On Tuesday, the Winters City Council will consider a pool rental agreement with the Solano Aquatic Sea Otters for coaching and managing the Winters Swim Team and providing swim lessons this summer.
The council will also be considering an exclusive negotiation agreement contract with NeighborWorks Sacramento for discussion months to discuss constructing a 24 unit affordable construction project upon a two acre parcel received specifically for that purpose as part of the Winters Highlands Subdivision project. The parcel dedication is in addition to in-lieu funds, paid by developer Homes by Towne, for low and very low income housing and the construction of moderate income units within the subdivision.
According to the agenda documents, the city previously entered into an exclusive negotiation agreement with NeighborWorks Sacramento to discuss the project in January 2020, which was extended in August 2020 but has now expired.
As for the pool, city staff is recommending a contract with the Solano Aquatic Sea Otters, a non-profit organization that organizes other swim teams in local areas. The reason this is needed, according to the staff report, is because the previous volunteer swim team coordinator decided to not assist with swim team operations this year.
SASO has also offered to conduct swim lessons, and, under the arrangement, would rent the pool, provide registration services and staffing needed to operate the swim team. All registration fees would be kept by SASO, all operating expenses would be paid by the organization, and all liability would similarly be transferred to SASO through the rental agreement, according to the agenda documents.
Staff is recommending that SASO pay a $4,000 fee for deposit into the city general fund, as opposed to the historic $8,000 contribution from the swim team fund, because of late initiation of the swim team and swim lesson programs. The fee is primarily for pool maintenance and utilities. SASO is expecting 150 children to sign up for the swim team, at a registration fee of $85 per swimmer. But If registration isn’t sufficient to cover the fee, the city can adjust it downward. If registration surpasses expectations, the city can negotiate a different charge for next year, according to the agenda documents.
Swim team and swim lessons will be staffed by SASO, which, according to the agenda, has indicated they’ll recruit or local assistant coaches and swim instructors. A swim team meet and greet will be hosted by the organization on June 23 and swim team practices and lessons begin on June 21. According to the agenda, open swim will be announced as more lifeguards are certified and the schedule for swim team and swim lessons is confirmed.
“The roll out of the City’s aquatic program will be incremental as staffing permits, consistent with current COVID regulations,” according to the staff report. “While this year’s offerings may be different or not as robust as prior years, given the pandemic and the significant transitions within the organization and in program management, staff is encouraged by new opportunities made possible by the recommended partnership with SASO.”
