2004-05-03 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Session 1918 May 3, 2004 Ms. Welsch said she had received numerous calls and emails on this issue, making its importance equal to the important issues of spraying for mosquitoes and the resolution protecting civil liberties in the City. She said she is interested in opening the pool to contiguous communities where there are no pools, in an effort to attract revenue to be used for recreational programming. After talking to many people, she now suggests waiting a year or two. She asserted for the record that "... she is not saying personally that she does not want to visit this issue again, because the City is operating on a tight budget and we do have to look at other ways to bring money into the City." She said, also, there are some surrounding communities in dire need of recreation facilities and a pool, for example Pagedale, and for them to build their own center, 7 minutes from University City's, is not a good use of the social and economic resources of the community. She is willing to wait, to re-evaluate, and to do a better marketing job, especially by means of flyers to every house in the community reminding citizens of the pool. She is upset at being asked to make a decision on a topic that the Park Commission recommended, when there is not input from that group. She wants their input and does not want to vote without it. She wants to re-evaluate the issue in two years. She wants to go on record "as not saying she will hold this view for the rest of her time on the Council." Mr. Wagner respectfully disagreed with the City Manager on changing this policy. The recreation system of the City is not intrinsically a revenue source, in his opinion. He said that it was not mentioned in Proposition K that the City would undertake a profit- making center in Heman Park and he agrees with citizens this evening who mentioned this point. Recreation should be part of the infrastructure of the City, supplied by the City. It is related to quality of life, and there is a downside risk in opening the pool to outsiders, related to crowding, safety issues and injury. He commented on the contribution of the Park Commission and their work, and agrees with their assertion that more benchmark information is needed, and he agrees with their position. Councilmember Brungardt commented that it was her second Council Meeting representing the Second Ward, and that she was glad so many people had attended this meeting to contribute their ideas. She pointed out that the other sports facilities such as golf and tennis are not "water" and that "no one can drown on a golf course or on a tennis court." Swimming pools have a strong safety component, which should not be overlooked. The Park Commission's work must be considered, she asserted, and there is a need for the City staff to market information about the pool. Stefany Brot concurred with Mr. Wagner and others in attendance this evening. She expressed her enthusiasm for Heman pool as both a parent and a grandparent. Page 9