2020 Outdoor Summer Pool Opening and Season InformationCopyrighted
May 18, 2020
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 6.
ITEM TITLE: 2020 Outdoor Summer Pool Opening and Season
I nformation
SUMMARY: City Manager transmitting information regarding the Flora
and Sutton outdoor swimming pool opening and season.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
2020 Outdoor Summer Pool Opening and Season-
MVM Memo
Staff memo
Type
City Manager Memo
Staff Memo
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: 2020 Outdoor Summer Pool Opening and Season Information
DATE: May 14, 2020
Dubuque
bitil
All-A.aia City
111111
2007.2012.2013
2017*2019
Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware is transmitting information regarding the Flora
and Sutton outdoor swimming pool opening and season.
/..
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Marie L. Ware, Leisure Services Manager
PlAi
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Marie L. Ware, Leisure Services Manager
SUBJECT: 2020 Outdoor Summer Pool Opening and Season Information
DATE: May 14, 2020
INTRODUCTION
Dubuque
121131
AII•America City
NAPO.<MC I l C4_U1:
2007*2012*2013
2017*2019
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide general information regarding the Flora
and Sutton outdoor swimming pool opening and season.
BACKGROUND
A typical year would have the Flora and Sutton outdoor pools opening Memorial Day
weekend. By now we would have the seasonal staff hired, the pool prepped and filled
with water and training beginning. This year however is not typical in any way due to
COVID-1 9.
DISCUSSION
Leisure Services recreation staff has been in communication with Iowa municipal
recreation departments and aquatic professionals from around the country regarding
potential best practices and season considerations during this COVID-19 crisis. There
are daily calls and briefings that are happening to educate on a variety of topics and
problem solve the many considerations and implementation strategies that need to take
place related to pools if pools are to open.
The considerations for opening the pools and programming takes a multi -layered
research review and development of appropriate and safe approaches. There are
considerations from the Center's for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Iowa
Department of Public Health (IDPH), national and Iowa codes related to pools,
Governor's and Mayor's Proclamations, the City Health Department and more.
Additionally, National Recreation and Park Association, American Red Cross, and other
aquatic specialty organizations have been working non-stop to bring to those of us in
the field as much research and information possible to assist in decision making.
The staff currently will need at least another two weeks for all the research and protocol
development and approvals. Those will be reviewed by various departments such as
Human Resources, Health, and City Attorney's office prior to presentation to the City
Manager. The safety of the staff and the patrons is of utmost importance in the
development protocols and procedures.
The pools take a minimum of 4 weeks to prepare for opening date for staff which
includes tasks like preparation and filling the pools, balancing of chemicals, hiring and
on -boarding of seasonal staff and training. There will need to be additions to the
physical structure of the pool and equipment purchased to accommodate new protocols.
Sanitizing will be of utmost importance. Distancing requirements will lead to less
numbers of individuals being allowed in the pool at one time.
Through this process it is possible that we will determine if we can open both pools or
whether only one pool would be available for the season. We currently are at 60% of
applications needed to staff both pools. Lifeguarding certification is not something that
can be attained quickly as it requires passing three separate certification classes.
Open swim time presents the greatest concern for safety, sanitation and person to
person contact thus a lot of focus of our work will be on those protocols and procedures.
The main goal of these new procedures would be to minimize the need for contact.
This contact can be between individuals and/or surfaces like counters, chairs, railings,
stairs, restrooms, etc. Additionally, separate protocols and procedures would be
developed for aquatic programs such as swim lessons and water walking if they can
happen.
At this time the earliest we believe we could open the pools would be June 20, 2020.
We also know that the latest we would open to get one month of swimming in prior to
the start of the school year would be July 23, 2020. That is our window for opening
based upon approvals of protocols and procedures and lifting of current restrictions.
This method we are sharing regarding the pools is similar to how we opened the Bunker
Hill Golf Course and are preparing for the potential opening of Miller Riverview
Campground. A review of all the current proclamations, CDC and other guidance
reviewed, best practices and new protocols and procedures were developed, equipment
was purchase and installed, staff trained and preparations for opening complete.
This information about the pools was reviewed with the Parks and Recreation
Commission at their May 12, 2020 meeting.
ACTION REQUESTED
This memo is for informational purpose only.
cc: Dan Kroger, Recreation Division Manager
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