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Home My WebLink AboutHTTF Presentation Joint city county (2)Jefferson County Healthier Together Task Force Findings & Recommendations August 2024 Background: Timeline Sept. 18, 2023:Healthier Together Final Report recommended Jefferson County create PFD to fund and build new pool in PT at Mountain View campus Dec. 2023:County Commissioners & PT City Council vote to fund PFD feasibility study April 8, 2024:County Commissioners appoint 8 citizens to Healthier Together Task Force Task Force Members District 1: Todd McGuire, Nancy Speser District 2: Jim Scarantino, Celeste Schoenthaler District 3: Adele Govert, Lynne Hovde At large:Cray Henry, Mary Rothschild Additional Attendees Commissioner Greg Brotherton (Facilitator) Carrie Hite (PT Director of Parks and Recreation Strategy) Wendy Bart (CEO, Olympic Peninsula YMCA) Diane McDade (President, JeffCo Aquatic Coalition) Task Force members’ backgrounds:project & construction management & law, facility engineering, community development, swim and synchronized lesson instruction, journalism, competitive swimming, lifeguarding, parenting, pool operations and maintenance. Task Force Assignment: Research 4 Questions 1. Are there viable alternative sites to the Mountain View campus in the mid-county area? 2. Compared to traditional aquatic center design & construction, are there viable and more cost-effective design & construction techniques? 3. What’s the cost to repair Mountain View Pool and what’s the cost to expand it to create a 25-yard lap pool? 4. What are the fiscal limits for a public pool funded by a PFD with taxpayer dollars in Jefferson County? Task Force Homework Heard from experts Architects & Engineers:Opsis, WTI, CG Engineering, DCW Addressed feasibility studies, land requirements, utility locations, stormwater retention, and geotechnical considerations. Discussion of costs, funding, and potential for grants. (April 30 & May 9, 2024) South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District Presentation on its pool development process, emphasizing environmental impact, location choice, and survey feedback. Insights into design choices, cost management, and public engagement. (June 27, 2024) Sprung Structures and Myrtha Pools Detailed information on pools & pool structures, including lifecycle costs, maintenance, and environmental benefits. Discussions on construction techniques, site evaluations, and operational considerations. (June 17 & July 15, 2024) Examined aquatic facilities Task Force toured 4 facilities to learn first-hand about construction methods, costs and timelines, operational maintenance challenges, programming choices, customer usage, and revenue streams. -Shore Aquatic Center, Port Angeles -YMCA of Sequim -Central Idaho Aquatic Center, Boise -Tomlinson South Meridian YMCA, Idaho Studied potential locations Studied drive time and population distribution between Mountain View Pool and mid-county locations Community Partnership = Success Goal An affordable, public aquatic center for county residents of all ages & abilities Benefits -Healthy year-round recreation for all -All county children learn to be safe around water -Therapy & rehabilitation for those in need Next Steps •Make general siting decision now •Then work together to gain support for preferred location and develop PFD •Culminating in successful vote of the people for preferred tax levy 0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 Individuals Households Youth Location, Location, Location: Mountain View vs. Tri-Area Population within a 20-minute drive Mountain View Tri-Area Two Viable Tri-Area Locations 9 Two viable sites in the Tri-Area can serve a larger portion of the Jefferson County community than the Mountain View site. Chimacum Park •15-acre parcel owned by Jefferson County •PROS: near Chimacum High, H.J. Carroll Park, Chimacum businesses, Olympic Discovery bike trail; campground could be re-opened with septic in place; room for expansion for future recreational facilities •CONS: Requires a septic system ~ $2 million cost, traffic modifications required for pedestrian and auto access Chimacum Creek Elementary •2+acre parcel owned by Chimacum School District •PROS: Adjacent to elementary school and Jefferson County Library;within Port Hadlock Phase 1 Sewer area; near Port Hadlock business district •CONS: Site less visible to many community members; no room for future aquatic facility expansion Funding & Administration Where? A mid-county site (Chimacum, Port Hadlock, Irondale) Who Jefferson County or county & city create aPublic Facilities District (PFD) How County sales tax increase with a 50% vote of the public Other potential funding sources Lodging tax funds Private donors State & federal grants Process to a new public pool PFD created to manage project •Determine and secure site •Ensure community input on budget-constrained design •Finalize financing plan •Oversee construction & operation JeffCo Aquatic Coalition •Survey citizens to identify priorities for usage & programming Aquatic Centers can be Designed to Cost •Other communities in the region have built aquatic facilities at lower costs than $37 million. •Cost savings can be achieved in several ways: •Constrain the design to a smaller overall building size.Traditional aquatic center costs are roughly $1,000 sq. foot.The smaller the building,the lower the initial cost. •Use pre-engineered,pre-fab solutions such as Sprung Structures &Myrtha Pools.Both companies offer guarantees reducing operational risk and subsequent repair costs over the building’s lifespan.These options also speed up completion of the facility. •Use alternative project delivery methods,as has been done successfully elsewhere,to reduce construction costs,reduce risk and accelerate schedule.Alternatives to traditional "design-bid-build" approaches incorporate contractor input on constructability,cost and schedule at project initiation. Benefits of Pre-engineered, Prefabricated Building Systems •Environmental SMALLER CARBON FOOTPRINTSUPERIOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY MINIMAL CONSTRUCTION WASTE–NEGLIGIBLE LANDFILL IMPACTSUPERIOR SEISMIC AND SEVERE WEATHER CAPABILITIES •Warranty MYRTHA POOLS: 25 YEARS SPRUNG ALUMINUM STRUCTURE: 50 YEARS; EXTERIOR MEMBRANE: 25 YEARS BEFORE 2ND LAYER •Lifecycle MYRTHAL POOLS: EASY TO MAINTAIN SPRUNG: NO PAINTING, DRY ROT, OR MASONRY DECAY •Speed of construction MONTHS VS YEARS; ACCELERATES WORK OF OTHER TRADES •Cost Controls NO COST OVERRUNS–FIXED PRICE “SOFT COSTS” FOR ARCHITECTURAL & ENGINEERING BILLABLE HOURS GREATLY LIMITEDLOWER UPFRONT COST (SPRUNG) AND OVERALL LIFETIME COST (MYRTHA & SPRUNG) Similar Projects in Region NW communities have designed & built aquatic facilities at lower cost, using alternative approaches & innovative construction techniques Shore Aquatic Center Estimated construction cost:$27M Built:Projected start in 2025 Size:24,000 sq ft* Multiple swim tanks Multi-purpose space Alternative Project Approach *Not yet built,includes septic system South Whidbey Aquatic Recreation Center Construction cost:$18M Built:2023 Size 50,000 sq ft* Sprung Structure Competition Focus Private Construction *Built with private financingand donated land Idaho Central Aquatic Center Construction cost: $16.2M Built : 2020 Size: 30,000 sq.ft.* Multiple swim tanks Child Care Multi-purpose space *Expansion around existing lap pool 3 Options for Mountain View Repair/Modernize Update roof, building, HVAC,fix known mechanical Issues, replace pool,decks ~$4-8M. This cost range is derived from WTI & CG Engineering reports, presentations and discussion with them. Their estimates do not include scope or budget to cover such elements as seismic upgrades, ADA compliance, facility plumbing,electrical,HVAC, or destructive testing for vessel replacement assessment. Expand Demo the current pool and build a replacement at Mountain View with 25-yard lap pool.~$21M This cost estimate is from DCW presentation and does not include unknown site elements such as compromised soil conditions. Build New As recommended by HT Steering Committee Opsis Final Report: Base Option at 29,000 sq, includes 6- lane 25-yard lap pool, warm-water recreation pool, whirlpool spa,and sauna.$37.1M There are significant cost/risk premiums associated with building on the MVP site that have not beenadequatelyquantified, e.g., stormwater management and relocation of all utilities serving the campus. Task Force Key Findings 1.A modern, public aquatic facility will greatly benefit the health and well-being of Jefferson County residents. Benefits include water & boating safety, teaching children to swim, healthy recreation, athletic competition, aquatic therapies, community building and more. 2.Its success will depend on community collaboration, through education, engagement, trust building, and buy-in. 3.The first step is broad agreement on general location and funding mechanisms. 4.Compared with Mountain View, a larger portion of the county population can readily access potential pool locations in the Tri-Area (Port Hadlock,Irondale,Chimacum). An aquatic facility can be sited on a septic system, as one will be in South Whidbey. 5.Operating two public pools is not financially feasible, but the current Mountain View Pool will need financial support at least through 2028, until a new facility is complete. The current pool can be repaired and modernized for $4 million to $8 million or expanded to 25 yards for about $21 million. 6.A Public Facilities District (PFD) supported by a County sales tax of 0.2% would generate (in today’s dollars) $15 million for capital construction and $500k every year to support operations and maintenance. Other funding sources—such as existing lodging taxes, state and federal grants, and private philanthropy—should also be pursued. 7.An aquatic facility can be largely designed to cost. Pre-engineered,pre-fabricated and modular building and pool vessel systems utilizing project delivery methods besides traditional “design-bid-build”offer savings on initial capital cost, life-cycle cost, and time of installation. 8.Aquatic centers face challenges with cost recovery, but can generate substantial revenue from user fees, facilities rentals, merchandising and community programming (e.g., childcare, swim lessons, aerobics classes). Key Recommendations 1.A community consensus on location should be the first decision. The Task Force recommends a Mid- County pool funded with a PFD. 2.Establish a PFD with sufficient administrative funding to lead the project. 3.The PFD needs to work in concert with the community to finalize site selection,facility amenities, a financing plan,and a budget-constrained design. Identify how community priorities align with projected costs to build &operate a new facility. 4.Develop a long-term financial plan that balances project revenues and costs.We must take the time now to build a complete &affordable plan before asking for a new tax. 5.Before any renovation or new construction at Mountain View, definitively answer questions about unknowns, including: seismic, ADA compliance, HVAC upgrades, utilities and stormwater. Healthier Together Task Force Members •Mary Rothschild Mary Rothschild grew up on Whidbey Island, attended the University of Washington, moved to Jefferson County (Cape George Colony) 19 years ago from Seattle, where she had worked as a reporter at the Post-Intelligencer and as an editor at the Seattle Times. Two of her grandchildren reside in Port Townsend. •Jim Scarantino Jim Scarantino litigated construction cases for over twenty years in Puerto Rico, Pennsylvania, Texas and New Mexico. In his career he had to learn about many aspects of the construction industry including cost estimating, critical path methodology, structural, mechanical, chemical and civil engineering, and public contracting. He was magna cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School. •Celeste Schoenthaler Celeste Schoenthaler lives in beautiful Chimacum with her family. She enjoys connecting with community, enjoying the amazing local produce our community produces in abundance, and recreating in our beautiful parks, waterways, and forests. When not playing outside, Celeste runs a local non-profit organization that aims to solve health problems through collaborative action. •Nancy Speser Nancy moved to Port Townsend in December 1989. She was born and raised near Buffalo, N.Y., and attended the State University of NY at Oneonta, studied abroad in Jerusalem and completed her Graduate studies in Political Science at the State University of NY at Buffalo and University of Maryland. As a mother of two young children, she became interested in Aquatics. Upon moving to Port Townsend, she was employed at the Mountain View Pool from 1990 –2010. During the years 1999 through 2010 she held the position of Pool Manager and Aquatics Director. She swam competitively with the Masters swim group and competed at Nationals with a Seattle-based Synchro team. She also served on the Jefferson County YMCA Board from 2007-2010. In 2010 she left the MVP and joined the staff at SARC (now Sequim YMCA) until 2020. Healthier Together Task Force Members •Adele Govert Adele has a master’s degree in social work from Loyola University in Chicago. She has spent most of her career helping people make good decisions. •Cray Henry Cray Henry served the Department of Defense (DoD) as a member of the acquisition corps for 32 years eventually becoming certified as Major Defense Acquisition Program Manager.For 12 years, he directed the High-Performance Computing Modernization Program, a multi-billion- dollar program that operated six high performance computing centers, annually procured supercomputers, developed research and engineering software and provided high speed Internet services to the DoD science and engineering communities. He has an extensive background in systems engineering, software development, contracting and financial & program management.After retiring, he has worked to support our community by volunteering with the Northwest Maritime Center and working as a lifeguard to keep the Mountain View Pool open and available.He has undergraduate engineering degrees from Tulane University and a graduate degree from Stanford University. •Lynn Hovde Lynn Hovde has consistently taught and coached swimming and synchronized swimming for 53 years, with 37 of those years being in Port Townsend and Port Ludlow, and has spent a lifetime (from youth to masters) as a competitive swimmer and synchronized swimmer. She has taken a leadership role in health and safety around pools and as an instructor trainer, mentoring other instructors in water safety, lifeguarding, and CPR/First Aid/AED. •Todd McGuire Port Townsend resident since 1997.Consulting engineer with a focus on building commissioning / energy efficiency for mechanical, electrical, plumbing and life safety systems, typically as an owner's representative on large facility projects (airports, hospitals, higher ed and corrections) (32 years) Licensed contractor / tradesperson for residential and commercial building projects (10 years)Jeff Co Planning Commission (4 yrs.) Jeff Co Land Trust Board member (4 years) Jeff Co Economic Development Council (6 years) City of PT Electrical Franchise Citizen Review Committee Resources •Opsis Final Report https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/ 1723/Healthier-Together-Task- Force (Healthier Together Final Report and Appendices) •MV Campus Utility Map •MV Pool Repairs •CG Engineering •Hope Roof Repair •Michael Todd Roof Estimate •Expand MVP – DCW Cost Estimate •Sprung Structures •Estimate to enclose Opsis proposal •Sprung design •Sprung-referred contractor estimate •Myrtha Pools https://www.myrthapools.com/ en/ •South Whidbey Parks & Rec https://swparks.org/ •Aquatic Recreation Center project https://swparks.org/pool/ •Presentation deck to Task Force •South Whidbey Aquatics Foundation https://www.swpaf.org/home •Jefferson County Sales Tax Information •PFD Estimates