Aquatics strategy splits council as Playbook OP is approved

The committee's discussion of Playbook OP included sharp focus on aquatics. Staff described a regional pool model that phases upgrades at Young's Pool and Tomahawk Ridge and defers evaluation of a southern regional pool until after a 10'year period. Some councilmembers said the result does not reflect public preference for municipal community pools.

One councilmember explained why they would not support the plan, saying, "I think we probably got the right answer on 95% of how we wanna invest... I think we reached an unsatisfying answer on the most important question about aquatics... I sincerely believe as a nineties kid that we should be investing in municipal community pools, and our community vehemently requested that. And that is not codified in this plan." That councilmember said they would not support the plan for that reason.

Staff responded that the change from the 2013 plan is the addition of water-play features and a continuation of the regional-pool model, with Young's Pool, Tomahawk Ridge and Stonegate prioritized over time. The committee voted to approve Playbook OP as amended despite the expressed dissent.

Provenance:
Topic intro: SEG 246; Topic finish: SEG 671