2003-09-15 Regular - Laserfiche WebLink

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disability community by stating there is no opposition to the curb as long as the true intent and every other aspect of pursuing accessibility to the pool continues to move forward. Mr. Wagner moved that the Council retain the curb in the pool, and Ms. Welsch seconded the motion. Mr. Wagner thanked all present who took time to share testimony with the Council, and then he said that the curb surrounding the pool was an original architectural feature of the Heman Park Pool. It is a prominent and distinctive aspect, readily distinguishing the unique configuration in historic photographs. The issue we have is not whether we add a curb.., it is there now as it always has been from Day One. The issue is this: is there any reason to redesign the pool so that the curb does not remain as an historic reminder of our past? I argue no there isn't. I respectively disagree with the City Manager's write up we have here. It is not a safety issue. It says that "Every safety expert ...found that curbs are a liability and safety hazard." That is just pure wrong... I'm sure we could find any number of experts to say they are not a safety hazard. And they would have 70 years of history at the Heman Park Pool to agree with them. The experts cited to proclaim the curbs such a hazard are all administrators, who treat this issue as a piece of paper on their desk... I dare say few of them have ever seen the Heman Pool, and clearly don't know the full historic context of the pool as we in U. City do. He quotes engineers and architects, pool designers and contractors and other municipalities.., most of them with experience with developing only new pools. We are not building a new pool...we are repairing and restoring our pool to its original historic configuration. It is not a safety issue.., our experience over 70 years shows that...and nobody has ever suggested removing the curb in all those years for safety or any other reason. It is not an issue of access...we have full ADA compliance with our added ramp and chair lift. And as Councilperson Welsch points out, there is some question whether the proposed redesign without the curb is ADA compliant. It is not an issue of need.., could we have a swimming pool without a curb...of course we could if we choose. I believe one major reason we shouldn't redesign the curb out of existence is that a year ago this Council promised the citizens, and informed the City Manager, the Parks Commission, and the Prop K Committee that if this Sales Tax passes we will preserve the historic architectural integrity of the pool...we explicitly mentioned the architectural features, the footprint, the lap lanes, all the trees.., all recognizable features of our historic pool. This is language from our Council Resolution, passed on Sept 23 2002 "If Proposition K is approved the Heman Pool renovation construction shall move forward, beginning in fall 2003, encompassing but not limited to the following:" and there are listed 8 items, including "Maintenance of the historic character of the building and pool, including footprint and architecture." Similar language was published in the pre- election section of the City Scape... and in the city brochure mailed out to every household in U. City, urging support for Prop K. That brochure says "The renovation of the Heman Park Pool will be the most extensive since it was built in 1933. The pool footprint, surrounding trees and traditional architecture are to be preserved." Ladies and gentlemen of this Council... this curb is an historic architectural feature of our pool. We have promised the Prop K Committee and the voters of U. City that we would retain Page 10