Sunday, Jul. 20, 2008

Pasco dives in: Aquatic bond to go to vote next month (w/photos)

By Joe Chapman, Herald staff writer

Sure, aquatic centers are loads of fun -- all that splashing and sliding, sunning and snacking, floating and dunking to beat the summertime heat.

But look closer at the kids playing at municipal leisure pools throughout the area and you'll see a more significant benefit.

Like educational video games that teach kids lessons without them realizing it, aquatic centers help kids become stronger swimmers, a vital skill given the water hazards around the Tri-Cities.

The lessons can be seen as kids go down a water slide, climb onboard a raft in the lazy river or spray each other with a water cannon.

"The first time it happens, it's 'Oh my gosh, I'm drowning.' And before you know it, it's 'Go ahead and splash me in the face,' " said Paul Whitemarsh, Pasco's recreation services director. "It's all a matter of skill development and comfort."

Pasco and Benton City are considering these benefits as they attempt to build aquatic centers. Providing public swimming facilities is a municipal obligation, and nowadays many cities are finding an aquatic center the most viable choice.

"Affordable swimming to the public is not going to happen unless it is subsidized to a certain extent," Whitemarsh said.

"And with the facilities that communities are building these days -- the family aquatic centers -- the subsidy is not as great as it once was because more people come and they're willing to pay a little more for the service."

Next month, Pasco voters will consider a $5 million bond issue to help build an aquatic center in the western part of town and to renovate Memorial Pool in the city's core. If the bond passes, property owners would see an initial tax increase of nearly 13 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, or about $13 a year for a $100,000 home.

But city planners project that once the aquatic center is built, it would generate enough revenue to cover operating costs.

The city calculates that an average admission charge of $2 per person per swim session, plus revenue from concessions, lessons and rentals, would generate about $57,400 more in a year than the projected operating cost of $131,000.

On the other hand, Pasco now spends about $80,000 a year subsidizing operation of its three existing pools -- Memorial, Kurtzman and Richardson.

Kurtzman and Richardson pools are getting closer to their final days, although it's not yet possible to predict exactly when they'll become inoperable. The committee that recommended the Memorial Pool renovation and the aquatic center also recommended eventually replacing Kurtzman with a sprayground, although that project wouldn't be part of the proposed bond issue.

The new aquatic center would include an 8,500- square-foot leisure pool with zero-depth entry -- a gradual incline that slopes up like a beach so toddlers can sit safely in the water. It also would have six lap lanes for swim team practice and adult exercise, a lazy river for inner-tubers, a water slide and spray features such as water cannons, ground spurts and a mushroom waterfall.

City officials considered building an enclosed facility for year-round use, but estimated doing so would add $4 million to construction and double the tax burden. They instead opted to pitch a more conservative plan to voters.

In Benton City, the groundwork for an aquatic center could be laid by November, when voters will consider approving a new city parks district. The district then could go to voters to ask for a tax increase to build an aquatic center.

A $3 million facility would need a property tax increase of about 60 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, or $60 a year on a $100,000 home, said Bob Spink, city engineer for Benton City. State grants could help ease the burden, he said.

If each step falls into place, a new aquatic center could open in spring 2010, Spink said. Preliminary plans include a leisure pool with zero-depth entry, lap lanes, a lazy river, spray features and a water slide.

Yakima, meanwhile, is considering a $30 million regional aquatic center that would be funded through its public facilities district. A proposal for a 0.1 percent sales tax increase could go to voters in about a year.

The proposed facility would have both indoor and outdoor features including a competitive swimming tank, leisure pools, a lazy river, a wave pool and water slides. The city doesn't expect the revenue the facility would generate to cover its operating costs.

About six times larger than Pasco's proposed facility, the Yakima aquatic center would be more on scale with a regional aquatic center that has been discussed as a joint project of Pasco, Kennewick and Richland.

In 2006, the Tri-Cities formed a Regional Facilities Oversight Committee to explore options for such collaborative projects. The committee concluded a regional aquatic center was among the top two wish list items and suggested it could be funded with a sales tax increase pitched by the public facilities districts.

But if that proposal is to move forward, it likely will be a long-term process. Richland's PFD last year indicated it couldn't help fund an aquatic center now because it was focused on a pre-existing commitment to raise money to help build the $40 million Hanford Reach interpretive center.

So Pasco decided to go ahead with plans for an aquatic center with the idea that over time and with help from the other two cities, its facility could be grown into a regional one and enclosed for all-weather use.

Richland Councilwoman Sheila Sullivan, a member of the regional oversight committee, said she doesn't think Pasco is getting ahead of itself or thwarting chances for collaborating on a regional aquatic center.

"I think of myself not only as a Richland resident, but as a Tri-Citian too, and I think what's good for Pasco is good for all of us," she said.

If Pasco's bond passes next month, an aquatic center could open for the 2011 season.

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