City Approves Longer Season, More Activities at Hamilton Pool

The renovated public is bound to make an even bigger splash with swimmers this year.

The city of Novato has just approved a plan that would lengthen the pool’s operating season, expand its aquatics programs, introduce special community events and offer a poolside food concessionaire.

The plan is part of a just-proposed, three-year partnership agreement with the city of San Rafael, which Novato is calling on again to operate aquatics programs at Hamilton Pool. Last week, the Novato City Council unanimously approved the agreement. The San Rafael City Council is scheduled to vote Feb. 22.

As you may remember, Novato and San Rafael teamed up on a trial basis last year to run and maintain the pool after Novato was unable to find a suitable private operator. San Rafael seemed to be a good fit because of its experience operating the Terra Linda Community Pool.

It was Hamilton Pool’s grand re-opening following a nearly $4.5 million renovation that resulted in two new swimming pools, water play structure, changing rooms, solar heating plus picnic and barbecue facilities. (See video in media gallery from opening day 2010, courtesy Hamilton resident David Brewer.)

The deal between the two cities may have been a bit unconventional, but it worked, and it seems city officials can’t say enough good things about the partnership.

“They were one of the most responsive agencies we’ve dealt with,” said Pam Shinault, Novato’s Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services, referring to her San Rafael counterpart. “This is about two government agencies partnering to streamline resources and to do something together that probably could not be done alone.”

Carlene McCart, Director of San Rafael’s Community Services Department, echoes that sentiment. “Last year, the partnership was mutually beneficial and the community was served well," she said. "This year (as we worked on the proposed agreement) it was a question of, ‘How can we improve on this?’”

The first area for improvement is the length of the swim season. Under the proposal, the pool would be open from May 13 through Sept. 23, five weeks more than last year.

“This year we’re planning to be open a full month before school is out. That allows kids to take swim lessons before they leave on summer vacations. It also lets everyone take advantage of late spring warm weather,” McCart said. Not to mention that post-Labor Day heat wave that never fails to hit once kids are back in school.

McCart also says they plan to offer a greater variety of swim lessons and water-oriented classes. Among the possible new offerings: scuba diving and kayaking. There are other new additions proposed too, such as lifeguard training classes and special community events. One example is a “family fun day.”

You can really work up an appetite from all that fun and exercise, and last year many swimmers wished they could buy food at the pool (other than from the vending machine).  This year, it looks like they’ll get that wish. The city of Novato plans to strike a deal with a concessionaire to provide hot food and healthy snacks so people have the opportunity to enjoy lunch or dinner by the pool without packing their own picnic.

The cost of admission is to stay the same under the proposal: $4 for Novato kids, $5 for Novato adults. An early bird family season pass is $275 for Novato residents.

Novato Could Share in Revenue

In 2010, the city of Novato collected no revenue from Hamilton Pool, as part of its short-term agreement with San Rafael. There was uncertainty about what the actual costs and revenues from the new facility might be, so San Rafael retained all fees generated from pool admission, swim lesson and program fees, season pass sales and pool party rentals.

Despite colder than normal temperatures and a relatively short 14-week season, San Rafael had a better run than expected. They served almost 30,000 patrons, collected $184,982 in revenue and incurred $108,697 in expenses (from providing pool staff, safety and operational equipment, supplies and administrative services), according to a Novato city staff report from Shinault.

For 2011, McCart has agreed to share any excess revenue with Novato, splitting it 50-50 between each agency. According to the same Novato report, this could mean that “Novato could secure $25,000-$30,000 in new revenues, covering nearly two months of maintenance costs. In addition, a concessionaire contract could generate another $4,000-$5,000 in rent or percentage of sales revenue to the city of Novato, further reducing the need for general fund support.”

The city of Novato’s cost to maintain Hamilton Pool is $150,000 per year, according to the report.