The Cupertino Courier

Community

Council tries to lengthen pool hours for swimmers

By Stephen Baxter

Managers of the Fremont High School pool are considering adding more hours for public swimming.

The Sunnyvale City Council directed its staff on March 27 to negotiate an eight-year contract with California Sports Center, which has been operating the $3.2 million pool since it opened in 2002. The council could consider a revised pool contract in as soon as two to four weeks.

The council considered handing the reins of the pool to Northwest YMCA, Santa Clara Swim Club and the city's Parks and Recreation Department, but after comparing costs and listening to many positive remarks from pool users, the council voted 5-0 in the sports center's favor. The council asked for some conditions in the new agreement, including open swimming from noon to 6 p.m. on summer weekends and guaranteed access for lap swimmers, open recreational swimmers, masters, swim lessons and competitive swimmers. The center's proposal includes more open swim time from mid-June to mid-August from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. From June to September it also adds open swimming from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Fridays and 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Sundays. Hours for Fremont High School swimmers aren't expected to be altered by the new contract.

Councilman Chris Moylan suggested adding open swimming on summer weekends from noon to 6 p.m. But Dave Peterson, the director of the California Sports Center, indicated it would not be economically desirable. Peterson emphasized that he would work with the city on the contract, but called open swimming from noon to 6 p.m. "extreme."

"I hope that the city won't expect me to do anything that the city won't do itself," he said, referring to the five pools Sunnyvale operates each summer.

Peterson also suggested open swimming on summer days that reach 100 degrees, and he said he would like to use the Fremont High School marquee on Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road to post announcements and schedules.

"I look forward to working with the city for the next eight years," Peterson said.

Many groups have clamored for guaranteed access to the pool, including the Sunnyvale Swim Club.

Parents of swimmers in the club--which has produced some national -caliber swimmers--said their annual fees have risen by up to $145, in part because of the sports center's fees.

Holly Lofgren helped found Friends of the Fremont Pool, the nonprofit that was instrumental in its construction. She said support has been ongoing, including a woman who wrote Lofgren a $200 check at the council's March 27 meeting. Another donor, Dale O'Rourke, contributed more than $100,000 to the project, she said.

Lofgren said the pool's overall operation has met the expectations of the group.

Donors can send checks to the Sunnyvale Pool Trust Fund, 1655 Martin Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94087, or call Lofgren at 408.737.0875.