Hello,
I would like to provide some community member input on the future management of the pool facilities at Burgess. I know that this item was discussed at the last Council meeting, but it’s my impression that it is not fully closed yet, so I hope you find this useful.
I am currently and have been a Menlo Park resident for 11 years. My daughter swims at PASA Menlo Park at Burgess. My wife swims at Menlo Masters at Burgess. I swim in the open lap swimming at Burgess. I am hopeful that my son will do the stroke clinics at Burgess in the fall. I have found the current management, the fee structure, the programming and the overall pool environment to be exceptional. Under the current management, it is a well functioning aquatic center with a vibrant swimming community. I would request that Menlo Patk continue having Team Sheeper manage the pool for the foreseeable future so that we can continue to have great programming and swimming opportunities at the community pool.
I recognize the with the new pool opening in Ravenswood, that the city may want to consider other options. I would encourage you not to do so at this time for Burgess. If the city would like to self manage the pools, start with one (the new pool), and if it goes well, then take over Burgess in 5 years after you know you can confidently manage pools. I will comment that I am skeptical that the city will have the skill set to do so - I think the fact that Arillaga Gymnastics is still closed is an indication that the cities core competency is not managing sports facilities and should be wary of trying to do that. But if you really want to try, try at the new pool which is not already functioning so well. If the city would like a more competitive outside management situation - then have a new contract at Ravenswood with a new vendor, and compare the performance of that vendor vs Sheeper over 5 years and make a decision later with more information on what is the best vendor to manage the pools.
Most importantly - I have not heard any valid complaints that Sheeper is not doing a great job managing the pools, and I think the opinion of the people that actually use the pools is quite high - so I would encourage you to keep the status quo and continue what is already a great thing, and put your efforts into areas that are not currently functioning so well. For example, getting the gymnastics center open again and having a successful launch of the new pool facilities.
Thank you for your consideration of my comments.
Nick
