HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-12-07; Recent Matters and Responsive Actions at City Aquatic Facilities (Districts 1 & 2); Barberio, GaryTo the members of the:
CITY COUNCIL
Dat e \~7/23CA ✓cc ✓
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December 7, 2023
Council Memorandum
To:
From:
Vi a:
Honorable Mayor Blackburn and Members of the City Council
Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
Kyle Lancaster, Parks & Recreation Dire~r
Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager ~
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2023123
Re: Recent Matters and Responsive Act ions at City Aquatic Facilities (Districts 1 & 2)
This memorandum provides information related to recent matters and responsive actions at the
Alga Norte Aquatic Center and the Monroe Steet Pool.
Discussion
Alga Norte Aquatic Center
Competition Pool Bulkhead
On November 5, 2023, staff hosted the annual U.S. Masters swim meet. At the conclusion of the
meet, while resetting the competition pool back to its regular configuration, t he bulkhead
became misaligned and fell into the pool. Despite multiple attempts, staff could not raise or
realign the bulkhead to move its stored position at the north end of the pool. Four lanes of the
competition pool remained closed until staff could obtain applicable assistance and equipment.
On November 21, 2023, staff used two rental boom lifts to raise, realign and reposition the
bulkhead . The four impacted lanes of the competition pool were restored for routine use .
Instructional Pool Circulation Pump
On November 10, 2023, staff planned to proactively replace the instructional pool's circulation
pump, based on its age and general condition. Staff specifically scheduled the pump replacement
work during the facility closure on the Veterans Day holiday to minimize any impact to the public.
While staff and a contractor were performing the replacement pump installation, the seal plate
for the pump was determined to need replacement as well. The correct seal plate was not
readily available from local suppliers. The seal plate had to be special ordered from the factory,
shipped to a local supplier and coated with a buffer material, then shipped to the contractor.
Due to the lack of circulation, staff closed the instructional pool for safety and cancelled all
scheduled programs. Staff contacted registered participants of the programs and offered
prorated refunds during the closure. Staff also contacted membership pass holders and offered
pauses on the memberships or prorated refunds during the closure.
Community Services Branch
Parks & Recreation Department
799 Pine Avenue I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 442-339-2826 t
Council Memo -Recent Matters and Responsive Actions at City Aquatic Facilities (Districts 1 & 2)
December 7, 2023
Page 2
On November 29, 2023, staff received confirmation from the contractor that the coated seal
plate had been received. On November 30, 2023, staff and the contractor installed the new
circulation pump and seal plate. Once the circulation pump was operational, staff began
adjustments to the water's chemistry and temperature to bring it within acceptable norms for
public pools. On December 2, 2023, the pool was reopened for regular hours.
Competition Pool Deck Heaters
In late September 2023, staff observed Mr. Don Cashmore from rental group Dive San Diego
unloading portable propane heaters from a personal truck onto the competition pool deck near
the diving boards. Staff advised Mr. Cashmore t hat portable heaters were not permitted on the
pool deck for safety reasons, and requested the heaters be removed from the facility.
On September 26, 2023, staff contacted the Risk Management Office for advisement on the use
of portable propane heaters on the pool deck, as Mr. Cashmore indicated such use was
previously permitted by staff and the Risk Management Office. On November 28, 2023, staff
received a Memorandum from the Risk Management Office, advising the use and storage of
propane heaters on the pool deck is an unacceptable practice with inherent risks (Attachment A).
On November 29, 2023, staff forwarded the Memorandum from the Risk Management Office to
Mr. Cashmore via email and reiterated that propane heaters on the pool deck are not permitted.
Staff also acknowledged the limited use of two propane heaters on the pool deck had been
permitted by prior staff in 2018, but advised that safety standards had progressed since then.
Mr. Cashmore immediately replied, indicating he would be going over staff's head. Staff then
replied to Mr. Cashmore, assuring him that participant safety-particularly around combustible
devices -was the city's primary focus and that staff would continue to explore other options for
providing safe, limited heating at the pool deck near the diving boards.
On December 5, 2023, Mr. Cashmore offered Public Comment at the City Council Meeting
regarding this matter. Staff then spoke with Mr. Cashmore in detail outside the City Council
Meeting. Staff advised that other options for providing heating, including an electric heater
mounted to an overhead shade structure adjacent to the pool deck, were being explored and
committed to providing him an update on that option within the following week. At Mr.
Cashmore's request, staff then re-sent the initial email message sent on November 29, 2023.
Monroe St reet Pool
Pool Circulation Pump
On October 2, 2023, staff discovered the pool circulation pump at the Monroe Street Pool was
off and would not turn on despite efforts to reset it. Staff concluded the pump had failed. Due to
the lack of circulation, staff closed the pool for safety and redirected scheduled programs to the
Alga Norte Aquatic Center. Staff contacted registered participants of the programs and offered
prorated refunds during the closure. Staff also contacted membership pass holders and offered
pauses on the memberships or prorated refunds during the closure.
Council Memo -Recent Matters and Responsive Actions at City Aquatic Facilities (District s 1 & 2)
December 7, 2023
Page 3
Based on the age and general condition of the pump, staff had already proactively executed a
Minor Public Works Contract for its replacement:· Staff intended to perform the installation
shortly after November 10, 2023, which was the earliest shipment date for the pump. On
November 10, 2023, staff received notice from the contractor that the shipment date for the
pump was delayed to December 8, 2023. Staff estimates a period of 10 days to receive/install
the pump, and begin adjusting the water's chemistry and temperature to bring it within the
acceptable norms. Staff anticipates reopening the pool for regular hours in mid-December 2023.
Facility Renovation/Replacement Project
On February 14, 2023, the City Council directed staff to proceed with the design and preparation
of construction plans, and the development of an updated cost estimate, for Concept 3 of the
Monroe Street Pool Renovation/Replacement Project. That action included authorizing an
amendment to the existing agreement with the design firm to perform the related services.
Staff has coordinated with the design firm in preparing the construction plans over the last
several months. On November 14, 2023, the design firm submitted the 50% construction plans
for review. On December 6, 2023, staff completed review of the 50% construction plans and
returned comments/corrections to the design firm. Staff anticipates returning to the City Council
in Spring 2024 with the project's 100% construction plans, as well as an updated cost estimate,
for direction on proceeding to a public bid.
Next Steps
Staff will continue with the responsive actions related to the Alga Norte Aquatic Center's pool
deck heaters, as noted above. Staff will also continue with the responsive actions related to the
Monroe Street Pool's circulation pump and renovation/replacement project, as noted above.
Attachment: A. Memorandum from the Risk Management Office, dated November 28, 2023
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Cindie McMahon, City Attorney
Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services
Allegra Frost, Assistant City Attorney
Judy Von Kalinowski, Human Resources Director
John Maashoff, Public Works Manager
Mick Calarco, Recreation Services Manager
Todd Reese, Parks Services Manager
Ed Garbo, Risk Manager
Brian Bacardi, Public Works Superintendent
Steven Stewart, Municipal Projects Manager
Ashlee Benson, Recreation Area Manager
( City of
Carlsbad
November 28, 2023
Memorandum
To: Ashlee Benson
From: Ed Garbo, Risk Manager
Re: DIVE SAN DIEGO PROPANE HEATERS
Attachment A
We were asked for an opinion regarding a facility user requesting the ongoing use of propane operated
patio heaters to be used on the pool deck at Alga Norte Aquatic Center.
The fa!=ility user, Dive San Diego, indicates that their divers are chilly after diving into the pool, then
waiting in the cool evening air for their turn to dive again. They initially brought in temporary tubs
heated with warm water generated from a nearby pickup truck. City staff advised Dive San Diego that
was an unacceptable practice, and they terminated this process. (We understand they were told by
other entities to cease a similar arrangement).
Dive San Diego is now requesting the use of the propane patio heaters which they intend to store at
Alga Norte and are then hauled out during each evening practice session.
We believe this is an unacceptable practice with inherent risks . Propane heaters can be knocked over
fairly easily and it's recommended that they be used at least 5 feet away from foot traffic. Having
numerous divers huddled around them for immediate warmth after a dive can increase the likelihood of
the heater being knocked over and causing an injury. After use, the heaters need to be cooled down for
some time before moving. If they are not cooled down sufficiently, they can easily cause burns during
transport.
After use, Dive San Diego intends to store these patio heaters on city property which then requires the
city to make sure they are properly stored and secured because of the inherent hazard of flammable
propane tanks.
Ed Garbo
Risk Management
1635 Faraday Ave. I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-602-2470 I 760-602-8555 fax I www.carlsbadca.gov