On Tue, Jun 10, 2025 at 10:35 AM Sandy Dutro wrote:
>
>>
>> Honorable City Council,
>>
>>
>>
>> I am hoping you will find a way to support Belle Haven without draining
>> Burgess financially or expecting too much of of one person.
>>
>>
>>
>> First, Tim has been a stellar leader.
>>
>>
>>
>> I have been swimming at Burgess since 1979 when it was a 33.3 yd poolbut
>> and Burgess was languishing. Few people utilized the pool and there were
>> few organized opportunities. Burgess was a quiet, peaceful place that
>> friends and I joked was our private country club. It was blissful and
>> luxurious but Menlo Park was not funding the pool so a few could have a
>> relaxing lunchtime swim. Eventually, there were plans to shut it down and
>> as a last ditch effort Tim was given the opportunity to revive it. Within
>> a year the pool was active and it was not long before there were teams,
>> lessons, handicap access, outreach programs to underserved portions of our
>> community.
>>
>>
>>
>> Tims programming attracted a vast array of diverse people, all with the
>> common and growing awareness of what water activities add to ones life and
>> community.
>>
>>
>>
>> Initially, Tim was lauded as having saved the pool and
>> created community where there had been none. Sadly, over the years the
>> early memories faded and listening at the City Council over this last
>> 2/3rds of Tims tenur I have heard a common syndrome that is typical of
>> success. Some unfamiliar with history have become suspicious, envious,
>> irritated, or competitive. Im not sure I understand the evolution but
>> during the council meetings I have heard negative impressions
>> and uninformed accusations. Examples are that Tim only serves
>> elite athletes or that Tim was making wild amounts of money. We live in a
>> neighborhood that is rife with examples of elitism and wealth and folks
>> have grown concerned about both, but in this case, these accusations could
>> not be further from the truth.
>>
>>
>>
>> Yes, the program has attracted elite athletes but it has also attracted
>> non-swimmers who want to learn or whose physician told them to exercise in
>> water, water exercise classes serving the elderly, the young, the
>> handicapped, a broad spectrum of lesson opportunities from adult to
>> parent-and-me classes, 77-year-old, good but not great swimmers like
>> myself. I have swum with blind people and people with serious loss of limb
>> or function. Subservices have evolved. Building Futures Now and Building
>> Bridges are examples. Over the span of 30 or 40 (?) years Tim grew from a
>> young swimmer and budding triathlete to the inspiring leader of an entire
>> caudry of folks, many who have become leaders and inspirers in their own
>> right. Tim may be the figurehead and your subcontractor, but the program
>> is no longer run by only him. It includes not only those of us who are
>> writing to you but many others, both paid and volunteer. You are getting a
>> huge staff, much of it volunteer, for your faith in Tim as a leader. (If
>> you lose Tim you could lose that!)
>>
>>
>>
>> Tim may not always show up in the form you want him. He is soft-spoken,
>> non-abrasive, his charisma is quiet. He oversees a VERY well run program
>> with many VERY skilled people, he is not an outspoken politician or even a
>> detailed bookkeeper. He leads and he does what he is good at and he hires
>> people. Your council originally contracted him to run the program and he
>> has done an exceptional job but there are limits to what anyone person can
>> or should do.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> As you know, a key issue I have not mentioned is that the needs of the 2
>> facilities should not be confused.
>>
>>
>>
>> The BH community is more working class, multilingual, and less high-tech
>> than the Burgess community. We must address the language requirements up
>> front, not under a hidden key and subtext that someone of limited tech
>> experience (myself included) might not find. BH also requires child care
>> that addresses the working profile of its community and it needs swim
>> classes and an attitude that welcomes those unsure.
>>
>>
>>
>> The solutions require a comprehensive effort, led by the city. It wont
>> happen quickly. Raising fees for a community already struggling to
>> pay will not work. Changing or over-stressing the current leadership will
>> not work. (At least one hired staff member is doing a phenomenal job as a
>> sub-leadear.) Access to transportation and accessibility is also key.
>>
>>
>>
>> The challenges will exist regardless of the leadership. Tim did not
>> cause them. It is important that we support the leadership and not expect
>> too much.
>>
>>
>>
>> I, and so many others, desperately hope that the city can find a way to
>> collaborate with Tim, to appreciate his talents, and to make sure that the
>> Belle Haven community continues to benefit from this gorgeous facility
>> that you, Facebook, and the swim and Belle Haven communities created BUT
>> without over-taxing the remarkable resource that Tim and Bugrges are. Tim
>> has given invaluable service and developed great expertise over the
>> decades. He should be appreciated and used as a resource. Dont burn out
>> that candle by asking him to keep pushing harder. He deserves rewards, not
>> punishment! He is a human who can only do so much and wise when he says
>> that is enough.
>>
>>
>>
>> Use those gifts to now create something new and additional. Dont
>> squander what you, Facebook, Tim and others have begun.
>>
>>
>>
>> The big question is how to modify and adapt so the wonderful gem that is
>> Belle Haven will flourish. Please dont let it languish!
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you and please reach out if there is any way I can support the
>> effort further.
>>
>
> ____________________________
>
> Hi Sandy,
>
>
>
> Thank you for your note. I appreciate your perspective. I too want this
> to work for our community.
>
>
>
> Best,
>
> Betsy
>
> *Betsy Nash **(she/her)*
> Vice Mayor
>
>
>
>
> ___________________________
>
>
> Hi Betsy.
> Thank you for your note and I understand that all of us want this to work
> for our community. My emphasis is more specific.
>
> Tim has brought incredible gifts to the community but this project
> requires new and different resources to address BHs unique needs, its
> isolated location, and its imperfect planning. These problems and
> challenges were not caused by Tim and one person can not shoulder it all.
> This is an entirely new and challenging project that requires
> multiple fronts and resources. Tim and the Burgess community can and want
> to help.
>
> I hope this will be a case of the City Council using the Burgess resources
> and expanding support, not punishing and damaging some of Menlo Parks best
> resources.
>
>>
>>
>
