And Now to Swimming

Last week I formally announced the formation of a new citizen task force – the Mayor’s Task Force on Year-Round Aquatics.

This is the third task force I have established. Two are already working. (If you want to be involved as a formal appointee, or as a volunteer, let me know at mayor@ucitymo.org or 314-505-8606.)

The first is the Mayor’s Task Force on Seniors & Youth. The volunteers on that task force are surveying the programs, services and opportunities that we provide for both seniors and youth; will be doing “needs” surveys throughout the community to determine what more is needed or desired; and will be making recommendations on how University City should move forward in better serving those needs no later than February 2012. I want the Council to have those recommendations by then so they can be reviewed and considered for the fiscal year 2013 budget.

The second already-working group is the .  This group will be creating a master bike/walk plan for University City in conjunction with Trailnet.  (The task force had started its work last year.  Then we applied for and received a $62,000 grant from Trailnet. So now we are working on the plan with their experts.)  One of my goals as Mayor is to make University City the most sustainable city in the region.  A big step towards reaching that goal is getting residents out of their cars when traveling around town.  So it’s important that our streets be safe for biking AND walking. This task force will be making recommendations on how to do THAT no later than February 2012.

And I have now established the Mayor’s Task Force on Year- Round Aquatics.  (I have copied the charge to the task force below.)  As it says in the charge, I have established this group “in an effort to begin a community-wide discussion on how to provide for year-round swimming availability in University City on a long-term basis, for the health and recreation benefits of our residents.”

Ever since I started swimming here in University City, I’ve heard the discussions about the future of the Natatorium, the indoor swimming facility owned by the School District of University City.  U City sells year-round recreation passes, and offers year-round swimming – using the Nat as the non-summer facility.  That facility is in need of work.  And the School District must decide its fate while considering all its other budget needs.

It’s my hope that the School District will hold off on any decision about the future of that facility until this task force makes it recommendations.

Any decision on the future of year-round swimming in University City will affect us all – swimmers and non-swimmers – because we will have to pay for any renovations or new facility – IF that is what the task force recommends and IF the School District and City Council accept the recommendations.  With that in mind, I hope to have swimmers and non-swimmers in this group – people who have been working hard to push this conversation forward, and others who might not even know it’s been on-going.

If you would like to be part of this group, let me know or contact your City Council reps or a member of the School Board.

The new task force should start work next month.

I like task forces.  I have always felt that University City has a huge pool of people who are willing to serve – and task forces offer them that opportunity on a short-term basis.  We get the benefit of their analysis and expertise.  They know they are working for their neighbors.  It’s one of those win-win situations.

Consider getting involved on one of these task forces. We can use your help.

And let me know if you would like to receive the charges for the other two task forces, or if you would like to get on their e-mail notification lists.

Mayor Shelley Welsch

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Mayor’s Task Force on Year-Round Aquatics

February 14, 2011

A Mayor’s Task Force on Year-Round Aquatics is being established in an effort to begin a community-wide discussion on how to provide for year-round swimming availability in University City on a long-term basis, for the health and recreation benefits of our residents.

Currently the City of University City offers its residents the opportunity for swimming in the outdoor pool in Heman Park in the summer months, and at the indoor Natatorium which is owned by the School District of University City for the rest of the year.  The Natatorium, built in 1959, is not fully-accessible; is  not regulation sized, which is 50 meters x 25 meters; and is in need of on-going repair and maintenance which is proving to be a financial burden for the School District.

This task force is being charged with the following tasks.

• Review the current availability for year-round swimming for all our residents and determine if the current facilities are adequate and are sustainable for the long-term.
• If a determination is made that the current aquatic facilities are not sufficient, conduct the research needed to decide what type of facility/facilities would fulfill the needs of this community.
• Conduct discussions with neighboring communities, agencies and organizations to determine if opportunities exist for collaborative partnerships in any new facility that might be recommended, both in the construction and use of a new facility.
• Develop a rough long-term cost estimate for the construction/operation of a new facility.
• Provide a plan for how the costs of constructing and operating a new facility would be covered for the long-term future.
• Ensure that any and all recommendations include provisions on how University City can increase the level of swimming expertise among its residents, from the youngest to the oldest, which may include recommendations for an expanded year-round swim instruction program.

 The Mayor’s Task Force on Year-Round Aquatics will establish guidelines for its work schedule and routines.  However, the final report to the Council should be received by the Council no later than February 1, 2012 so that the recommendations contained therein can be considered by the Council as it prepares the budget for Fiscal Year 2013.

The Mayor has requested that each member of the City Council appoint one constituent to this Task Force, preferably from the ward which they represent in an effort to maintain the geographic diversity of the group.  The Mayor has also requested that each member of the Board of Directors of the School District of University City invite one member.  The City Manager of University City and the Superintendent of the School District have each been asked to make three appointments to this task force.

The Mayoral liaison to the Task Force on Year-Round Aquatics will preside at the meetings of the group until such time as the task force members determine how to organize their work in a productive manner, at which time the members will decide on its leadership structure and consider all Task Force members for the leadership positions established.