Turlock OKs $5.4 million to rebuild public pool. What happened to plans last year?
West Turlock’s public pool could reopen by summer 2023 after the City Council on Tuesday voted to approve roughly $5.48 million for the Columbia Park project.
Plans to demolish and rebuild the 65-year-old facility differ from the proposal to repair the pool for an estimated $1.8 million, which the council initially voted to do in February 2021.
The city’s plans changed because Stanislaus County determined Turlock needs to bring the entire facility up to code instead of only repairing the pool and replacing pool equipment, said Development Services Director Katie Quintero. Issues include adding restrooms and complying with the American with Disabilities Act for locker rooms and decking.
Officials voted 4-1, with Councilman Andrew Nosrati dissenting, to direct city staff to proceed with plans to replace the pool, decking and buildings. The council also approved demolition, advertising for construction bids and designating about $2.48 million from the city’s cannabis fund and $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies for the project.
Brent Bohlender, chair of the Columbia pool ad hoc committee, reminded the council that the committee recommended Turlock update the facility instead of just fixing the pool. Considering the city’s funding options at the time and how an engineering firm estimated the cost at $6.3 million, Bohlender said he understood why the council initially voted for the cheaper option.
“With the ARPA as a way to put some funds in there, I think this is an excellent opportunity for the southwest side of town to have a project that they can be proud of and that kids can participate in rather than having to go across town to go to a pool or ultimately end up in canals,” Bohlender said.
Unlike the estimated $6.3 million project, plans the council approved Tuesday do not include adding a parking lot, Quintero said. If the council decided to incorporate features from the previous proposal, Quintero said it would delay reopening the pool past next summer.
Columbia pool has been closed since the end of summer 2019 because it had 18 issues violating safety codes, according to an assessment. New features planned for the facility include seven restrooms with changing benches, a pool heater, outdoor showers and shade coverings.
Council debates west Turlock needs
Nosrati voted against approving the project after saying he wanted the council to add a commitment to the resolutions. He proposed the council declare intentions to work on west Turlock economic revitalization through the city’s general plan. Instead of just spending millions on the park, Nosrati spoke of redeveloping the surrounding neighborhood.
“I don’t think if we fix a pool and we leave the neighborhood as is — and we don’t do an overhaul of that neighborhood — that it’s really serving the community in a way that it needs to be addressed,” Nosrati said.
No other council member spoke in support of his proposal to add the commitment. But Mayor Amy Bublak said the majority of the roads Michael Baker International plans to begin fixing this summer are located in southwest Turlock.
“It’s abundantly clear to the council, to the Michael Baker people (and) everyone that the focus really is gonna have to be District 2 and older Turlock as we progress to help get our communities back in place,” Bublak said.
Once the city receives construction bids for Columbia pool, the council will need to approve construction contracts before work begins.
