Community Update May 2020

Dear Peninsula Community -

Hello from the Peninsula Aquatic Complex Council.  First, we hope that this update finds each of you safe and healthy as we survive the COVID-19 pandemic together.  Obviously, this is an unprecedented experience for most of us in the collective Peninsula Communities.  It is most gratifying to observe families spending time together while practicing social distancing outside, as well as observing the community helping one another to survive this ordeal together.  Surely this is a silver lining in the face of this massive crisis.

 Before we continue with this update, we would like to point out that we are extremely aware and sensitive to the fact that there are many more important challenges and needs on which we should be focusing during this crisis.  We are merely providing you with an update and letting you know how you can possibly help.  We will make it through this situation…we will.  Therefore, as a volunteer committee committed to helping our community progress, we want to do what we can now, so we don't waste precious time.

 Through all of this chaos, the Peninsula Aquatic Complex Council continues to do what we can to continue to push the Liberty Station/NTC Pool project forward in order to finally make good on the commitment to build a world class aquatic center for the Peninsula Communities.  Following is a brief update of the status of the project prior to COVID-19, as well as a call to action for each of you to help continue to push this initiative to completion.

Update

Aquatic Complex Plan - As of right now, the plan (see conceptual artwork on our website) is for a multi-pool concept.  There would be an Olympic size competition pool with diving, a community therapy pool (possibly 40 meters), and a shallow "splash" pool for kids, lessons, etc.

1. City of San Diego - Many of you may not know but the City of San Diego has committed to the Liberty Station Aquatic Complex as an actual development project.  This means that:

   • Mayor Faulconer is committed to this project and has assigned a member of his staff (Conrad Wear) to lead the initiative from his office.

   • The City has allocated close to $2 million dollars toward the development of the project.

   • The San Diego Park & Recreation Department has committed to manage the project and is ready to take the first steps toward design.

   • The City has agreed that the facility will be managed by San Diego Park & Rec and will fall under their budget.  This is HUGE because this was the major stumbling block back when the project was initially launched over 15 years ago.

   • If you did not know, the site for the pool is located at the end of Womble Road in Liberty Station.  It is the entire grass area next to the abandoned building (#619).  This building will also be developed as a part of the final project as a new rec center.

2. San Diego Unified School District Involvement - SDUSD has been very proactive and would like to become involved with the funding and construction of the Aquatic Complex. Due to the Federal Lands to Parks property transfer and deed restrictions, the SDUSD financial contribution cannot carry a property interest requirement with it. Therefore, we are working with the City, SDUSD, and the NPS to determine if we can find a viable working agreement for all parties.

3. National Park Service Land - The City's land use agreement with the NPS supports use for recreational and park purposes for the greater community. Use by local schools for educational purposes can be accomplished provided school use is a subset of the overall public and recreational use plan. 

4. Congressman Scott Peters - Congressman Peters is extremely supportive of helping build a new Aquatic Complex. He is committed to do what he can do in order to help push the project forward.  Since this is a City project, though, his powers are limited to assisting with the National Park Services when appropriate.

5. Peninsula Aquatic Complex Council - We are a group of community members volunteering to do everything possible to see this project through to completion.  We are attempting to make sure that the project does not die again, as it did so many years ago.  This has been a long process as we formed this council nearly three years ago (not near as long as groups of our predecessors but still a long time).  We remain just as committed today as we were then, so you have our assurance that we won't let this die.

Recent Activity

We were making very positive progress prior to the COVID-19 shut down.  Here is a brief list of our recent actions:

1. February 3 - Met with Andy Fields, SD Park & Rec Director.  Discussed status and next steps, as well as initial design concepts.

2. February 4 - Met with David Marsh, US Olympic Swim Coach and former UCSD Head Swimming Coach.  Discussed the need for the aquatic center for both the Peninsula Communities, as well as the San Diego swimming community.  He would like to help anyway he can.

3. February 20 - Met with Conrad Wear in the Mayor's office.  We agreed to a basic framework for next steps to move forward.  We were hoping to make an official announcement by the end of June.

4. April 15 - Spoke with Congressman Peter's office to determine how they can best help us at this point.
    

Funding

Had the aquatic center been built 18 years ago, as planned, it likely would have cost around $10 million to build.  Now, with the increase in costs for design, permitting, and construction, this number will now be between $20-$25 million.  Below are the current areas from which we plan to pursue funding:

1. As stated before, the City of San Diego has already allocated approximately $2 million dollars to the project.

2. The City has indicated there may be funding available from other re-development projects.

3. State Grants - We were just beginning to investigate this option prior to COVID-19, so this avenue may no longer exist for us.

4. School Bond Funding - SDUSD has agreed to a significant investment in the project if we are able to successfully include them in the land use agreement.

5. Private donations - At this point, we will depend on private funding for the majority of the costs of this project.  We will be relying on the community, as we shift into our capital raising campaign.
   

What's Needed and Next Steps

Here are some key steps that need to happen.  We know that these steps may be stalled due to the City's focus on COVID-19.

1. The City and SDUSD need to finalize language on the Land Use Agreement to make it viable for both parties.

2. The inclusion of SDUSD in this project may need help from our State Government, in order to decouple state funding from a property interest requirement.

3. Conceptual designs need to be created in order to help market the project externally to the community and potential donors.

4. Meeting of all parties involved to finalize and announce the commencement of the project.
   

How You Can Help

Since the beginnings of this vision of a Liberty Station Aquatic Center, it has always been pushed down the priority list in the City.  Therefore, we are starting our community outreach and social media campaign to show our local government that this is an important project for our community and our city.  It is only through our loud voices that we will be heard.  So, this is how you can help us:

1. Sign up on the PACC website - We are collecting names and email addresses to demonstrate the size of our effort, as well as give us a means to efficiently communicate updates to you.

2. Write Mayor, Congressman, City Councilmember - Please write Mayor Faulconer, Congressman Scott Peters, and Councilmember Jennifer Campbell to show your support of this project and give them a call to action.  Their information is as follows:

   • Mayor Kevin Faulconer: kevinfaulconer@sandiego.gov 

   • Councilmember Jennifer Campbell: jennifercampbell@sandiego.gov 

   • Congressman Scott Peters: Scott.Peters@mail.house.gov 

   • Congressman Peters Office: Maryanne.pintar@mail.house.gov 
     Cesar.Solis@mail.house.gov  

3. Like and follow and share our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/poolsonthepoint/ 

4. Talk to your local planning boards and let them know you support this project.

5. SPREAD THE WORD!  Please send this update, the PACC website, and our Facebook page to any and all of your friends.  We need to create an avalanche of community support to push this through.  Even though we are coping with COVID-19, the time for progress is NOW. 

Please stay healthy and safe. 
Thank you.

Peninsula Aquatic Complex Council