Staffers told the Kent City Council last week that spending roughly $233,000 in repairs could extend the life of the Kent Meridian Pool for another five years.
That would take some of the pressure off the Council as it evaluates ways to find dollars to build a new aquatics center for the city.
One of those options – a political hot potato – would be asking voters to approve a tax measure to build a new facility.
Extending the life of the present pool also would give city staff more time to find a funding partner, such as the YMCA of Greater Seattle, to help build a new facility.
“If we push the ‘pause’ button, it would allow us time to pursue partners,” City Parks Director Jeff Watling told the Council at informational workshop July 1.
No date has yet been set for the Council to render a decision on the pool-repair proposal.
Much to figure out
Without a specific proposal for a new aquatics center, the Council missed the May 27 deadline to submit a property tax measure to voters for the Aug. 19 primary ballot.
And to make deadline for the Nov. 4 general election ballot, the Council would have to make a firm decision on a new center by its July 15 regular meeting.
Other options before the Council include waiting until early 2009 to put a property tax measure before voters, or making additional repairs at the Kent Meridian Pool to extend the timeline for seeking funding partners, Watling said.
Council members listened to Watling’s comments, but did not discuss what options they would be inclined to take.
Seeking solutions
City officials are looking for a facility to replace the Kent Meridian Pool, built in 1972. The city took over operation of the pool from King County in 2003. The Council directed city staff at that time to pursue a long-term solution to replace the aging Kent Meridian Pool.
Last fall, city staff proposed an 80,000-square foot facility at an estimated cost of $48 million to be built on a 14-acre site south of West Meeker Street and east of Naden Avenue. The facility would include a 25-meter competitive lap pool, a leisure pool, a therapy pool, a gym with an elevated track above it, a small fitness room and party rooms.
In April, the Council asked city staff to hire an independent source to evaluate the Kent Meridian Pool and provide an estimate on how much longer the facility could last and at what cost. McKinstry Co., a Seattle mechanical construction and engineering firm, completed the evaluation last month.
The company said the city would need $130,000 to repair the facility’s air-handling units, including the exhaust fan and supply fan. That’s in addition to another $100,000 to replace the temperature controls for the air handling units and heating system, and another $3,500 for repairs to the hot-water boiler.
A smaller facility?
The Council also received a report at the workshop from ORB Architects, Inc., of Renton, on a proposed phase-one concept of a new aquatics center. That proposal would include an indoor lap pool and outdoor leisure pool rather than a three-pool facility with a gym and fitness room.
The scaled-back facility could be built for an estimated $22.4 million, according to ORB Architects.
The Council asked for the study to help determine if it might be better to ask voters to approve a bond measure for a smaller aquatics center.
A delay in the project would give the city more time to pursue a partnership with the YMCA, Watling said. The YMCA has shown an interest in a potential partnership with the city to help build and operate an aquatics center.
YMCA officials told city officials in May that they would need 18 to 24 months to conduct a market analysis and to get a better idea on how much capital contribution it could make to the project.
If the Council decides to extend the life of the Kent Meridian Pool, the city will need to negotiate with the Kent School District on extending the lease for the pool, which is on school district property, Watling said. That lease expires in May 2011.
Editor Laura Pierce contributed to this story.
Contact Steve Hunter at 253-872-6600, ext. 5052 or shunter@reporternewspapers.com.
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