By Dan Carson
The new 50-meter pool proposed at Community Park now being considered at City Hall could punch a $550,000 a year hole in the city’s operating budget that has just been mended through budget cuts and Measure O. It is Exhibit A illustrating why city leaders need to take a careful and analytical approach to solving the city’s infrastructure needs.
This approach took a step forward on July 1 with the decision of the City Council to hold off until next year sometime for a public vote on a second tax measure. Council members stated that they wanted to conduct a comprehensive study of the city’s deferred maintenance backlog and infrastructure needs, and the resources now available to address those projects, before presenting a new tax measure to voters so soon after approval of the Measure O sales tax measure on June 3.
Now comes the hard part – conducting hard-headed and creative analysis to set the stage for addressing these fiscal challenges in a coherent manner and prioritizing the most important projects for the delivery of public services. In a piece that ran in the Davis Vanguard on June 13, I outlined the criteria I hope the City Council will consider in vetting projects for city investment. In summary, I believe the city should take into account for every candidate for funding:
— The money already available in the city’s funding base for maintenance and new facilities.
— Whether city assets could be sold or leased to fund capital improvements.
— Whether city program operations could be restructured to affect the city’s physical plant needs.
— The availability of grants from outside entities to help pay for projects.
— What creative partnerships with private and non-profit entities and UC Davis could be reached to pay for renovation of facilities or new infrastructure.
— What financing approach would offer the best bargain for taxpayers.
After hearing the council discussion of the parcel tax proposal, and thinking about the matter some more, I would add one more important consideration–the net fiscal impact of a project on city operating revenues and costs. We are still not completely done digging out of a $5 million structure budget deficit, and need to be careful we don’t end up back in one. Some potential infrastructure projects—irrigation efficiency projects, for example–might lower future city operating costs. But some might increase the deficit.
The proposed new $9 million to $10 million 50-meter pool complex now being advocated for Community Park unfortunately poses a risk of a adding more than $550,000 to the city’s structural budget shortfall. That’s not my opinion. It’s the finding of one of the foremost firms with expertise in swimming pool design and engineering that has helped build thousands of facilities around the world. A link to that study can be found here.
The city hired Carlsbad-based Aquatic Design Group to study the options for rebuilding a new pool complex in Community Park. The existing pool was closed until being reopened under an agreement allowing Davis Aquadarts exclusive access to the facility, which is living on borrowed time because of a need for major and expensive renovations. Very little of the company’s analysis has found its way into the current public discussion about razing the existing complex and borrowing up to $10 million, to be paid off with a parcel tax increase, to build a new 50-meter pool and warm-up pool. Let me help that along.
In their January 2013 report to the city, the experts came up with three options for rebuilding the pool. Option 1 provides the 50-meter and warm-up pools geared toward swimming competitors. Option 3 is a purely recreational pool with water slides and a circular “moving river.” Option 2, the one recommended by the firm, is essentially a compromise mixing a 25-meter pool and a separate recreational pool.
In round numbers, Option 3 is the most expensive to build at $11 million. The price tag for the 50-meter Option 1 pool was put at $9 million, while the compromise Option 2 was the cheapest at $8 million.
But the more significant fiscal impact may be the ongoing cost of operating the new facility. Option 1 is hands-down the worst option for the city’s budgetary condition, with a projected initial net loss of $450,000 annually growing to $550,000 annually within a few years. The compromise Option 2 would have less than half as large a deficit, while the all-recreational Option 3 pool would essentially pay its own way with a minor annual operating loss of less than $5,000.
None of this is meant to disparage the sincere and dedicated effort by swim competition enthusiasts to advocate for new facilities for a sport that they love. Competitive swimming contributes to the health of our community and benefits many of our kids. The problem is that their push for an expensive new facility primarily for their exclusive use comes at a time when the city remains in deep financial difficulties.
Option 1 advocates argue that if they got their new 50-meter pool, the costs could be offset by closing Civic Pool where the swim groups now primarily operate. But the Aquatic Design Group study shows that even if Civic Pool were closed, the savings that could be achieved wouldn’t be nearly enough to offset the big new hole the new facility would create in the city budget. Civic Pool operates at about a $100,000 a year net loss, in part because the groups using it were paying only about $74,000 of the $179,000 annual operating cost at the time of the study.
Advocates of a 50-meter pool are holding up the Roseville Aquatic Center (actually a facility that includes both recreational and competitive swimming) as an example of how hundreds of thousands of dollars in new revenues will flow into the City of Davis due to competitive swim meets if their new facility is built. However, those monies apparently aren’t flowing into Roseville city coffers. The consultant’s study showed that in one recent year the Roseville pool complex ran up a $350,000 annual operating deficit for that city. After meeting with aquatic groups, the consultant concluded that Davis’ 50-meter pool would host only two regional meets per year – clearly not the level of activity that would change the city’s economic trajectory. On the other hand, a purely recreational pool drawing 120,000 visitors a year could be a regional draw, the consultant told the city.
One telling conclusion of the consultant’s report: “Given the high cost generally associated with developing and operating 50-meter pools, it is unrealistic to assume that any city would have the financial wherewithal to own and operate multiple aquatic facilities with large rectilinear pools….”
Interestingly, some aquatic complexes focused on recreational amenities for families actually turn a profit, raising the question as to whether the right pool project is on the table now for Davis. But if the city does want to focus on meeting the needs of the organized swim groups, some options that would reduce the city’s price tag or help pay for a new facility are worth considering:
— The organized swimming community has promised to help pay for a new facility, but hasn’t been very specific in its public statements about how much and when and how. The swimming groups should organize a public campaign to collect cash and pledges to put up a substantial contribution toward project construction. These commitments should be secured in advance. The minute the city writes a $10 million check to build a facility, additional private contributions would likely dry up like a pool deck on a hot summer day.
— They aren’t the biggest users of city swim facilities currently, but the construction of a sparkling new 50-meter pool next door could energize and expand Davis Senior High and middle-school swim competition programs. The Aquatic Design Group recommended in its January 2013 report that the school district be asked to enter into a shared use agreement so that the district pays its fair share of the costs to building and operating a new pool complex at Community Park. We need their agreement to help up-front too.
— The opening of a new pool complex provides a natural opportunity for an experiment in whether contracting out the maintenance and operation of the pool, either to a private vendor or a non-profit partner, could reduce pool operating costs and result in less of a need for a public subsidy. Use of novel procurement methods could also hold down costs. Of course, these approaches might work for any of the three pool configuration options identified by the consultant.
— A concept put forward by organized swim groups should also be explored – selling the site beneath the old pool for the city’s benefit. There are lots of questions about the viability and equity of this approach, including whether the site next door to City Hall as a practical matter is best used for another public purpose and whether the proceeds from a sale belong to the taxpayers or the swimmers. But theirs is a logical option worth examining.
— If a new community pool is not in the cards for financial reasons, could the city reach agreement with UC Davis to allow greater access for its competitive swimmers to the Schaal Aquatic Center and its beautiful Olympic-size pool built just ten years ago? It’s a fair bet that a number of participants in the city’s competitive swimming programs are either UC Davis students or workers or campus alumni. Here’s another opportunity to improve town-gown relationships.
These aren’t all new ideas. But their examination is consistent with the careful and analytical approach I recommend be taken to any project being considered for public funding. Given the city’s formidable list of facilities that need repair or replacement, we must make sure that every additional Davis taxpayer dollar dedicated to a “rebuild Davis” effort is used wisely and is leveraged to the hilt.
Dan Carson worked for 17 years in the Legislative Analyst’s Office, a nonpartisan fiscal and policy adviser to the California Legislature, retiring in 2012 as deputy legislative analyst, and serves as a member of the city’s Finance and Budget Commission. This commentary reflects his views only and does not represent the position of the commission on this issue.
“The proposed new $9 million to $10 million 50-meter pool complex now being advocated for Community Park unfortunately poses a risk of a adding more than $550,000 to the city’s structural budget shortfall. That’s not my opinion. It’s the finding of one of the foremost firms with expertise in swimming pool design and engineering that has helped build thousands of facilities around the world. ”
critical point.
“The proposed new $9 million to $10 million 50-meter pool complex now being advocated for Community Park unfortunately poses a risk of a adding more than $550,000 to the city’s structural budget shortfall. That’s not my opinion. It’s the finding of one of the foremost firms with expertise in swimming pool design and engineering that has helped build thousands of facilities around the world. ”
critical point.
This is a very thoughtful, information article which addresses many issues. Pools cost money.
http://www.athleticbusiness.com/aquatics/municipal-aquatics-providers-seek-right-mix-of-competition-and-leisure.html
This is a very thoughtful, information article which addresses many issues. Pools cost money.
http://www.athleticbusiness.com/aquatics/municipal-aquatics-providers-seek-right-mix-of-competition-and-leisure.html
Dan
Thanks for this second well balanced, thoughtful piece about the options available. I have been following along peripherally, but had missed out on options two and three and what they might mean both in the short and long term. This is precisely the kind of information that we need to make well considered decisions.
I also look forward to the comments of those who feel strongly in favor of one or another of the options to get their perspective on why they think theirs is the best option, and specifically how individual citizens or groups
( as the Blue and White Foundation did with regard to the DHS track) might act to mitigate city expenses.
Dan
Thanks for this second well balanced, thoughtful piece about the options available. I have been following along peripherally, but had missed out on options two and three and what they might mean both in the short and long term. This is precisely the kind of information that we need to make well considered decisions.
I also look forward to the comments of those who feel strongly in favor of one or another of the options to get their perspective on why they think theirs is the best option, and specifically how individual citizens or groups
( as the Blue and White Foundation did with regard to the DHS track) might act to mitigate city expenses.
I feel in favor of option #4:
If the city puts pool money into the proposed parcel tax I vote “NO”
do you vote yes if it is just for roads?
I feel in favor of option #4:
If the city puts pool money into the proposed parcel tax I vote “NO”
do you vote yes if it is just for roads?
Thank you Dan for this comprehensive explanation of the issue.
When Woodland, just 7 miles away, has a 50 meter pool – and the University has a 50 meter pool – how can the City justify spending megabucks for a 50 meter pool that will only benefit a certain segment of the community.
Thank you Cowherd, that’s exactly how I feel. They are going to try and throw this in with the roads parcel tax knowing that people will vote for the roads fix and will drag the new pool in along with it. They are mistaken, I think enough people see this for what it is and it will backfire on them as the city ends up with no parcel tax.
i think it won’t be included in the parcel tax. right now i see one vote to include it.
Thank you Dan for this comprehensive explanation of the issue.
When Woodland, just 7 miles away, has a 50 meter pool – and the University has a 50 meter pool – how can the City justify spending megabucks for a 50 meter pool that will only benefit a certain segment of the community.
Thank you Cowherd, that’s exactly how I feel. They are going to try and throw this in with the roads parcel tax knowing that people will vote for the roads fix and will drag the new pool in along with it. They are mistaken, I think enough people see this for what it is and it will backfire on them as the city ends up with no parcel tax.
i think it won’t be included in the parcel tax. right now i see one vote to include it.
I remember seeing an estimate of $6-7 million to upgrade our two centrally located pools (civic center and the one by the high school; I forget the specific names)
I find the $6-7 million estimate to be surprisingly high. What kind of upgrades are they talking about, and are they necessary for pool operation? Are there fundamental problems with the pool foundations (e.g. stability, slumping, etc.) or piping underneath the pools? If so; I can see how the cost might be high. But other types of upgrades should be much less expensive; including pumping equipment, or superficial (i.e. don’t compromise structural strength/integrity of entire pool) cracks in the pool foundations, re-surfacing/re-tiling, or more accessible piping. What would be an estimated cost of upgrades needed to maintain the pools as they are now, or estimates of continued maintenance for these pools? Also, who is providing these cost estimates; and have professional engineering evaluations (from non-interested parties) been performed on the pool structures and equipment?
The City estimates the cost of renovating Civic and Community at $3 and $4 million, respectively. “Renovations” mean catching up on the deferred maintenance. We don’t know why these estimates are what they are. However, you can be sure they are based on prevailing wage, because it’s a legal requirement. There are also many items that need to be brought up to code. A lot of items, like the heater at Community, need to be replaced (http://city-council.cityofdavis.org/Media/Default/Documents/PDF/CityCouncil/CouncilMeetings/Agendas/20140225/04B-Community-Pool-License-Agreement-with-Davis-Aquadarts.pdf). Community at least is about 10 years overdue to be replastered (it was last renovated in 1985). Those are just a few items.
Having read the Community Pool Feasiility Report, I have been unable to find anything that says the pool could only host two events per year. In fact, the AquaDarts and DAM said they wanted to host two events a year, but this is not a limit. (see Appendix 1, User Group Meeting Minutes.) It is unclear from the minutes whether DAM and the AquaDarts each wanted to host two events (which would make four). There is also high school water polo and swimming, synchronized swimming, and the water polo club.
Still, the Feasibility Study had some significant problems. It was limited to Community, in that it did not look at the various options in the context of the other pools in Davis. For instance, the Option 1 (the 50-meter pool) would allow the City to close Civic. Option 2 and 3 would each require keeping Civic open, which would also require renovating Civic to the tune of $3 million. As a result, you really need to add $3 million to the cost of Option 2 and 3, effectively making those $14 and $11 million. The Report’s revenue projections don’t make any sense either. It appears to assume a per-person monthly revenue for Masters Swimming when DAM pays a flat fee to rent space. Even assuming that estimate has a proper basis, it’s about 40% too low, because under Option 1 Civic would close, all of DAM’s swimmers would go to Community, and revenues would be based on 450-500 swimmers, rather than 300.
Due to the Report’s shortcomings and unavailability of the consultant to revise the report, another consultant was brought in. Additional work was done and, as I understand it, the user groups were able to come up with a business plan for a 50-meter pool allowing for full cost recovery. (or close to it) Unfortunately, there was never a report for that process. A lot of expenses are tied up in personnel costs and if you the user groups take care of maintenance and lifeguards, it’s a lot less expensive. The AquaDarts, for example, have their lifeguards clean there bathrooms at Community at that’s a lot less expensive than having the City do it.
Finally, the aquatic user groups fight for all the time they can get at Schaal. If Schaal was available when DAM, Darts, and the other groups need it, they would be there.
I remember seeing an estimate of $6-7 million to upgrade our two centrally located pools (civic center and the one by the high school; I forget the specific names)
I find the $6-7 million estimate to be surprisingly high. What kind of upgrades are they talking about, and are they necessary for pool operation? Are there fundamental problems with the pool foundations (e.g. stability, slumping, etc.) or piping underneath the pools? If so; I can see how the cost might be high. But other types of upgrades should be much less expensive; including pumping equipment, or superficial (i.e. don’t compromise structural strength/integrity of entire pool) cracks in the pool foundations, re-surfacing/re-tiling, or more accessible piping. What would be an estimated cost of upgrades needed to maintain the pools as they are now, or estimates of continued maintenance for these pools? Also, who is providing these cost estimates; and have professional engineering evaluations (from non-interested parties) been performed on the pool structures and equipment?
The City estimates the cost of renovating Civic and Community at $3 and $4 million, respectively. “Renovations” mean catching up on the deferred maintenance. We don’t know why these estimates are what they are. However, you can be sure they are based on prevailing wage, because it’s a legal requirement. There are also many items that need to be brought up to code. A lot of items, like the heater at Community, need to be replaced (http://city-council.cityofdavis.org/Media/Default/Documents/PDF/CityCouncil/CouncilMeetings/Agendas/20140225/04B-Community-Pool-License-Agreement-with-Davis-Aquadarts.pdf). Community at least is about 10 years overdue to be replastered (it was last renovated in 1985). Those are just a few items.
Having read the Community Pool Feasiility Report, I have been unable to find anything that says the pool could only host two events per year. In fact, the AquaDarts and DAM said they wanted to host two events a year, but this is not a limit. (see Appendix 1, User Group Meeting Minutes.) It is unclear from the minutes whether DAM and the AquaDarts each wanted to host two events (which would make four). There is also high school water polo and swimming, synchronized swimming, and the water polo club.
Still, the Feasibility Study had some significant problems. It was limited to Community, in that it did not look at the various options in the context of the other pools in Davis. For instance, the Option 1 (the 50-meter pool) would allow the City to close Civic. Option 2 and 3 would each require keeping Civic open, which would also require renovating Civic to the tune of $3 million. As a result, you really need to add $3 million to the cost of Option 2 and 3, effectively making those $14 and $11 million. The Report’s revenue projections don’t make any sense either. It appears to assume a per-person monthly revenue for Masters Swimming when DAM pays a flat fee to rent space. Even assuming that estimate has a proper basis, it’s about 40% too low, because under Option 1 Civic would close, all of DAM’s swimmers would go to Community, and revenues would be based on 450-500 swimmers, rather than 300.
Due to the Report’s shortcomings and unavailability of the consultant to revise the report, another consultant was brought in. Additional work was done and, as I understand it, the user groups were able to come up with a business plan for a 50-meter pool allowing for full cost recovery. (or close to it) Unfortunately, there was never a report for that process. A lot of expenses are tied up in personnel costs and if you the user groups take care of maintenance and lifeguards, it’s a lot less expensive. The AquaDarts, for example, have their lifeguards clean there bathrooms at Community at that’s a lot less expensive than having the City do it.
Finally, the aquatic user groups fight for all the time they can get at Schaal. If Schaal was available when DAM, Darts, and the other groups need it, they would be there.