Council, Indoor Pool Officials Finalize Lease

The City Council unanimously approved a five-year lease agreement with members of the group Monday night.

Under the terms, the city will pay SIPP $150,000 annually from the city's general fund toward the operation, maintenance and repair costs for the facility located on Andrew Jarvis Drive. SIPP officials are responsible for raising the $750,000 needed to carry out capital improvements over the next five years at the indoor pool via revenues it generates from its programs, classes, lessons, memberships and fees.

SIPP officials will also be permitted to sell naming rights to portions of the facility such as lockerroom areas to raise additional money.

The city maintains the right to end the lease agreement and close the indoor pool if SIPP officials fail to meet the terms of the agreement.

The lease agreement was the result of negotiations held between the city and SIPP and a work session held in September. When the City Council voted to accept the lease proposal earlier this month, more than 200 SIPP members cheered.

If the City Council had not agreed to provide $150,000 per year to support the indoor pool, SIPP officials said they would not be able to keep the facility open.

SIPP Public Affairs Officer Jennifer Zorn told the council earlier this month that as many as 100,000 people used the indoor pool located on Andrew Jarvis Drive next to Portsmouth High School in 2010 and SIPP continues to add as many programs to benefit the community as it can.

SIPP members have also pledged to increase the building's energy efficiency as well as explore other ways to reduce its operating costs. Zorn said SIPP also wants to reach out to city residents who are economically challenged to make it easier for them to afford the swimming programs.

Tom Conneen, SIPP's chief operating officer, said the indoor pool would normally cost the city $536,000 a year and instead it will cost the city $150,000 per year under the terms of the plan.