HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-10-12; City Council; ; Memorandum of Understanding with the Carlsbad Unified School District for Exclusive Use of the Monroe Street Pool During Defined HoursMeeting Date: Oct. 12, 2021
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Staff Contact: Kyle Lancaster, Parks & Recreation Director
kyle.lancaster@carlsbadca.gov, 760-434-2941
Subject: Memorandum of Understanding with the Carlsbad Unified School District
for Exclusive Use of the Monroe Street Pool During Defined Hours
District: 1
Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a memorandum of understanding
with the Carlsbad Unified School District for exclusive use of the Monroe Street Pool during the
hours which the city is unable to provide lifeguard services and the district has reserved the
pool.
Executive Summary
The Parks & Recreation Department has experienced staffing shortages that have impacted its
ability to provide lifeguard services at the Monroe Street Pool, resulting in temporarily reduced
pool operating hours during weekday mornings and early afternoons. The temporary reduction
in pool operating hours at the Monroe Street Pool has limited the time during which Carlsbad
High School students are able to access the pool for physical education classes.
If the current or future lifeguard staffing shortages result in reduced pool operating hours at
Monroe Street Pool, the memorandum of understanding would allow Carlsbad High School to
use Monroe Street Pool on an exclusive basis when it is otherwise closed if the school district
provides certified lifeguards, as required by California Health and Safety Code Section 116028,
and follows the requirements in the Model Aquatic Health Code. As defined in Section I.,
Definitions, of the memorandum of understanding:
“District’s Exclusive Use” shall mean the hours during which the City is unable to provide
Lifeguard Services and has closed the Monroe Street Pool to the general public and the
District has reserved the Monroe Street Pool for exclusive use of Carlsbad High School
students for swimming lessons and water-contact activities. District’s Exclusive Use does
not include any time during which the Monroe Street pool is open to the general public
and the City is providing Lifeguard Services.
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Discussion
The City’s two aquatic centers, the Monroe Street Pool and Alga Norte, have been significantly
impacted by the nationwide staffing shortages associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the
recovery. Swimming instructors and lifeguards have been in need at both aquatic centers for
several months. Until the instructor positions could be filled, the city consolidated swimming
lessons at one center, Alga Norte, to concentrate efforts and provide the greatest amount of
service to the largest number of patrons possible during this challenging period.
Both aquatic centers continued to be significantly impacted by the staffing shortages,
particularly in the Lifeguard positions, throughout the summer. The city has been and is
continuing to try to fill these positions, which are required to ensure the safety of patrons
and to comply with state law. The Human Resources Department is conducting a digital
recruiting campaign and the City Manager has highlighted the lifeguard staffing shortages in
employee updates, calling for assistance in promoting the recruitments. Unfortunately, these
efforts have resulted in very few new applications for the lifeguard positions.
As the summer came to a close, many of the existing lifeguards returned to high school or
college classes during weekday mornings and early afternoons, which further depleted the
staffing supply. By Sept. 13, 2021, the Parks & Recreation Department no longer had a sufficient
number of lifeguards available to staff both aquatic centers on weekday mornings and early
afternoons, though there were enough lifeguards for the weekday late afternoons and evenings
and for the weekends.
At that time, staff made the difficult decision to temporarily reduce the operating hours of the
Monroe Street Pool, to be closed Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. The pool remains open:
•To the public, Monday-Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
•To youth aquatic groups, Monday-Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
•To the public, Saturday-Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The temporary reduction of operating hours at the Monroe Street Pool impacted one Carlsbad
High School physical education class during two hours of weekday mornings. If the current or
future lifeguard staffing shortages result in reduced operating hours at the Monroe Street Pool,
the proposed memorandum of understanding would allow for Carlsbad High School to use the
Monroe Street Pool on an exclusive basis during the defined hours, as long as the school district
provides the certified lifeguards required by California Health and Safety Code Section 116028
and follows the requirements in the Model Aquatic Health Code.
The proposed memorandum of understanding would also require the school district to pay the
existing $80 per hour pool rental fee for non-profit organizations, which may be adjusted from
time to time by the City Manager or a designee in accordance with City Council Resolution No.
2021-135. The district ordinarily pays $56 per hour for use of a portion of the Monroe Street
Pool, the equivalent of seven lanes at the rental fee for non-profit organizations of $8 per lane
per hour.
Oct. 12, 2021 Item #4 Page 2 of 12
Staff recommend the City Council approve the resolution authorizing the City Manager to
execute the memorandum of understanding with the Carlsbad Unified School District for the
exclusive use of the Monroe Street Pool during the defined hours, as detailed above. (The
memorandum of understanding can be found as Attachment A to the Resolution, which is
Exhibit 1).
Fiscal Analysis
The differential in hourly rental fees above will result in a negligible increase in city revenue,
which will be offset by administrative staff time to open and close the pool facility for the
school district.
Next Steps
The City Manager will execute the memorandum of understanding with the Carlsbad Unified
School District for the exclusive use of the Monroe Street Pool during the defined hours.
Environmental Evaluation (CEQA)
Pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21065, this action does not constitute a “project”
within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act in that it has no potential to
cause either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect
physical change in the environment.
Public Notification and Outreach
This item was noticed in keeping with the state’s Ralph M. Brown Act and it was available for
public viewing and review at least 72 hours before the scheduled meeting date.
Exhibits
1.City Council resolution
Oct. 12, 2021 Item #4 Page 3 of 12
l
RESOLUTION NO. 2021-232
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CITY OF CARLSBAD
AND THE CARLSBAD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE
MONROE STREET POOL DURING THE WHICH THE CITY IS UNABLE TO
PROVIDE LIFEGUARD SERVICES AND THE DISTRICT HAS RESERVED THE POOL
EXHIBIT 1
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California (City) has determined that it is in
the public's interest to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Carlsbad Unified
School District (CUSD) to ensure Carlsbad High School continues to have access to the Monroe Street
Pool; and
WHEREAS, the City provides certified lifeguards for the Monroe Street Pool; and
WHEREAS, the City needed to limit operating hours at the Monroe Street Pool due staffil"€
shortages of lifeguards; and
WHEREAS, the CUSD had reduced access to the Monroe Street Pool during school hours due to
the temporary reduction in pool operating hours; and
WHERES, the CUSD is willing and able to provide certified lifeguards to use the Monroe Street
Pool on an exclusive basis when the City closes Monroe Street Pool to the public due to staffing
shortages of certified lifeguards; and
WHEREAS, the CUSD is willing and able to follow the requirements, as is required by California
Health and Safety Code Section 116028 and by the Model Aquatic Health Code during the defined hours
of exclusive use of the Monroe Street Pool.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
1. That the above recitations are true and correct.
2. That the City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to execute the MOU with the
CUSD for exclusive use of the Monroe Street Pool during the defined hours, attached
hereto as Attachment A.
3. That the City Manager is authorized to extend the term of the MOU for up to two (2)
subsequent two (2) year terms.
Oct. 12, 2021 Item #4 Page 4 of 12
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THE CITY OF CARLSBAD AND
THE CARLSBAD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
FOR USE OF THE MONROE STREET POOL
Attachment A
THIS AGREEMENT is made this La_ th day of October 2021, between the CITY OF
CARLSBAD, a municipal corporation of the State of California, hereinafter referred to as the
City, and the CARLSBAD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA, hereinafter referr«:l to as the District.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the District desires to provide educational and competitive aquatic programs
for its students; and
WHEREAS, the City and the District desire to cooperate with each other to provide the
entire community with education~I, recreational and competitive aquatic programs; and
WHEREAS, the City has experienced staffing shortages which have impacted its ability
to provide Lifeguard Services at the Monroe Street Pool, resulting in temporarily reduced pool
hours;
WHEREAS, in the event that Lifeguard staffing shortages prevents the CITY from
opening the pool to the public, the District is willing and able to provide the necessary Lifeguard
Services for its students at the Monroe Street Pool;
WHEREAS, State of California Education Code, Section 10902 authorizes and
empowers school districts and municipalities to cooperate in the organization, promotion and
conduct of programs for community recreation; and
WHEREAS, the City and the District desire to enter into a formal agreement defining the
rights and responsibilities of each Party in connection with the use of the Monroe Street Pool.
NOW, THEREFORE, lN CONSIDERATION OF THESE RECITALS AND THE
MUTUAL COVENANTS CONTAINED HEREIN, the parties agree as follows:
I. DEFINITIONS
"District's Exclusive Use" shall mean the hours during which the City is unable to provide
Lifeguard Services and has closed the Monroe Street Pool to the general public and the District
bas reserved the Monroe Street Pool for exclusive use of Carlsbad High School students for
swimming lessons and water-con~ct activities. District's Exclusive Use does not include any
time during which the Monroe Street pool is open to the general public and the City is providing
Lifeguard Services,
"Lifeguard Service" shall have the same meaning as provided in California Health and Safety
Code Section 116028,
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Kyle Lancaster
Director
Parks and Recreation
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive
(760) 434-2941
Kyle.Lancaster@carlsbadca.gov