Politics & Government
City Approves Sheeper Pool Contract
Five-year contract includes Belle Haven operations.
After months of infighting over pool access between swim club SOLO Aquatics and operator Tim Sheeper and Menlo Swim and Sport, the Menlo Park City Council renewed a five-year contract Tuesday night that includes the Belle Haven Pool.
The unanimous council vote renewing Sheeper's public-private partnership could have been cast weeks ago, but SOLO has been highly vocal about getting more lane hours for their burgeoning youth swim club, the only competitive swim option in Menlo Park.
Council Members have been playing diplomacy between the two sides for months.
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"I'm amazed we've gotten so far so civilly," Council Member Andy Cohen said.
Several parents of SOLO swimmers pleaded with the council for a minimum number of lanes between certain hours, six between 3:30 and 7 p.m., for example.
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"We just want to be treated fairly," SOLO president Steve Zanolli told the council Tuesday. "We need your help."
The council, however, stuck to staff's recommendation that SOLO get a boost from 45 lane hours per week to 80 under the agreement.
Also in the agreement, Menlo Swim and Sport is required to pay the city $3,000 rent per month for the year-round operation of Burgess Pool and also operate the Belle Haven location three weeks per year. According to a staff report, the agreement, which has 90-day opt-out clause for both parties, will save the city $126,000 per year.
Operator Tim Sheeper managed to push the council for one possible modification: lowering his financial responsibility ceiling for maintenance repairs and replacements from $25,000 to $10,000. With the 5-0 vote, council directed staff to explore the option.
It was the second meeting before the City Council in two weeks and follows a Parks and Recreation Commission meeting as well. SOLO members have been pushing the city for more support throughout the process and since they lost the bid to Menlo Swim and Sport last year. But the more the city mandates Sheeper's lane hours, the less profitable the operation becomes, City Attorney Bill McClure said, which might push Sheeper out.
Sheeper has operated the Burgess pool since 2006 and will have another chance to renew the contract in 2016.
