City Considers Pool Fund-Raising Group

The City Council today will consider spending $11,000 to form a nonprofit group that would raise funds to renovate Heritage Park Aquatics Complex.

Results of a recent engineering study show mechanical parts and piping are likely to fail and that the 18-year-old aquatics complex needs to be renovated, said Deanna Manning, the city’s community services director.

The city, however, does not have money to fund such a project. Manning said repairs would cost $5 million to $10 million, depending on whether the city wants to renovate the complex or tear down the facility and build a new one.

Heritage Park has three pools: a 55 meter Olympic-size swimming pool, a 33-meter diving pool and a 25-yard instructional pool. The complex is home to the Irvine Swim League and Novaquatics, to which 1996 Olympic medalist Amanda Beard belongs.

Last May, the City Council formed a steering committee to determine ways to raise funds for the project. After several months of brainstorming, the committee drafted a plan to form a nonprofit group called Irvine Aquatics Complex Inc. The committee will submit its plan to the council for approval at tonight’s meeting.

City staff estimates it would cost $11,000 to pay for the nonprofit group’s incorporation fees, taxes, promotional materials and part-time support.

The council meets at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 1 Civic Center Plaza.