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> Honorable City Council,
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> I am hoping you will find a way to support Belle Haven without draining
> Burgess financially or expecting too much of of one person.
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> First, Tim has been a stellar leader.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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!)
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> 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.
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> As you know, a key issue I have not mentioned is that the needs of the 2
> facilities should not be confused.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> Use those gifts to now create something new and additional. Dont
> squander what you, Facebook, Tim and others have begun.
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> The big question is how to modify and adapt so the wonderful gem that is
> Belle Haven will flourish. Please dont let it languish!
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> Thank you and please reach out if there is any way I can support the
> effort further.
>
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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
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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.
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