Dear Mayor Drew Combs and Members of the Menlo Park City Council,
I am writing to express deep concern regarding the proposal, endorsed by City staff, to raise lane-hour rates for non-profit swim clubs by 33%. Note that this follows on from a 7% increase in fees imposed in April 2024. This increase not only places an undue financial burden on local organizations but also raises critical questions about the City’s policy approach to the management of public resources.
First, the pool fee data used for comparison—particularly for Sunnyvale [1] and Mountain View [2]—contains verifiable inaccuracies, as these rates are publicly available and do not support the justification for Menlo Park’s price hikes. It is essential that rate adjustments be based on accurate, transparent information.
Second, while the rates for the Operator’s own for-profit programs remain largely unchanged, non-profit swim clubs appear to have been subjected to a significantly high fee increase of 33%. This discrepancy suggests a grossly inequitable distribution of cost adjustments and raises major concerns about fairness in the Citys approach to aquatic programming.
Finally, the City’s stance on the financial sustainability of Burgess Pool appears inconsistent with broader municipal policy. Menlo Park funds and operates the Library and other programs sponsored by the City without a profitability mandate. Moreover, the City is considering renegotiating the Pool Operator’s contract at Menlo Park Community Campus due to profitability concerns. If the City is willing to reevaluate its approach to the MPCC pool, why is Burgess Pool uniquely expected to generate profit at the expense of community-based programs?
We urge the City to reconsider these rate increases and ensure that policy decisions reflect both consistency and a commitment to supporting non-profit organizations that provide invaluable services to the community.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Tobias Kunze
Secretary, SOLO Board
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[1] Sunnyvale lane rates (all plus lifeguard):
* Columbia Middle School Pool: $11/h (residents) $15 (non-residents)
* Sunnyvale Middle School Pool: $11/h (residents) $15 (non-residents)
* Sunnyvale Swim Complex: $9/h (residents) $11.35 (non-residents)
* Washington Community Swim Center: not comparable - includes TWO pools and splash pad.
Source: https://www.sunnyvale.ca.gov/recreation-and-community/classes-and-activities/aquatics/pools
[2] Mountain View lane rates (LAMVAC Club):
* Eagle Park Pool: ($44 + 8 lanes × $6) / 8 lanes = $11.50
* Rengstorff Park Aquatics Center: ($55 + 10 lanes × $6) / 10 lanes = $11.50
Source: Fiscal Year 2024-25 City of Mountain View Master Fee Schedule (p. 31)
