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Published on 10/06/1999 All articles from this issue

LA Council dives into community pool issue

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By Joanne Griffith Domingue

Special to the Town Crier

The Los Altos City Council agreed the city needs a community swimming pool. The question now is where to put it.

For many residents, "The real issue is one of 'not in my backyard,'" Mayor Lou Becker said at the Sept. 28 council meeting.

After listening to 49 speakers in a standing-room-only crowd, the council authorized the city's recreation commission to study, with the help of a consultant, the best place to locate a community pool. The council also directed the city staff to work with the Masters Swim Club to develop a business plan for running a swimming program in a city-owned facility.

Many expressed concern about a non-city group running a program at a city facility. But city council members pointed out that many groups - like History House, the Bus Barn, Little League and soccer leagues - run programs in city facilities.

Since the Covington Pool - built with private and public money on school-owned property - opened in 1955, the city has enjoyed a community pool. In 1987, the Masters Swim Club assumed operation of the city's aquatic program, offering swimming lessons and swim teams for area children.

But the pool closes in June 2000 when the Los Altos School District begins renovating the site for the reopening of Covington elementary school. And the district does not want a community pool at one of its elementary schools.

Some do not think the community needs a pool.

"I have access to private pools," Pat Proctor said. In Los Altos, with the standard lot-size being 1/4 acre, "most have room for a pool if they want one," she said.

Jan Hafner disagreed. Asking if Los Altos needs a community pool because people have private pools is like asking if the city needs a library when residents have their own books. A community pool or library "transcends neighborhoods," she said.

LaNae Avra has a backyard pool, but she also wants a community pool. "It's the best way to keep kids safe and teach them to swim," she said.

Jim Triolo, 85, believes in the health benefits of swimming. "Swimming has extended my life and enhanced its quality," he said.

But some don't want a pool if it means losing two of the nine city-run tennis courts. One location being considered is the site of two tennis courts at the 4.3-acre McKenzie Park on Fremont Avenue.

Nearby residents don't want a pool at McKenzie Park because they fear traffic, noise and disruption of their neighborhood park.

McKenzie Park is being looked at because "the only adjoining neighbors are commercial," Councilman King Lear said. That site offers "the least impact on neighborhoods," he said.

One speaker suggested it was a conflict of interest for a council member to vote on the pool if they swam with the Masters program.

Councilwoman Kris Casto, who swims with the Masters, discussed the issue with city attorney Bob Booth. "It's not a conflict of interest because there is no financial benefit," Casto said. "To be on the council does not mean we have to sever our ties with the town. We can still have our hobbies."

Councilman Francis La Poll said, "There's no question, there's a need for a pool. It's like the old argument that we don't need parks because we have parks in our back yard."