Pool Re-Opening Announcements

Because of overwhelming interest from the public, expressed to City staff and representatives, the Fremont Pool will soon re-open.  Thanks for your advocacy!                                 

From Mayor Larry Klein:

During this transition period, based on COVID-19 protocols and current aquatic staff availability, the City is working on a plan to offer limited swimming pool lane appointments. The short-term plan will include morning (7 a.m. to 10 a.m.) and early evening (5 p.m. to 8 p.m.) swimming pool lane appointments, Monday through Friday, beginning July 13, 2020.

Appointment scheduling will be live on Wednesday, July 8, 2020 by noon at Sunnyvale.ca.gov (search ‘pools’). 

Swimming pool lane appointments will be a two-step process: a) Book an appointment; b) Purchase a swim pass. Appointments will be available for one person per lane – on the hour for 45 minutes, except where two persons from the same household wish to reserve a lane for the same appointment. Swimming lane appointments will be $12 per person.

As COVID-19 protocols change and staffing availability allows, the City will consider additional programs and activities at the Sunnyvale Swim Complex. Detailed information, including COVID-19 protocols, will be available at Sunnyvale.ca.gov (search ‘pools’). Also, to stay informed about short-term and future Sunnyvale Swim Complex operations, subscribe to the Aquatics Newsletter at https://sunnyvale.ca.gov/about/subscribe.htm. You may also contact the City at recreation@sunnyvale.ca.gov with any questions or comments regarding the Sunnyvale Swim Complex.

Larry Klein
Sunnyvale Mayor
Cellphone:  408-504-6675

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Additionally, we learned to anticipate:

1)     They will have 16 lanes open.

2)     You may reserve one lane per day, for up to 5-days.  The reservation system will be put out weekly on Monday for the following week's reservation. 

3)      If you don't show up, you still pay for the lane.

Information is still formulating regarding all the details, but this is the latest news.

Pool closure - handy list of people to contact

These are the people to contact to ask when the pool is going to open:

Here is how to contact people.

City Council (and anyone generically in City through website)      408-730-7473

https://sunnyvale.dynamics365portals.us/contact-us/?depid=845280000    

More specific Council members

Mayor Larry Klein    larrykleinsunnyvale@gmail.com or kleincouncil@sunnyvale.ca.gov

408-504-6675 cell

Vice Mayor Nancy Smith  nancy@nancysmith.org or nchsmith@gmail.com or smithcouncil@sunnyvale.ca.gov

408-455-8672

Glenn Hendricks   hendrickscouncil@sunnyvale.ca.gov  408-242-8384

Russ Melton  meltoncouncil@sunnyvale.ca.gov 650-455-1163

Michael Goldman    miklg@yahoo.com or goldmancouncil@sunnyvale.ca.gov

 408-739-8250

Mason Fong   fongcouncil@sunnyvale.ca.gov  (650) 773-8623

Gustavlarsson@sunnyvale.ca.gov or Larssoncouncil@sunnyvale.ca.gov  (408)  206-5537

City Staff

City Manager Kent Steffens    ksteffens@sunnyvale.ca.gov   408-730-7911

Cherise Brandell   Director of Library and Community Services  cbrandell@sunnyvale.ca.gov  408-730-7314 

Rick Cotter  Aquatics Manager  rcotter@sunnyvale.ca.gov  

Damon Sparacino  Superintendent of Community Services     dsparacino@sunnyvale.ca.gov  

Jesus Raygoza  Community Services Coordinator  jraygoza@sunnyvale.ca.gov

School District

Polly Bove  Superintendent   polly_bove@fuhsd.org

Eric Walukiewicz  Pool Operations   erik_walukiewicz@fuhsd.org

Fremont Pool hits snag in reopening

As you know, on March 16, 2020, the Fremont Pool was ordered closed due to the COVID-19 shelter in place order.  Many of us have been waiting for the reopening of the pool.  The County announced that outdoor public pools could re-open on June 4th and County outdoor public pools could re-open on June 12th.  However, on June 10th, our 18-year pool operator, California Sports Center called it quits.  They cited financial losses as well as a new time extension of the non-operational hiatus in order that further governmental reviews be conducted. 

There has been no commitment on the part of City staff at this juncture as to a date or a plan for re-opening this important public resource.

We suggest you contact your city council members and your County Supervisors for some assistance.

Pool Fees and Closure Schedule

Pool users – This year the City of Sunnyvale has begun a public review format for the annual review and approval process for California Sports Center’s fees and closure schedule at the Fremont Pool.  In the past, the fees and closure schedule were only approved by staff, without any public review.  (Background: I suggested that perhaps the time has come for fees to come under public review.  Almost all fees for recreational services in the city are approved by the City Council!  Staff responded with a public review cycle.)  Perhaps you saw the signs at the Fremont Pool office. 

An issue that will arise, in coming years, complicating the cost of providing services, aquatic and otherwise, will be increases in minimum wages and other mandated health services.  Addressing these economic phenomena will likely take on a more general policy approach. None the less, please be prepared to participate in the discussion regarding how these rates can be determined fairly at the Fremont Pool for all parties involved.

The suggested rate and closure dates are attached. The only comment the Friends of the Fremont Pool Steering Committee provided to the City of Sunnyvale staff was that the masters swim drop in rate of $15 seemed too high. The open swim drop in rate did go up $1 last year and is proposed to remain the same for FY17. 

Please forward all comments to Nancy Grove, Community Services Manager, at ngrove@sunnyvale.ca.gov.  Thank you!

Schedule - https://www.dropbox.com/s/pswdnhdpptklz0x/2017%20fee%20schedule%20-%20DRAFT%20for%20%20%20Public%20Comment.pdf?dl=0

Closure - https://www.dropbox.com/s/xbgpwy1okn67feq/2017-Proposed-CSC-pool-closures.pdf?dl=0

Fees - https://www.dropbox.com/s/gtt7a5kzhhuxes9/Aquatics-CS-Fees-Closures-Bulletin.pdf?dl=0

More Construction Updates

Pool Users,

This is an update regarding the construction on the Fremont Pool.  I’m passing along what I have learned and encourage you to forward this blog to others who might be interested.

The pool has been re-plastered and is refilled with water.  It is now curing.  Other work that was performed included new tile and underwater light repairs.  The lights were also all converted to LED which saves energy and maintenance costs. As you probably know, the pool will be reopened by January 11^th or as early as January 4^th. 

Additionally, after the locker rooms were renovated last fall, the floor in the women’s shower area was redone for better ‘flow to drains’. Many people have asked me about puddling that now occurs between the shower room and the changing area (and also about some puddling under two benches).  I leaned that it is impractical to attempt to fix these issues as any ‘cut’ into the solid surface epoxy floor could lead to leaks.  I also learned that the bench posts are much more resistant to deterioration that the old posts. If you see any issues that need to be addressed, please let the front desk know – thanks! Finally, all seem to agree that the locker rooms are much better built than they were originally and should last much longer.

Coming up in 2016:  The school district/city will be looking at deck repair; everyone has noticed that it is chipping in the high traffic walking areas.  Also, the school district said they might look into shorter light poles that are less expensive to maintain and would provide better light.

I continue to be thankful to the City of Sunnyvale and the Fremont Union High School District for their support of this community asset.  I am also thankful for a pool operator who really cares – California Sports Center – and for their staff who are woven into the friendship of the Fremont Pool community. And, I am grateful to all the pool users who participate in surveys and in meetings when we need to do our civic duty to support an asset we all love.

Have a happy holiday and prosperous new year!

Holly

Construction Update

Pool Users,

Please find attached the Construction Update for the Fremont Pool shower renovation.  It appears that the plan is about the same as we were informed earlier. The expected completion date – November 1^st – is also about what we expected.  We have heard and seen the construction workers on site every day and Blach Construction has an excellent reputation.  

 Also as planned, we will need to vacate the student shower rooms in mid-August when school starts up again. The arrangements for changing area and toilets are going to be very close by, right next to the gym, but do be prepared for an older building.

The shower will be the most challenging.  As the outdoor shower on the public shower building will not be ready in two weeks, we will be given the opportunity to ‘rinse off’ only until the outdoor shower is usable.  Thus, some people will be inconvenienced.  The construction company is targeting September 1st as a completion date for the exterior showers providing the construction schedule remains on target and it is approved by the State Architect. Please be patient and it will all be over soon.

We are looking forward to an excellent outcome and are nearly halfway there!  Please be thankful to the high school district and remember that this pool is not on city property. The only swimming pool the City of Sunnyvale owns is the Washington Pool, the rest of our aquatic needs are met via joint-use agreements with the schools.

Thanks so much!  It will all be over soon. See the links below for more information.

Holly

 http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/Portals/0/Sunnyvale/DCS/Recreation/Sports/FremontPoolConstructionMap.pdf


http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/Portals/0/Sunnyvale/DCS/Recreation/Sports/FremontPoolUpdateAug2014.pdf

Impending Locker Room Renovation

This post is to provide an update on the ADA location as part of the locker room remodel and remind pool users of the impending renovation.

The renovation of the locker room will begin on Monday, June 9^th.  The pool will be open during the renovation.  Alternate shower and changing areas will be provided.  The entrance to the pool patrons will use is just a few feet from the current entrance. 

ALL OF US AT THE FRIENDS OF THE FREMONT POOL ARE DELIGHTED THAT THIS RENOVATION IS GOING FORWARD.  WE EXPECT THAT EVERYONE WILL COOPERATE WITH THE INCONVENIENCE AS WE EQUALLY ANTICIPATE AN EXCELLENT OUTCOME.  

In a meeting on May 28^th between FFP, the school district and the city staff, we came to the following conclusions regarding the ADA area. The needs of persons who use wheelchairs are quite different from the needs of people who use walkers. Due to the circumference of the wheelchair clearance and its effect on the regular benches the Northeast location of the ADA bench was a reasonable location.  We also concluded that a person using a walker would probably use the lockers and benches closest to the entrance.  School and city staff agreed to add a grab bar on a locker in this proximity after evaluating the behavior of person(s) who uses the locker room with a walker.  School and city staff also agreed to seek out any other reasonable accommodations for persons who use walkers.

Thank you.

Holly