I.                   CALL TO ORDER

At 6:02 P.M., Council President Jessica M. Marino announced the Council cannot convene at the present time, lacking quorum.  Councilwomen Vargas and Renzulli are expected to arrive late.  At that time, the Special Council Meeting will officially convene.  In the meantime, the Mayor will present his proposal.  Discussion will take place later as part of the Council meeting. 

II.                ROLL CALL

Taken later, following the Mayor's PowerPoint presentation.

III.             PRESENTATION BY MAYOR KENNETH J. HOPKINS RELATIVE TO BUDLONG POOL

Mr. Dennis DeJesus will moderate this evening.  The Mayor will begin the presentation, followed by a representative of Saccoccio & Associates, and a representative of Weston & Sampson.  Afterward, the public is invited to come forward and ask questions.  He introduced Mayor Kenneth J. Hopkins.

Mayor Hopkins wants a pool.  His mission is to determine what is in the best interest of the City.  Every decision he makes is based on that concept.  He thanked the City Council and residents for their comments.  His PowerPoint presentation outlined the timeline of the pool's history, the condition, and the rationale behind his proposal.

At 6:40 P.M. Council President Marino announced a quorum is present.  She will officially call the Special Council Meeting to order.  She asked the Clerk to call the roll.  The following were stated as Present:  Councilman Robert J. Ferri, Councilwoman Nicole Renzulli, Councilwoman Aniece Germain, Councilman John P. Donegan, Council Vice-President Lammis J. Vargas, and Council President Jessica M. Marino.  Councilman Richard D. Campopiano arrived at 8:25 P.M.  Councilman Robert J. Ferri exited the meeting at 10:40 P.M.  Absent: Councilman Christopher G. Paplauskas.  Also present:  Tracy A. Nelson, City Clerk; Christopher Millea, City Solicitor; and Anthony Moretti, Chief of Staff.

Moderator DeJesus introduced Michael VanHamel, Director of Design for Saccoccio & Associates and Mark Mariano, Project Senior Manager for Weston & Sampson's Aquatics Group.

Mr. Mariano expanded on the existing conditions of the pool and pump house.  Most systems are older or original.  The pool was built in the late 1930's with major renovations in the 1960's and 1990's.  A lot of the work has been band-aid fixes.  He explained the current challenges:  not meeting disinfectant standards, leakage, backwashing to the stream, trip hazards, and the liner.

            He was asked to provide an estimated cost of repair and compliance for the existing pool.  The RI Department of Health requires a certain number of water closets and sinks per potential user.  The capacity of the existing pool is 1,250-1,500 users.  The estimated cost is $5 million, and the life span is estimated to be around ten years.

            The estimated cost of a new pool with inclusive play for all abilities, a 500-person capacity, zero-depth entry, and a forty-plus-year lifespan is $3-$3.5 million.  The pool would incorporate lap lanes, shade, benches, an area for 10–14-year-olds, and a toddler area.  The cost of maintenance, operating, and staffing would be reduced.

Mr. VanHamel reviewed the floor plan for the updated pool house.

Mr. Mariano reiterated the comparison:  repairs at a cost of $5 million with a lifespan of 10 years versus replacement at a cost of 3-$3.5 million for a new pool with a lifespan of 40 years.

Mr. DeJesus opened the floor to the public.  He asked that comments be limited to two minutes.

Council President Marino called for a motion to take the Council agenda out of order, so that all public comment can be taken together.  Comments are to be limited to the matter at hand.

MOTION made by Councilwoman Renzulli, SECOND by Councilman Donegan to take the remaining two agenda items out of order (public comments followed by Council discussion).

VOTE:  Ayes - 6 (Ferri, Renzulli, Germain, Donegan, Vargas, and Marino) (unanimous)

V.                PUBLIC COMMENTS*   (taken out of order)

IV.             COUNCIL DISCUSSION RELATIVE TO BUDLONG POOL AND MAYOR HOPKINS' PRESENTATION*   (taken out of order)

Council President Marino is happy and sad to be here.  She, Councilman Donegan, and Councilwoman Germain have placed the pool on the agenda numerous times, asking for a status, and what could be done to get the pool open as soon as possible, at the least cost.  Council does not control the day-to-day.  The same questions have been asked under Councilman Paplauskas' presidency.  A 2021 $90,000 estimate for repairs was not public until discovered by the APRA request.  In 2021 the pool was not open due to COVID.  They've been told since then that the cost to repair exceeds the cost to replace.  In 2022 the Administration set forth the capital improvement costs for the pool but did not go through the proper legal process to be included in the Mayor's budget.  In 2023, Council approved an appropriation of up to $4 million in ARPA funds to avoid incurring an additional tax burden.  When Chief of Staff Moretti mentioned a public meeting, she implored Council be a part of the meeting.   Instead, Council received an email prior to the last Council meeting, at the same time the public was informed.  She pressed for a public meeting because transparency matters.  She hopes that in the future the Administration will welcome the City Council and make the public part of the process.  Regarding the pool, she has heard specific concerns she would like re-examined, such as the vital need for teens, a deeper end, and 4-5 lap lanes.  The information showed the use increasing each year until the pool's closure.  There has been much discussion about cracks.  Has anyone gone there and seen the cracks? 

M. Mariano visited the site.  He took photos. 

Council President Marino referred to the comment about concrete mud.  She asked where the information came from.

Mayor Hopkins answered it was a gentleman from Pool Source.

Council President Marino addressed the pump station backwashing to the stream.  Was this previously allowed by DEM under a "grandfather" rule that has expired because the pool is no longer operational, or have the standards have changed?

M. Mariano replied usually nothing is grandfathered by DEM; in all likelihood, no one questioned it until an expert was brought in.

Mayor Hopkins responded to Council President Marino's comment about the usage increasing.  The records show attendance went up from 2017 to 2018 but went down from 2018 to 2019.

A. Moretti elaborated.  The peak usage, which is just a snapshot over the entire season was highest at 420.  The next highest recorded was 280.  It was an overall decrease.

Council President Marino believes if we invest in improvements, usage will increase not decrease.

Councilwoman Germain commented on the Mayor's attempt to shift the narrative.  She met with him on July 29, 2022.  He sent her a picture, with no mention of cost.  It was one picture, without additional information.  She said it was a lovely picture.  According to the APRA request, on June 14, 2021 New England Aquatics provided a quote of $90,000 for repairs.  The Mayor had this information a year before they met.  In February, 2022 the Administration paid $13,875 for a second report from the Federal Hill Group.  They provided three options.  The first was to repair.  They said the same things as New England Aquatic.  Saccoccio & Associates has been working on this since September of 2022.  This information has been hidden.  She receives emails daily from residents of her ward.  They want the pool fixed.  The Mayor plans to spend $4 million on a pool that will not serve a diverse population.  A detailed breakdown of costs has not been provided.  If a new pool needs to be built, it needs to be the same size.  The population is increasing.  She is opposed to a tiny pool.  It will not meet the community's needs.  She feels the report is biased; that the Administration did not get the results needed from the first or second report, so they found someone who would give them the results they need.

Mayor Hopkins takes umbrage to Councilwoman Germain's comments.  He received no response to an email he sent her on August 10 indicating he would make time to meet; that this was not political. 

It has been implied that everybody wants to keep the pool.  Many people do not care about the pool or don't want it to affect their taxes.  If 2,000 out of 83,000 people are opposed, that equals 2%.  That is not a big number. 

Councilwoman Germain explained her reasons for not responding to the Mayor's August 10 email.

Councilman Donegan stated the proposal is for a 7,000 square foot pool.  The images are void of context.  The current pool is 22,000 square feet.  The Mayor's budget proposed a $4 million bond, with interest.  The Finance Committee changed the source of funds to ARPA.  There's also a $750,000 grant.  Theoretically, we have $4,750,000.  He asked what size the pool could be brought to for that amount.  He does not like the idea of downsizing the pool.

M. Mariano will look at changes based on feedback.  He prepared the plans based on $3-$3.5 million so there would be room.  The $4,750,000 is still short for the repairs to the existing pool.  He was hired by the city to look out for its best interests.  Can the existing pool be rebuilt?  In his professional opinion, no.  To answer Councilwoman Germain's question, the number of people that can swim per lane is usually two.  His findings are in sync with the Federal Hill Group's; the pool loses 40-60 gallons of water per day.  The con of repairing is high cost in relation to minimal improvements for the user.  He stands by his unbiased approach.  Peer review is welcome.

Councilman Donegan asked Mr. Mariano if he would be willing to come back in a few weeks to meet with the Finance Committee, once they had a better chance to look over the proposal.

M. Mariano confirmed.  He asked that questions be provided in advance so that he may be prepared.

Councilman Donegan asked the Clerk to place this item on the October Finance Committee agenda.  A lot of frustration has been expressed by the City Council and the public.  It appears they have not always had all the information available.  They were not given the New England Aquatics report from 2021.  That is not fair to the public or the Council.  He hopes the Administration takes the 2,000 signatures opposing a downsized pool seriously.

A. Moretti explained the 2021 quote was provided by a maintenance and repair company, assuming a routine opening.  It was discovered later that could not be done.  There were no secret findings.  No documents were kept secretive.

Councilman Donegan reminded A. Moretti that at the last Council meeting he requested the documents contained in the APRA request be provided to Council prior to tonight.  That has not happened.  Whether or not the pool opened, the June 2021 estimate should have been made available.  He urged the Mayor to get as big a pool as possible open for the money available.

Council Vice-President Vargas asked what the cost would be if the existing pool were torn down and rebuilt to the same size.

M. Mariano answered approximately $9 million for renovations and expansion.  That would be for a 22,000 square foot rectangle pool only.    

Council Vice-President Vargas asked how quickly a re-design could be done, incorporating ADA compliance.  She asked him to confirm that he advises against repairing the current pool.

M. Mariano replied they would need to start from scratch to create a plan for a modern 22,000 square foot pool.  It would take three to four months to complete the engineering project, with finished documents around January 2024.  He does not think repairing the pool is advisable, based on underlying conditions, not to mention what else they may find during construction.

Council Vice-President Vargas mentioned repaving the lot and basketball courts.

M. Mariano indicated that was not part of the scope of work.  It was only the pool and fenced area.

Council Vice-President asked if construction was part of the scope.

M. Mariano explained he would be the engineer of record.  He would be responsible for oversight of the construction.

Council Vice-President Vargas asked the timeframe to bring the pool to code.  Could it be open next summer?

M. Mariano answered no.  A pool that size would probably take 16 months.  There are only three companies in the U.S. capable of the work on that scale.  The concrete alone would need to come from two or three different vendors.  It took 6 months for the 22,000 square foot pool in Plano, TX.  That did not include demolition or a new deck.  The city would need enough staff to cover a 22,000 square foot pool.  The pool could be expanded another 2,000 square feet to meet the demand, bringing capacity from 500 to 700. 

M. VanHamel pointed out that increasing the pool capacity would also require increasing the size of the pool house. 

Council Vice-President Vargas stated the bathhouse today does not match the need for a 22,000 square foot pool.  She asked what capacity would need to be added, and the cost, if the pool size was kept at 22,000 square feet.

M. VanHamel is unsure of the cost.  The bathhouse would likely need to be doubled in size.

Council Vice-President Vargas asked if the $9 million figure includes the increased bathhouse size.

M. Mariano confirmed. 

Council Vice-President Vargas asked if it included a warranty.

M. Mariano indicated a warranty would be included in the bid specifications.  He referenced the comment about the need for launching and diving.  There will be enough depth for cannonballs.  It will not accommodate a diving board.  Most municipalities do not want a diving board due to the liability and insurance cost.

Councilman Campopiano spoke last time about the emotions involved.  Community pools are typically 9ft deep.  He asked if flips are allowed.  He questioned the $89,000 estimate from New England Aquatics.  There is a quote of $30,000 to replace the sand filter attached.  He finds the comments made not wanting a splash pad selfish.  Incorporation of a splash pad makes it more accessible to more people, especially those with children.  He agrees with opening a large portion of the pool for 14–17-year-olds.  Regarding the dumping of water into the stream, the city is not immune to a fine from DEM.  This needs to be addressed.  He likes the shape of the pool for different ages and skill levels; it makes it safer and easier to monitor.  Perhaps it could be larger than proposed, but he would rather see a modern pool for many years to come. 

M. Mariano explained specific language is required on signage per Code.  Most commercial pools don't exceed 7ft unless there is a high school diving program.  He will take all the information back to the drawing board and come up with a plan for the most pool for the budget, that fits the needs.  He is disappointed when he sees pools closed due to lack of funds to operate.  The goal is to match needs without causing a drain on the city.

Councilman Campopiano asked about the cost to staff a 22,000 square foot pool.  He asked if it was legal to rope off a section of the pool if there were not sufficient staff.

M. Mariano confirmed; the use would be limited.  Since COVID the average hourly rate for a lifeguard has increased from $10 to $25 per hour.  The city would need a minimum of 15 lifeguards at any one time, plus rotations.  He would hate to see money spent to overbuild, then not have full use of the asset.  Regarding depth, there's environmental impacts, such as high groundwater.  Some pools are only 4ft deep because of engineering.  With a new pool there is the ability to correct past issues, using civil engineering and modern technology.  It can be built not to sink or settle.

Council President Marino remarked on Councilman Campopiano's point about operational funding.  In 2021 there was an idea to offer corporate sponsorships to offset costs.   

Mayor Hopkins did some quick figures.  With a wage of $25 per hour, for a 44-day season, the cost of lifeguards would be $115,500 per season.

Councilman Campopiano emphasized his concern about lifeguards was not in relation to the cost, but the ability to adequately staff.

Council President Marino commented other municipalities have been creative.  They've used fire personnel.  Some high school students are certified lifeguards.  Students are required to volunteer hours to graduate.

Councilwoman Renzulli is concerned with operational costs.  There are budget cuts all the time.  The pool was closed in 1996, 2009, and 2010 due to cost.  At the last meeting, she asked the yearly cost of a 22,000 square foot pool versus a 7,000.  The comparison provided is a one-time cost.  She is interested in operational costs, especially increasing energy costs.  We must be fiscally responsible.  The ARPA money will push the project forward but will not be available year to year. 

M. Mariano will work up the operating costs for a 22,000 square foot pool versus 7,000.

Councilwoman Renzulli asked Mr. Mariano to work with the Finance Director.  People want real facts.  There has been a lot of misinformation circulated.  She referenced an email from a Political Action Committee working under the guise of a community group.  The quoted $8 million cost of Itri Park is not accurate. 

At 10:56 P.M., Council President Marino called for a motion to extend the meeting thirty minutes, pursuant to the Council Rules.

MOTION made by Councilwoman Renzulli, SECOND by Councilman Campopiano to extend the meeting until 11:30 P.M.

VOTE:  Ayes - 6   (Renzulli, Germain, Donegan, Campopiano, Vargas, and Marino) (unanimous)

Councilwoman Renzulli continued.  Swimming is not just a pastime.  If we don't have a pool we can open, no one can learn to swim.  To the Council Vice-President's point about liability, the City is self-insured.  The bigger and deeper the pool, the more dangerous.

Council President Marino thanked the Administration for agreeing to a joint session.

Mayor Hopkins thanked the Council and public for their participation.

VI.             ADJOURNMENT

MOTION made by Councilman Donegan, SECOND by Council Vice-President Vargas to adjourn at 11:01 P.M.                 

All Ayes

Respectfully submitted,

Tracy A. Nelson

City Clerk

Minutes approved as written September 25, 2023

Attest:  ________________________________

                    Tracy A. Nelson, City Clerk