Maybe Bainbridge Island needs to see if Caitlin Clark can help.
Parks commissioners on BI say it’s going to take a lot more excitement from the community before it will put a bond before the voters to build a wider and deeper pool. Who better to bring that excitement than the Iowa basketball star who recently turned the entire country into fans of women’s sports?
Jokes aside, BI Metro Parks & Recreation District commissioners say they haven’t heard much from the community about the pool.
Commissioner Jay Kinney said he thinks if the swimming community can raise a bunch of money, it could defray the costs, and it will show the rest of BI that it is doing its part. Commissioner Tom Goodlin said there is not a lot of interest in fundraising for the six-lane refurbishment. There is more interest in eight lanes, but that would require a bond. A bond must get 60% of the vote to pass, and it is going to take work by the swimming community to convince a lot of people who do not swim to pay for this. Traditionally, when user groups get together to build things on BI they bring a lot of money to the table, a parks memo says.
Commissioner Ken DeWitt emphasized that this is a one-shot deal because the Ray Williamson pool needs to be rebuilt and due to permitting requirement changes, if the construction of Phase II were to be delayed past 2025 because of a bond not passing this August, the project cost would go up by up to $2.5 million.
The board and staff cannot be officially involved other than providing information. So it will be up to the swimming community to make this happen, a parks memo says.
Commissioner Dawn Janow said her concern is that it is a slippery slope where the board could end up going out for a bond any time a user group brings an expanded project to the board. She asked how the island can equitably share taxpayer dollars. She hopes the bond passes if that is what the board decides to do. But the board has conversations about capital projects all the time, and in her role, she tries to be equitable.
In addition, the board elected to spend up to $2.5 million from reserves on Phase I and Phase II A, which would repair and upgrade the pool in its existing configuration without asking the public for more money.
Staff are investigating alternative pool facilities for swimmers to use during shutdowns. Goodlin said if the bond passed it would essentially save about $350,000 a year on loan payments. Assistant executive director Amy Swenson said staff can work on appointing the pro and con committees that would write statements in the voters’ pamphlet. Staff are aware of three people who are interested in serving on the pro committee.
The required resolution for the potential bond could be approved and signed as late as the May 2 board meeting. If the board decides to move forward the park district can hold factual informational meetings about the bond for the public, but no opinions can be shared. However, a $10 million bond for 15 years, based on 6% interest, and with the current assessed values on the island is estimated to cost approximately $60 a year for property valued at $1 million.
Trust for Public Lands conducted a survey of public pools based on population, and Cleveland, OH came in first with about 9,200 residents per pool while Seattle has about 76,115 per pool. She noted that BI has three pools so there are about 8,200 residents per pool. Bellevue has about 75,000 residents per pool, and Mercer Island has about 25,000. Janow said there could be an argument that BI is well served by the existing number of pools. Goodlin said he looked at that survey and the BI Recreation Center pool would not count because it is not more than 4-feet deep.
Goodlin said one must pay attention to what the interests are in the community. In El Segundo, CA they have two pools and 16,000 people. There is a whole range, and the community needs should be paid attention to and not necessarily the population.
As for public comments, 19 people spoke and all favor the larger pool with eight deeper lanes. 11 are members of Bainbridge Aquatic Masters: Maggie Hansen; Deb Flynn; Lisa Claesson-Gordon; Rita Belserene; Andrea Hunt; Dennis Sawyer; Gretchen Gende; Tamara Tulou, who is also a diving instructor; Rist Atle, who also is a parent of a water polo player; and Michael Cyger and Jane Stewart, who both have kids who use the Aquatic Center.
Katherine Fort, Alison Craig and Travis Crawford either use or have kids or family who use the Aquatic Center. Eileen McSherry’s kids are on the swim and water polo teams; Sherry Cloutier is a BI Swim Club parent; and Shelley Reimer is a lifelong swimmer. Chris Houseman said BI’s income could increase with a 50-meter pool and how much that could impact the whole community. Joy Archer volunteered to be a co-chair of the campaign committee.
In other news
Park Services superintendent David Harry said stabilization work is being done on the Comcast building. A septic system replacement bid is out for Prue’s House, and work is being done for a new septic system at Battle Point Park in anticipation of the new bathroom building. Work is needed to move or expand the easement with Puget Sound Energy at Sakai Park for power poles to accommodate the new entrance.
Park Services superintendent Lydia Roush hosted several forestry walks in partnership with BI Parks & Trails Foundation over the last several weeks. Tree thinning at Moritani Preserve is expected to last a few weeks. The Dog Advisory Committee’s dog owner education signs are being posted. Roush is meeting next week with Kitsap Public Utility District regarding power line maintenance and to discuss tree removal and thinning at Grand Forest East.
Recreation superintendent Bryan Garoutte said the outdoor department is working to expand programming for fishing. Open gyms have been popular this year, and adult participation is up further than expected. The pool at the BI Recreation Center will be open on a limited schedule April 29.
In public comments, Jerry Elfendahl said he would like to start a conversation to get Capital Heritage funds to restore the shelters at West Port Madison Nature Preserve. Edith Cobourn spoke as a representative of Bainbridge Community Tennis Association about getting a sign regarding pickleball players moving their nets off the shared tennis courts at Battle Point when they are done using them.
