Friends of the Fremont Pool: May 2013

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

CSC to Operate Fremont Pool

Dear Friends of the Fremont Pool,

This evening, California Sports Center was approved to continue their contract at the Fremont Pool. They will begin the new contract in mid-August. As a benefit to pool patrons, rates will be frozen (no fee increases) for a year. We were very happy to keep this contractor.

One issue of debate was the increase in the liability premium going from $1/$2 million to $5/$10 million in insurance affecting groups who rent the pool. While large renters like SUNN and those who can get coverage under USA swimmers will have no effect, it is unknown if some smaller groups might have difficulty. Rather than postpone the contracting decision any further, the contract was approved and, hopefully, the issues with gaining coverage for the smaller renters will be resolved.

One council member strongly favored having the city operate the pool.

Again, the FFP Steering Committee is very pleased to know that CSC will continue to operate the Fremont Pool.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Friends of the Fremont Pool Strongly Endorses California Sports Center for Pool Operator

The Friends of the Fremont Pool Steering Committee voted unanimously to ‘strongly endorse’ California Sports Center to operate the public swim programs at the Fremont Pool. Holly Lofgren said, “After reviewing their excellent proposal it was evident that CSC has plans to continue the success at the pool. They have been repeatedly commended by community members for their dedication to a full and varied aquatics program, and towards ‘getting it right’ no matter what the issue.

The formal hearings which will be conducted by the Parks and Recreation Commission and by the Sunnyvale City Council have been published. Our letter of strong endorsement is copied below for your convenience. I hope that you will come out and support CSC at one of these meetings or send a representative from your group. Thank you.

Public Hearing Item 4: Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Proposals for the Operation of Public Swim Programs at Fremont High School Pool
http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/Portals/0/Sunnyvale/NonCouncilReports/2013/DraftRTC-FremontPool.pdf

The Parks and Recreation Commission

Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 7:00 PM

SUNNYVALE COUNCIL CHAMBERS

456 West Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale CA 94088

The Sunnyvale City Council

Tuesday, May 21^st at 7:00 PM

SUNNYVALE COUNCIL CHAMBERS

456 West Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94088

May 8^th, 2013

Our Letter of Strong Endorsement

Honorable Mayor and City Council Members

City of Sunnyvale

456 W. Olive Avenue

Sunnyvale, CA 94088-3707

Re: Proposal for Operation of Fremont Pool

The Friends of the Fremont Pool Steering Committee is happy to offer its strong endorsement for California Sports Center to continue to operate the City of Sunnyvale Joint-use 50-meter Swimming Pool at Fremont High School (Fremont Pool).

The Friends would like to commend California Sports Center on its excellent pool operations for the past eleven years and for its plans for the future. Based upon our own personal experience, the expectations we set out when we commenced the community fundraising drive, the content of CSC’s excellent report, (both in its form and its substance), and the comments we hear from other pool users and pool groups, California Sports Center has surpassed expectations. Of particular mention is the quality of the staff.

We respectfully ask the Mayor and the Sunnyvale City Council to award the pool contract to California Sports Center, without delay.

Signed,

Holly Lofgren & the

Friends of the Fremont Pool Steering Committee

cc. Lisa Rosenblum, Nancy Grove

About Us

Announcement: The Fremont Pool re-opened for limited lap lane swim rentals on July 13, 2000, with Covid -19 restrictions and protocols. CSC gave up their contract; the City of Sunnyvale is running the pool.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fremont Pool was ordered closed on March 17, 2000. More news will follow.

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If you are returning to our organization, I would like to say, ‘Welcome Back’ and if this is your first time working with the group, ‘Welcome On Board’!

I would like to explain my objective in reforming the group and provide a little background for those who are unfamiliar with our project.

The History. Friends of the Fremont Pool was formed in 1999 when the City of Sunnyvale had an opportunity to partner with the Fremont Union High School District to build a 50-meter swimming pool at Fremont High School. Our group advocated for the pool and raised a substantial endowment for the City of Sunnyvale to reduce future operating subsidies. As you are aware, this program was successful, the pool was built, a partnership was formed and we all enjoy the benefits today.

For the most part, the City has handled the community’s interests in this pool by attending and participating in quarterly meetings with high school district personnel and CSC, managing the contract with California Sports Center, paying the high school district, reviewing annual rate changes, and handling inquiries from the public. Lately, there have been more inquiries from the public (me) than usual.

Additionally, the pool endowment, which we raised, is a substantial sum of money at $915,000. We are also expecting to receive proceeds from a bequest in the near future. With interest rates at a historic low, I am interested in investigating investment strategies for the endowment. And, our Trustee, Mary Bradley has retired so a new Trustee must be officially installed.

My Objective. Since it seems as though there has been a fairly brisk flow of questions, billing discrepancies, parking lot issues, etc, and since it seems as though this activity is increasing and because we should do some work in regards to the endowment, I decided to ask pool enthusiasts and interested parties to stay in contact with me.

Thus, Friends of the Fremont Pool is being reformed to have an engaged citizenship aware and communicating regarding some operational and financial issues for which we might want to provide organized input.

Finally, next June marks the tenth anniversary of the Fremont Pool. This is quite a reason for celebration and there may be some good times to be had that we can look forward to. Please stay tuned for more information on that front in the future.

Thank you very much! See you at the pool!

Holly Lofgren

Chairperson, Friends of the Fremont Pool