 50-meter pool2, Mr. Hall has told me privately he wanted to hear from the citizens how they want to spend the excess reserve. He has also indicated publicly he is in favor of freeing up about $24 million of the current $80 million re~erve.~ Parenthetically, the City’s finance director indicated that freeing up $38 million is rea~onable.~ By either figure, there is ample money to construct the aquatic complex as recommended by the Parks and Recreation Commission. Ms. Kulchin has publicly said, “[The Council is] saying, look folks, you’re telling us you want these things [including the swim complex] . . . if we could eliminate Proposition H, we could start to do [them] right Mr. Packard when asked during his campaign for election to this Council, “What are the three most important issues in this race?” responded in relevant part “ . . . Parks, a swim complex and other recreational facilities need to be built in a more timely way so that all the citizens can have access.’76 On November 5th, 14,830 Carlsbad citizens, 60% of those voting on the issue, voted in favor of Proposition C. Parenthetically, this voter percentage is higher than any of you received in your last elections. Further, none of you received over 33% of the registered votes in those elections.’ Hardly mandates allowing you to govern on whim ignoring the needs of your constituents, Mr. Mayor! 2of 4 On November 18th, the Parks and Recreation Commission approved the Alga Norte Park Master Plan with the recommendation that the Council instruct staff to study the community’s aquatic needs and report back to the Commission so that the Commission could, no later than now, recommend an aquatic complex to the Council to be constructed in the first phase of the park. At its January 14th meeting, the City Council did as requested. Subsequently, the staff held a public forum on the issue. The top priority coming out of this forum, attended by some 80 Carlsbad citizens plus staff, was a 50-meter competition pool, second was an instruction pool component, and third was a strong recreation component. On March 4th, the Parks and Recreation Commission discussed these recommendations. The unanimous vote of the Commission is the recommendation it has put forward this evening. Is the Commission recommended facility all the citizens said they wanted? No, it is not! However, it is my belief the citizens will accept the Commission’s compromise. The minutes of this March 4th meeting show further, “The Commission also reinforced their previous recommendation to build the swim complex as part of the initial development of [the park] .” In publicly discussing the cost of the aquatic complex shown in Proposition C, Ms. Kulchin, echoing words I have heard from other Council members, said [the cost of the project] won’t be known until the public tells the council what it would like the complex to include and the council holds hearings.* Well, we have told you, and the hearings have been held. As a result: The Parks and Recreation Commission has presented the Carlsbad community’s aquatic needs tonight which includes the top priority 50-meter pool; These needs are based on the most extensive project evaluation ever done by this city; 3of 4 0 The citizens are willing to accept the Commission’s compromise recommendation; 0 The funds have been authorized by the citizens to build the project; 0 The proposal’s projected operating cost recovery exceeds the threshold established by the Council; 0 Your own staff has researched other aquatic complexes, all of which contain 50-meter pools, and this research indicates the proposal’s cost recovery estimates are conservative; 0 0 You, the council, have promised, directly and impliedly, to build this complex; and We, the Carlsbad voters, insist this Council now do the right thing, and the right thing is to approve tonight’s Parks and Recreation Commission recommendation without any downgrading amendments such as delaying the construction of any of the pools. It is what you promised to do. 1 4 5 Michael Burge, Spending-approval cap targeted I Proposition would erase Carlsbad limit, San Diego Union Tribune, October 12,2002. Mr. Hall’s campaign statement in the November 5, 2002 election voter pamphlet. Michael Burge, Spending-approval cap targeted Proposition would erase Carlsbad limit, San Diego Union Tribune, October 12,2002. Hala Ali Aryan, Carlsbad council may ask for leeway in spending, San Diego Union Tribune, July 19, 2002 Hala Ali Aryan, fi, San Diego Union Tribune, July 19,2002. Staff Writer, Carlsbad Citv Council, San Diego Union Tribune, October 13, 2002. November 7,2000 and November 5,2002 Official San Diego County Voter Canvasses. Michael Burge, Prop. C’s potential price tag at issue I Cost of four projects could top $25 million, San Diego Union Tribune, October 25, 2002 4of 4 . April 15, 2003 Honorable Bud Lewis, Mayor City of Carlsbad 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive Carlsbad, CA 92008 ALL RECEIVED 23 AGENDAITEM # ct Mayor City Council City Manager City Attorney City Clerk ____II) ___I_ Dear Mayor Lewis: The City Council must follow through on its civic obligation to authorize the immediate construction of Carlsbad’s first “aquatic complex” containing: 1. a fifty meter pool with bulkhead; 2. a ten lane twenty-five yard lap pool; 3. a therapy pool; 4, a “tot” pool for children; and 5. various necessary support structures. The Carlsbad Parks and Recreation Commission proposed the construction of this complex after extensive debate based on: a. the recommendation of the City’s aquatic consultant; b. the on-site research of a City appointed committee made up of representatives of the Parks and Recreation Commission, the City Council, and the City staff; and c. City of Carlsbad citizen input. To do otherwise reneges on promises you have personally made to the citizens of Carisbau by supporting Propositions B and C on the November 5, 2002 ballot and in subsequent statements you have made at various public and private meetings. No reason exists not to go forward with the aquatic complex project as: i. there is overwhelming need; ii. the project’s operating expense projections put forward by the City’s iii. more than adequate funds to build the proposed complex exist; and iv. the City’s financial health continues embarrassingly strong after the complex consultant exceed the City Council’s target of fifty percent; is built. * Honorable Bud Lewis April 15, 2003 Page 2 The decision on the aquatic complex will be the most watched and publicly documented decision the Council has ever made. There are indications various members of the Council are planning not to follow through with the Council’s obligation to build the coinplex as recoinmended. A decision to build the complex as recoinmended by the Parks and Recreation Commission will confirm the Council’s reputation for honesty and candor with its citizens. But a decision to build a materially downgraded project will obliterate this reputation. Such a result would mean serious short-term repercussions for the Council and significant long term repercussions for the City’s citizens. I strongly urge your vote in support of the Parks and Recreation Commission’s proposal for the aquatic complex.