Titlow Alliance Group

A big THANK YOU to all who attended the public meeting held at Titlow Pool on the evening of Thursday September 1st. A special thanks to the parks board members (Tim Reid and Erik Hanberg) who took time out of their busy schedules to spend some time with us to begin the process of finding a solution to keeping Titlow Pool up and running. Another thanks goes out to the swim teams that were present. In attendance were Trever Grey and Sam Scott of TSC, Bret Foreman of PSA, and Dane Wolfrom of Metro Aquatics. A shout out to Anders Ibsen who is running for Tacoma City Council, Posistion 1 (www.andersibsen.com) who also took time out of his day to stop by and educate himself on the issue.

The major item discussed was of course how TAG can help Metro Parks Tacoma (MPT) continue to run the pool in the future until a new permanent site can be located and Tim and Erik were very helpful in giving us some insight on the issues TAG and MPT are up against. Other issues discussed were:

• The upcoming spray park at Titlow which goes back out to bid on September 15 and what that will mean to the pool and the surrounding neighborhood.
• The intentions of MPT to actually remove the pool in 4-5 years and the fact there are no funds either locally or at the state level to demo the facility.
• Members of the public who were in attendance commented on the 2005 Parks Board Improvement Bond which listed the North/West/Central Pool (Kandle Park) as a “Replacement for Titlow Pool”.

What is the next step for TAG? Most importantly we will follow the suggestion offered to us by MPT at the meeting and will be submitting updated budget information coupled with our proposed 2012 Season Lane Rental Schedule. Our goal is to get the board educated on what is really going on financially with the pool so that the true financial picture can be realized. In the near future we will be encouraging all concerned parties to reach out to the board members of MPT, Tacoma City Council, the media, and any others they feel can have a positive impact on our mission.

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The Pacific Dragons Swim Team has pledged their support to TAG and the ultimate goal of keeping Titlow open to provide our area swimmers with 50 meter water. The Pacific Dragons Swim Team serves the eastside of King County which includes Bellevue, Issaquah, and Mercer Island. Check out their website at
http://www.pdswimteam.org/
.

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The Titlow Alliance Group is holding a public meeting on how Titlow Pool can continue to operate under the management of Metro Parks and avoid permanent closure on Thursday, September 1.

Location of Meeting – Titlow Pool
Address – 8355 6th Ave, Tacoma
Date – September 1, 2011
Time – 7pm

Click here to view the press release about this meeting.

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The current and potential future swim and water-polo teams have been sent pledge forms to back up their verbal commitments to TAG.  If all forms are returned, it will account for over $29,000 of the $43,000 in revenue needed to operate the pool in 2012.  We will keep you posted as the pledges come back.

Here is a copy of the Proposed Schedule.

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Jim Biles from Metro Parks Tacoma has responded.  Basically it appears that what is missing from our budget is the costs from the Parks’ side (Metro Parks is seperated financially into Parks and Recreation–the pool is operated by recreation, but Plumbers, Painters, etc… is supplied by Parks).  You’ll see below what Jim’s response is, and we will be working to get this information as accurate as possible.

—–Original message—–

From: Jim Biles
To: Bryan Murdach
Cc: Jose Gorospe
Sent: Wed, Aug 17, 2011 23:35:46 GMT+00:00
Subject: RE: Titlow Pool 2012 Proposed Budget and Rental Schedule Information Request

Bryan,
 
Some possible additional costs would include:  boiler service costs for servicing the boiler prior to the season and winterizing the boiler after the season, painting the pool/gutters, the expansion joints: the current material in these joints have come out and need to be replaced, plumber costs: pre- season set up for toilets, showers, sink drains, and mechanical room, purchasing a chair lift, first aid supplies and rescue tubes.  If you are interested, I can send you some estimates on the chair lift, first aid supplies, and rescue tubes, but the other items listed would need to come from our Parks Department. 
 
I’m also unable to verify the labor costs without seeing a tentative schedule with your projected staff scheduled for each program (swim team practice, swim meet, water polo match, water pole practice, lap swim, etc.) 
 
Admission tax estimate may be a little low when you include the swim meet admissions?
 
Regards,

Jim Biles
Senior Recreation Coordinator Aquatics
Recreation Department

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On July 11 at the PNS Board Meeting, there was great support for what TAG is trying to do.

Contingent on Metro Parks Tacoma continuing to run Titlow Pool; and the Titlow Alliance Group managing a fund used for the continued maintenance, repairs, and improvements for Titlow Pool; PNS commits to waiving the PNS “tap” for the meet hosted by the Titlow Alliance Group members, where 100% of profit goes into the said fund.  This could amount to over $1,000 in revenue for the TAG Fund.

Thank you Pacific Northwest Swimming!!!

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