Special Council Meeting August 25th
City Council Agenda
Wednesday, August 25, 2010 ~ 7:00 p.m.
LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER ~ 1601 East Main Street
1. Call to Order.
2. Receive public input regarding potential pool repair / replacement recreation project.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
ADJOURNMENT
I read all comments and reply directly to the authors by email for follow-up. -Tom
1. What are the utilizations trends?
2. What is the cost to repair/rehab?
3. Do they pull their own weight financially?
4. What are the alternatives? Public/Private?
I personally like the idea of keeping/rehabilitating the pools depending on the answer to the above questions. I learned to swim with “Coach Tony” at the town pool, and I am sure many others did as well.
Mayor Tom,
As a former resident of Fredericksburg, know how important swimming pools are to the community. I still recall all the fun I had many years ago while I was splashing around in the pool at Lady Bird Park. Public pools are one of the few places that poor children and their families can go, and I realize that Fredericksburg has become home in recent years to the more affluent people who have chosen to live there. But we must never forget that poor folks still live in Fritztown, though they might be invisible to the casual observer. All of this is simply to say that you must spend whatever monies are needed to keep those pools in top shape! And don’t forget to make sure that you have plenty of trained lifeguards to man the pools. (This summer a few of the pools in Abilene–near where I now live–had to close for some days because the City didn’t have enough lifeguards to take care of the pools.)
Besides all this, pools are great places for hotheads to go to cool off after a heated (fill in the blank) meeting!
Tom,
As you know, we live very close the city pool. It is a busy place in the summer for our kids. It is very well used. However, knowing that budget concerns may dictate what will be done, I definitely would like to see the area being used in a manner that would benefit locals as well as our visitors. If a splash pad is the best solution, I firmly support it. Having the pool or splash pad in town makes it more accessible for all of us. And, since there is no need for a life guard, could it be used more than just during the summer months? That would be very nice! I appreciate your allowing me to express my opinion.
Tom, I think good swimming pools are essential! I would like to have the Town pool upgraded and maybe the hours extended. It is dificult for kids to get to Ladybird without someone to drive them. Maybe an additional pool in Cross Mtn area? I would also like to see small pocket parks around some of the other neighbor hoods.
Thanks!
Susan
Tom, while I strongly support the upgrade to the pools I highly encourage the city to look beyond just pools. In terms of fitness and recreation smart growth communities develop strategies that embrace total physical development. What I think the city really needs is a plan that encompasses all forms of recreation and fitness. The Council should take a look at the Burnet and Georgetown Recreation Centers for examples of what I mean. While much resource has been spent in Fbg on business development and tourism it is time to put that same level of energy and support toward the local citizenry. Considering the current needs of our parks this is a perfect time to take a broader look.
Thanks!
Tom, I have wondered for years why our pools were open only during summer. Our season for swimming is much longer than that. Why not consider an all-year swimming, sauna, gym, and spa, facilities? Memberships would help with costs. Why not ask the county to participate?
FIX THE POOLS. I LIKE SUSAN NICHOLS REPLY
Tom, thanks for asking. The pool is essential to a the family oriented community we want to be. Fix it, keep it open and keep it cheap enough for kids & families to enjoy.
Please save our pools. We realize the town pool is in dire need of major repair but there are so many children and other people who will not be able to make it out to the park pool due to the distance. The town pool is in a area within walking distance or an easy drop for so many people . Can you image how many will sit in their homes and play videos or watch tv instead of going out and splashing around and enjoying the fresh air. We hear all the time that our children are not getting enough exercise so to eliminate a place for them to go and actually move around is sad. Our youths deserve better than this.
Our pools are vital to the families in this community. Please KEEP them in good operating order at all times. It seems to me funds should be escrowed and budgeted annually for continued pool upkeep.
There has been a problem with a certain groups using the park pool for free for several years now. A man who heads and coaches a group has had things built for his use at the pool that didn’t benefit the pool and the majority who use it. Why are groups who already have their own pool getting all of this for free and why has the pool been allowed to rot into the ground. Our Boy and Girls club and everybody else pay to use the pool but wealthy groups get it for free ? Had we charged all people who use the maybe we would have a little more money to fix things.
And splash pads will be turned into showers for people who are having plumbing problems. We were just somewhere that had a water pad area ad people were obstructing others from use it to bathe and brush their teeth. Most splash pads are unsupervised so who will pay when somebody falls and cracked their head open because they are running and there is no guard to ask them to stop running.
Yes, Save our Pools! The pool hours need to be extended so that there is enough time after work for adults to swim. Or at least make the kids get out for the last 15 minutes every hour for adult swim. The Town Pool is too small – how about the space on South Eagle, across from the Brentwood Oaks apartment complex? We do need more community parks and green spaces with fitness trails.
I thought the editorial in this week’s paper said it all. Please keep both pools open – surely,with a little encouragement we can get young people to lifeguard.
Thank you for asking Tom. I cannot be there on Wednesday due to another commitment, but I do feel strongly about keeping the pool. As many others have stated it is important to have a place where our children can have easy access at a reasonable cost. Many memories have developed at the City Pool over the years – - – let’s us allow our children to cherish their own memories over the next 20 – 40 – 50 years.
Some people need to realize these splash pads or parks are not the answer . There is no standing water in them so there is no swimming for those who use swimming as a way to exercise. Yes ,these are cheaper and require no life guards but they have their problems . When we lose our pools we will start seeing more people ,who cant swim or will do dumb things, heading to our creeks and rivers to go swimming. We will then start having people drown or hitting their heads on rocks they cant see. Can you imagine how many people with a creek running through their land will have to run off tons of people who are at their land to swim . What happens when somebody drowns on a farmer or ranchers land . You need look no further than the news to see how many people have drowned in flooded creeks or rivers this summer or to see all the people getting sued because people who trespassed on private property had an accident.
And we have plenty of life guards but they get yelled at by people who do not understand they have to follow the rules for their own safety. We were at the pool and saw a life guard get raked over the coals by a young man with a day camp group because the guard kept blowing her whistle to remind the very young children to be safe. If I got yelled at for doing my job and then had to worry about being fired i would quit to. Keep our pools open and back up its employees for making sure the swimmers are safe.
“And splash pads will be turned into showers for people who are having plumbing problems.”
Were you also one of the naysayers several years ago who prophesied that the proposed public restrooms at the elementary school park would become frequented by sex offenders?
Wow.
Here’s reality: there are SO MANY needed Master Plan park projects that haven’t been done that we need to garner grass-roots support (you already have it as evidence here) and issue bonds (can you? will you?) and get them done.
Forming a parks foundation non profit could also supplement funding where the city and county can’t/won’t help. See Austin for a template. It can be done. We just need the will to do it.
Ideally, it would be great to keep the Town pool for the benefit of both the kids and adults . Anyway the Middle School and the Town pool can work together would be great.
I agree wit the majority of the above comments. It is important to keep town pool open. I know from experience (having been raised in arid West Tx.) that learning to swim at an early age is important and town pool in conjunction with the middle school can provide that opportunity for many of our less affluent families. I think that it is time we to address the quality of life for our citizens and provide more not less incentive for us all to be more active.