Dear Council,
In the current controversy about the Menlo Park pools, we may have lost
track that Menlo Swim and Sport, aka Team Sheeper, operates the pools for
the City with a large cost savings compared to other pool operations.
Menlo Park City Staff has estimated that the Sheeper operation provides the
City with an annual savings of $450,000 to $500,000. Staff report for
Council (5/3/2016 #16-058-CC p52) says, "IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES - Since
the current contract with Menlo Swim and Sport was implemented in May of
2006, the Citys General Fund savings is estimated to have been between
$450,000 and $550,000 annually." The report goes on the say, "compared to
other cities in the area providing an estimated subsidy of $500,000 per
pool, the City benefited from the ability to offer high quality programs
with little financial impact to the General Fund."
https://www.menlopark.org/DocumentCenter/View/10128
The Community Services Department calculated that the old Burgess pool (then
operated by City employees and the SEIU) was costing the City $590,000 per
year. Its memo to the Parks and Recreation Commission 2/25/2015 states: "In
2006, the Burgess Pool was extensively renovated using Measure T bonds,
including addition of a 25 meter x 25 yard lap pool, 25 yard x 50 foot
instructional pool, a wading pool with a mushroom splash feature, locker
rooms, showers, a central lobby, support offices and concrete pool decks.
Prior to the renovation, the annual net cost to operate the pool was roughly
$590,000."
https://www.menlopark.org/DocumentCenter/View/6495
It appears Team Sheeper is saving the City $500,000 to $590,000 per year for
operating the pools compared to other operations. Of course, Sheeper could
be getting these savings by providing lousy service. But testimonials to
the CC and my personal experience say Sheeper is providing a high quality
service. This is a rare combination. The reasons seem very strong for
working with Team Sheeper for sharing the costs for operating our pools.
Dave Gildea
Menlo Park
