Sunday, July 29, 2007

The YMCA/City Pool Management Agreement

An idea that could be ‘all wet’.

The City of Pueblo is planning to enter into an agreement that will turn over the management of your city pools to the YMCA.

It is not known what the City’s rational is behind this agreement other than the fact they starting to turn over the management of other recreation properties and this just might be another case of the City failing to meet their responsibility to protect, maintain, and manage our parks and recreation facilities. In this case they are claiming the people of Pueblo will be getting better services but not saving money. In fact, according to the agreement the cost of doing major repairs, major pool preparation to open the pool s so they are in a safe and functioning capacity at the four City pools will be the cities responsibility in addition to paying any and all operating deficits.

It appears that will be no cost savings and in reality it looks like it will cost the City more to have the YMCA manage the pools. As of this time the primary reason for considering the YMCA for managing the swim pools is that the YMCA claims they can offer more and better services. There are a couple very good reasons why the YMCA is not in a position to accomplish what is being promised at the same cost/budget as the City Recreation Department has had to operate under.

The Rec. Dept. is in a position to offer more and better services than the YMCA can because they have the people, the knowledge, and the experience that the YMCA does not have. All the Rec. Dept. needs is a level playing field and given the same dollars the City is planning to give to the YMCA. At this time the YMCA does not have more than(this is giving them the benefit of the doubt) 5 people directly involved in the operation and management of their one small swim pool. Of these five people most if not all are employed on a part time basis. The YMCA has acknowledged that the new Aquatic center(when and if it’s built) will require at least 3 to 4 times their present staff.

The majority of the people that operate and manage the swimming pools for the Rec. Dept. are high school and college students(around 120) and during this season a first year guard is paid $8.00/hr. and a pool manager $10.50/hr.. These pay rates are based on the fact that the average pay for first year guard is $9.00/ hr. in the State of Colorado. It must be remembered that these young people must have many years of swimming experience, must be in top physical condition, and go through a rigorous Red Cross Certification program to become life guards. The YMCA presently offers first year guards minimum wage. If the City and the YMCA believe the way to save money is by paying lower wages, shame on them. Those young people desire every penny they are now earning. Think about that! The availability of these young people is one of the controlling factors that determine the length summer swimming season. For the YMCA to become even remotely able to operate and manage the pools they must be in a position to hire this group of young people. The YMCA claims they will extend the number of days the pool will open and the time the pools will be open during the day. This is one of the primary considerations indicated by City for the YMCA taking over management of the pools, yet there is nothing in the agreement that sets minimum goals nor stating penalties for not meeting goals.

Something to take into consideration; What if the YMCA’s management does not meet the expectations of City and the people, will the City be able to take over managing the pools? The agreement is for ten years, what happens then? Could the City take over or is the YMCA going to be in total control of the operations because the City has no where else to go? The City must protect, maintain, and manage our parks and recreation facilities especially when there only one source for a service.

It could be a disastrous trap!