The College Station city council will test the waters on turning over operation of pools and aquatic programs to a private company.
If outsourcing takes place, it won’t start until after the summer swimming season ends August 31st.
Councilman Karl Mooney was among those calling for safeguards during the process of screening potential operators and contract language.
Parks and Recreation Director David Schmitz says many cities, including Waco, have saved money with private operators in charge. The savings in College Station is estimated at $428,000.
The staff report indicated outsourcing would allow the city to come within four percent of revenue meeting expenses. That’s compared with a 47 percent subsidy, amounting to $400,000 dollars.
That doesn’t count $54,000 spent on the College Station Middle School natatorium. The city would end its joint agreement with CSISD by moving a summer swim team from the natatorium to Adamson Lagoon.
Other staff recommendations that were given the green light includes improvements at Thomas Park pool that includes spending $516,000 to replace the bathhouse and another $250,000 to $350,000 for a splashpad or sprayground similar to the water play areas at Bryan’s Tanglewood and Tiffany Park. Thomas Pool would become the home to all aquatic camps and CSISD summer programs.
Four more water play areas would be built over the next four years at locations to be determined, and equipment would be replaced at all three city pools.