Menlo Park City Council Members,
As a resident of Menlo Park & longtime recreational swimmer, I fully support the application of Team Sheeper to continue operating the Menlo Park Aquatics Facility.
The three proposals for review are lengthy in detail and will form the basis of your decision but strong consideration should be given to Team Sheepers performance these past 15+ years. Team Sheeper has a PROVEN track record of successful pool operations and has provided programs and services for constituents of all ages and swimming abilities. Burgess Pool under Team Sheeper remained open as most of the Peninsula pools were closed beyond county-mandated Covid restrictions. And last summer when other local pools were faced with restricted hours due to the inability to hire lifeguards, Burgess was able to maintain their staffing. Running an aquatic complex of that size while providing a variety of programs requires a large and dependable staff. Many of the lifeguards, customer service team accept and instructors have been on staff for years. This is a testimony to Tim Sheeper’s management style. Key in choosing which group is awarded the contract should be the applicants record at running multiple swim programs while overseeing all aspects of pool operations.
Serving constituents of diverse ages and recreational preferences is a balancing act for any community. Burgess Pool has been one of Menlo Parks foremost recreational assets. The pool as currently operated is clean and well-maintained, the staff professional and courteous, and the programming comprehensive. The pool continues to be a valuable commodity under Team Sheeper. It has demonstrated it can do the job of running a city-friendly aquatic program and can do it well.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Catherine Norton
District 4
