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North Shore to get Second Pool
June 2, 2005 the city council approved all budgetary and contractual requirements to facilitate this new pool project. The contract with Biltmore Construction has been
prepared. Assuming the contract is acceptable to all parties, the project will begin on July 1st.
May 27, 2005. The word from our city councilperson Virginia
Littrell.
Yesterday the city council met in workshop to review the upcoming budget. Staff presented a plan for completing the pool project and let me just say.... there is good news... and there is great news!
There will be a new entrance building which will have office and cashier space, and renovation of the existing bath house including the locker rooms and the classroom space. We will also construct the new 25 meter X 25 yard pool with a ramp and bulkhead, pumphouse with deck storage and office, new space for St. Pete Aquatics programs and new funbrellas and slide. The council has also agreed to consider the use of Weeki Wachee funds for the addition of a new spray grounds and deck to complete the package.
The funding comes from other budget line items: replacement fund for police take home cars, the balance of unappropriated funds from an annexation project, and a street improvement project which is on hold due to unforseen conditions the existing roadbed. All affected departments agreed to the use of these dollars, due to timing constraints of the fiscal year.
Council appears to be satisfied that no department services, projects, or personnel will suffer from the reassignment of funds in this fiscal year. We will have to find $650,000 for next year to reimburse Engineering's street project, but have already found $250,000 of that amount. It had already been determined that a new methodology for replacing police take home cars is needed and could not be implemented this fiscal year.
The project is being viewed as an amendment to the current year's budget and will be on the council's June 2nd agenda. The design work and documents are completed and the construction company has been chosen. Once council approves the budget requirements, staff is prepared to let the contract the following day... so, looks like the project will finally get underway on June 3rd. Completion is anticipated in January of 2006, perhaps earlier if all goes well.
The design work is completed. The pool will have a 4 - 6 ft. graduating slope, with 5 feet under the blocks and will have the same finish as the existing pool. The pool will not be heated with photovoltaic cells or a full solar array, but we feel confident that as much energy resource as is financially feasible at this time will be used to address operating expense. I have also passed along the information that USA Swimming is willing to negotiate thermal covers for the city at USAS's cost. USAS estimates thermal covers will substantially reduce energy costs.
The new pool will be located on the south side of the existing pool with the new pumphouse and SPA program room to the west of the new pool ( south of the existing entry building ). The new spray grounds and deck will be to the east ( Tampa Bay side ) of the new pool. The new entrance will be north of the existing building and should make a much more inviting and welcoming statement to visitors.
During yesterday's workshop the staff mentioned receiving letters from you. Follow-up letters encouraging the council to pass the full funding for the pool project on June 2nd would be warranted at this time.
Please know that I appreciate your willingness to meet with me, write letters and e-mails, and generally work as a team to get this project started. Thank you for standing strong when city staff queried you about accepting lessor versions of this project. Well done!
Virginia Littrel
The News from the
June 1, 2005 Charlotte's Letter City can widen pool of top swimmers
May 29, 2005 City set for plunge into North Shore pool
May 15, 2005 Heat is back on to build second North Shore pool
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