New swim pool still years away

Despite voting to support a new community swimming pool in Sonoma Valley, City Council members and supporters of the project acknowledge that the project will not be finished in the near future.

“No timeline has been established yet and while it’s always hard to say, I think we are a few years off,” said city councilman David Cook.

The Sonoma City Council voted 3-0 at its last meeting to enter into an agreement with Sonoma Splash – the Sonoma Valley Health and Recreation Association – to provide $25,000 a year for the next 10 years in support of the project’s development. Sonoma Splash told council members it had closed escrow on the old Paul’s Resort site, near Maxwell Farms Regional Park.

Sonoma Splash had initially asked for $500,000 from the city to help buy the Paul’s Resort site. The city asked for a review of the purchase from Special Counsel Randy Kenworthy. Eventually a revised approach was drafted which eliminated city participation but left $250,000 in place for scholarships.

“The process was at times frustrating,” noted Sonoma Splash board member Arden Kremer. “But in the end what the city council did was very generous and provides the pool with a revenue stream for the future. I’ve been working for this the past 15 years and I’m very excited. I believe future city councils will maintain funding for the pool long after the 10 years are up. This pool will provide access to the privileged and underprivileged alike in Sonoma Valley and I couldn’t be happier.”

Council members Steve Barbose, David Cook and Laurie Gallian approved a plan that would help fund programs for free and reduced swimming lessons, as well as water aerobics classes for seniors. The funds will be set aside in a City Swim Trust Fund but if the pool has not opened within seven years, the funding agreement becomes void.

Cook voted for the measure and said he thought the investment would be “money well spent.”

“I’m 100-percent behind Sonoma Splash. I think they are a good organization and this will definitely happen. It’ll be great, but it’s definitely going to be a process,” said Cook.

Cook was joined by his colleague on the council, Ken Brown. Brown (along with Mayor Tom Rouse) had to recuse himself from last week’s vote due to having served on the Sonoma Valley Health and Recreation board of directors. But he said he supported the project and called the money an investment in Sonoma’s public safety.

“The pool and the money we are investing in for scholarships will go to teaching people to swim,” noted Brown. “That will save lives. It’s an excellent location – along with keeping the baseball field – and it’s a very good group of folks behind it all.”