TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to proceed with the entitlement phase of the proposed Long-Term Belmont Pool Revitalization Project (Project), and with the installation of a temporary outdoor pool or other interim option. (District 3)
DISCUSSION
On January 13, 2013, the City’s Belmont Pool Natatorium (Belmont Pool) was temporarily closed due to a Structural and Seismic Evaluation (Evaluation) that concluded the facility (Exhibit A: Location Map) was seismically unsafe in the event of a moderate earthquake. Ensuring life-safety was a key objective for conducting the Evaluation. The Evaluation was performed by Paul KT Yeh, Structural Engineer, of TMAD Taylor Gaines (Exhibit B). The City’s Building Official has reviewed the Evaluation, inspected the facility, and determined that the Belmont Pool, in its current condition, is a substandard building that is seismically and structurally unsafe. The City Engineer also reviewed the Evaluation and concurs with the Building Official’s determination. The Belmont Pool was constructed in the late 1960’s and met all applicable building codes at the time. However, based in part on current building codes, the Belmont Pool is now in need of either a major seismic retrofit and other upgrades, or a complete reconstruction. For over 40 years, the Belmont Pool has fulfilled a critical role in the City’s development, providing young children, adolescents, adults and seniors with diverse recreational and competitive swimming opportunities.
Recommended Long-Term Project
In 2008, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine hired a consultant to help develop a cost estimate to retrofit and upgrade the existing Belmont Pool and conduct community outreach. The cost for such retrofit and upgrade was estimated at $44 million for construction alone; however, a report was never finalized because of budget constraints. In February 2012, the City Council appropriated funding to reinitiate the planning process for ...
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