NORTHSHORE
PRSA
Public
Meeting #1
This
meeting was attended by 34 Northshore PRSA residents and a variety of City,
PRSA and consultant team members.
Participants represented a variety of community interests and
populations. Toddlers, seniors, teens,
families and persons with disabilities were about equally represented, each
having 8-10 persons in the audience representing those interests (note that
some people represented more than one group).
There were also representatives of the fitness swimmers and warm water
pool users. About half of the group
indicated they were interested in general recreational swimming. Competitive swimmers were represented by
about 7 participants.
The
purpose of the meeting was to describe the project that is underway, outline
the project schedule, provide examples of facilities in other areas that have
been constructed according to specific community interests, and obtain
participants’ feedback. Examples of lap,
thermal, multi-purpose, participatory play, zero depth entry, lazy river,
slide, floatable walk, wave, and fountain/spray/geyser pools were shown.
The
following is a record of the community residents’ oral questions and input to
the project team. Responses to written
feedback sheets provided at the meeting are tallied in a separate document.
Questions:
Responses
to the following questions asked at the meeting can be found on the web site or
will be provided in the final report and/or, to the extent feasible, earlier in
the Frequently Asked Questions section of the project web site.
·
What is the PRSA?
·
Can the PRSA tax?
·
What is the population in the PRSA?
·
What is the population of the PRSA residing
in unincorporated areas?
Aquatics Facilities
·
Does
·
What is the size of the
·
What aquatics options are offered at
·
What was the cost of renovating the
·
What does “spa” mean?
·
Are all of the examples of other
communities’ aquatic facilities publicly owned?
·
Is this project private or public?
·
Which is more expensive to maintain: brand new pools vs renovated aged facilities?
·
Is there a facility that can be donated?
·
Does St. Edward have enough space, especially
including parking needs?
·
What is a rough estimate of the land
requirements, including parking?
·
How do you meet all of these needs in one
facility?
·
What is the difference between a water park
and a leisure pool?
·
What is the next project milestone?
·
Will you do a broad-based community survey?
·
How much did it cost to renovate
·
What are the current operating costs of the
pools in the Northshore area?
·
What is the relationship of the pool fee
revenues to the pool operating costs?
Suggestions
for the Project:
·
Look at some 50 meter facilities (e.g.,
·
Consider a removable roof facility
·
Check on the pool in Snohomish
·
Consider energy conservation and compare
heat pumps/heat exchangers, etc.
·
The package should include a combination;
include different solutions for each existing pool
·
Have new developments include water parks
[this refers to new mall developments]
·
Renovate St. Edward; make an “L”; it’s a
beautiful place
·
Look at what the City of
Other
issues and comments:
·
It costs $20 for a family to swim at St.
Edward; this is prohibitive
·
Some parts of an aquatic facility can
generate revenue to support other parts of the facility
·
There is a great need in this area for a
facility for kids ages 5-18
·
There is a great need for lap pools; there
are too many kids for the summer meets
·
The County needs at least two more 50-meter
pools
·
A multi-generational facility would enhance
the community
·
The examples shown are a kids’ Christmas
wish list; no one has the funding for these kinds of facilities
·
Needs should be met in a complementary
manner
·
Affordability is an issue
·
Consider that not everyone has their own
vehicle; need to accommodate public transportation and consider driving times
·
Neighborhood pools would make some
transportation easier
·
Current facilities (especially St. Edward)
are not currently maximized; fees drive people away
·
Competitive swimmers drive daily to
·
No long term funding for pools is available
from the Cities; this study is expected to recommend what should be done
·
There are not enough lap pools
·
There are more recreational than lap
swimmers
Site suggestions:
·
Thrasher Corner, Bothell
·
Locate near the High Schools