Hamilton Pool Opens This Week

In a sure sign that summer is just around the corner, this Friday marks the season’s opening of .  The first swimmers can take the plunge at 11 a.m. on May 13.

The pool is opening two weeks earlier than it did last year. In all, swimmers will get to enjoy at the pool this season, which runs through Sept. 23.

Hamilton pool is a public facility open to everyone.

This is only the second season since the grand re-opening of Hamilton pool following a nearly $4.5 million renovation that resulted in two new swimming pools, a water play structure, changing rooms, solar heating plus picnic and barbecue facilities.

In addition to an expanded swim season, there are other improvements this year, including a larger aquatics program, volunteer opportunities for older kids and themed “family fun” days, starting in June.

Providing more food choices is also part of the plan this year, but getting a poolside concessionaire is proving to be more challenging than expected.

“We’ve had lukewarm interest from anyone nearby,” said Pam Shinault, Novato’s director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services, who is leading the search for an on-site vendor who can provide fresh and healthy snack options.

Shinault said the city solicited proposals from a wide group of catering businesses and local restaurateurs, but as of the deadline on April 28, she only received one proposal.

“We’ll review it,” she said. However, since plans are still up in the air, swimmers will have to bring change for the vending machines because there won’t be fresh food for opening weekend.

Shinault says there will be some sort of fresh food offering soon.“At worst before school gets out (in mid-June),” she said.

Shinault said the food vendor applicant is from Novato.

The owners of Hamilton-based Café Joel, who would seem to be naturals for the job due to their location and prior poolside catering experience at Mt. Tam Racquet Club in Larkspur, said the proposal wasn’t from them.

“We had been interested in doing poolside catering at Hamilton pool, and Joel had talked to the city about it,” said Café Joel co-owner Karen Brorby. “But as far as (submitting a formal proposal), we didn’t want to jump through the hoops. Spending hours and hours on a proposal, with the risk of the job going to someone else? Been there, done that.”

Brorby said last summer, they did poolside deliveries on their own when swimmers would call the restaurant for food. She said she and Joel might be open to doing that again this year on weekends, and it seems the city might see that as an option, too.

“We could still look at an off-site person to deliver on weekends only,” said Shinault.

Information about pool hours, fees, lessons, party rentals and junior lifeguard programs are all located on the city of San Rafael’s website. San Rafael operates the aquatics programs at the pool as part of a joint partnership with the city of Novato.

Residents seek improvements at entrances to Southgate

Southgate residents are invited to a meeting this Wednesday, May 11, at 2 p.m. to discuss possible repairs and improvements at the neighborhood’s two entrances.

City of Novato Parks Maintenance Director Bill Johnson will meet with residents at the home of Marie Hoch, Southgate’s new homeowners association representative, at 14 Richardson Road.

At issue are overgrown trees, a sloping sidewalk, cracks in the masonry wall and a lack of lighting, among other things. Resident Susan Johnson is spearheading the effort. She said the meeting Wednesday will focus on the landscaping. The other issues may also be discussed.

If you have suggestions about how to improve the Maybeck Street and Stern Drive  entrances, or would like to attend the meeting, please contact Susan Johnson at susan-j@comcast.net.