Title
Report on the Alameda Swimming Pool Association
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Report on the Alameda Swimming Pool Association
BACKGROUND
The Alameda Swimming Pool Association (ASPA) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that operates and maintains two city-owned pools located at Franklin Park and Lincoln Park. In May 1959, the city leased land at both of these parks to ASPA which was then required to design, build and operate the two swimming pools. The construction of the pools was privately funded and led by Frank Weeden and Fred Stolte.
ASPA is a membership-based organization and is fully managed by volunteers. It also hosts the Alameda Gators Swim Team, which is a separate non-profit youth athletic organization.
In 2011, the city entered into the current twenty year lease agreement with ASPA, which expires 2021. The Alameda Recreation and Parks Department (ARPD) manages this lease.
On July 14, 2016, several residents spoke to the Recreation and Park Commission to express their concerns about the management of the Alameda Swimming Pool Association and a general sense of lack of transparency in its operations.
DISCUSSION
ASPA provides family swimming, lap swimming, competitive swim though the Alameda Gators team, non-competitive swimming, free kindergarten swim and senior swim. Since its foundation, ASPA has been focused on teaching children to swim, as a matter of public safety for an island city. With this founding principle, ASPA provides free swimming lessons in the fall and spring open to all Kindergarten aged children in Alameda, regardless of whether the family has a membership. Parents are expected to participate in the pool with their child with the goal of teaching the parents how to continue to teach their child to swim.
Additionally, senior swim is a free, twice weekly program and pool time is provided at no charge to the Alameda Fire Department for staff water safety training. Both kindergarten and senior swim are open to all Alameda residents.
The existing lease agreement requires ASPA to manage and maintain all aspects of both pool facilities. The agreement includes the following provisions:
• Any improvement over $5,000 requires the approval of the city and all water utility costs are reimbursed to the city.
• All Alameda residents, ages 18 and over, are eligible for membership (children are included under their parent/guardian’s membership).
• ASPA must comply with all city and state health and safety regulations.
• One lifeguard must be present at all times when the pools are in use.
• The Board of Directors shall hold at least one meeting each year that is open to all members with the meeting schedule posted a minimum of 21 days in advance of the meeting date.
• It is required to have a Scheduling Committee with members including one appointed by the Board of Directors, one each from Franklin and Lincoln pools, one class representative, one senior swimmer, one Alameda Gators representative and one lap swimmer. This group is responsible for developing the annual facility use schedule.
• The annual income and expense report must be posted at Franklin and Lincoln pools.
ARPD staff met with the ASPA Board President and Treasurer to discuss the transparency and scheduling concerns of the members who spoke to the Recreation and Park Commission. It was confirmed that ASPA is following the basic requirements of the lease for posting of its annual financial statement and annual meeting. However, staff and the ASPA representatives also discussed how ASPA can improve communication with its members by utilizing social media, improving its website and a single voicemail line, rather than a variety of personal phone lines of its volunteer board members.
ASPA is heavily dependent upon its volunteers and requires that members volunteer ten hours per year. Staff shared that members had expressed at the Commission meeting a desire to be more involved in the communication efforts and the ASPA representatives agreed to reach out to involve those volunteers.
ARPD staff and ASPA representatives discussed several specific examples of ways to improve transparency and communication with members including:
• Adding the maximum capacity on the website and why it is needed. This will help people seeking a membership to understand why they were put on a waiting list if the membership is currently full.
• Putting more detailed information on the ASPA website, including the budget and financial statement.
• Starting a Facebook page that is a private group for members and posting scheduling and budget information on that page.
• Listing volunteer opportunities on the website.
• Having an at-large Board member who is responsible for volunteer management.
Since that meeting, two of the concerned members that spoke at the Commission meeting contacted ARPD to share that they met with the ASPA Board members and felt optimistic about improved access and transparency. They continue to have concerns about long-term funding for the pools but felt that the improved communication would assist with future fundraising, volunteering, etc.
ARPD staff will continue to monitor the ASPA operations and encourage the ASPA Board to keep improving its methods to communicate with its members and the larger Alameda community.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Per the lease agreement, ASPA reimburses the city for all water utility costs. ASPA pays for all other operational and maintenance expenses for the two facilities.
RECOMMENDATION
Accept report on the Alameda Swimming Pool Association
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Exhibits:
1. ASPA sample schedules