The Sunnyvale Sun
Letters & Opinions
Speak Out
Pool operator focuses
on serving community
I would like to correct information in Stephen Baxter's article of Jan. 31 titled "Pool management could flip direction" regarding operations of the Fremont High School pool.
First, SUNN swim team is not the second biggest user of the pool. The biggest users in order of the number of regular participants are: adult lap and masters swimmers, Fremont HS "after school" programs, swim lessons provided by California Sports Center (CSC), high school P.E. classes, then independent groups, including Panda, California Dolphin, Flying Fish, Northern Pacific Water Polo and SUNN.
Second, as operator CSC does NOT receive any fees from the city. CSC pays the city of Sunnyvale a monthly facility use fee as well as utilities for the pool building. Third, the city maintains more than three other pools, including Sunnyvale Middle School which is used by SUNN at a discounted rate. Fourth, the fee for monthly lap swimmers was lowered to $50 from $52 beginning February 2007. Fifth, CSC has submitted its proposal for another eight years of operation, not five as reported.
The California Sports Center is very proud of its first five years operating this pool providing lap swim and lessons for more than 6,000 individuals--70 percent of whom are Sunnyvale residents. CSC shares the goals of both the city of Sunnyvale and the Friends of Fremont Pool to provide quality programs first for Sunnyvale residents in lap swimming and lessons, next in collaboration with the school district for the students of Fremont High School, and finally for outside groups like SUNN.
I understand concerns about public swims. We have been challenged with public swim times on Sundays due to low participation and the cost of safe operations. Still, we will continue our Summer Public Swims Monday through Saturday, 1-3 p.m. and are adding new evening times on Friday and Sunday. If we are allowed to continue our operations, we will not let this become an exclusive pool used by 100 percent competitive swimmers. Mr. Bergmann is right, this is not just a "commercial enterprise.'' We are very proud of our 20 years in business and in serving the community of Sunnyvale.
Dave Peterson, Director/Owner
California Sports Center
Operator of the Sunnyvale Swim Complex
