HomeMy WebLinkAboutMountain View Pool Transition Press Release 8-11-21
Contact: Public Works Department
Name: Steve King, Public Works Director
Phone: 360-379-5096
Email: sking@cityofpt.us
For Immediate Release – August 11, 2021
(PORT TOWNSEND, Wednesday, August 11, 2021) The City of Port Townsend will close the Mountain
View Pool starting Monday, August 16, due to a shortage of staff necessary to safely and effectively
operate the pool. We have reached a point where Mountain View Pool does not have the critical base it
needs to stay open for a temporary period of time until changes can be made. This is not a decision the
City made lightly, and we recognize the hardship the temporary closure means for the many people who
use the pool.
The City is experiencing a staffing shortage consistent with regional trends and other aquatic programs
as well as a cascading set of challenges including repeated equipment failures.
The City plans to re-open the pool as soon as possible and wants to thank pool patrons and the public
who support the pool for their patience at this time. The City also wants to thank the Olympic Peninsula
YMCA for their assistance with the pool this year. The YMCA has been serving in an advisory role to the
pool providing consultation and oversight. Without the YMCA’s assistance, the pool would not have
been able to open in March after closures due to COVID-19.
Recognizing the challenges the City has experienced with staffing, maintenance, and overall operations
of the pool, City staff have begun exploring the potential of a sustainable partnership that involves
transferring the operations of the pool over to the YMCA this summer.
This proposed partnership would allow the pool to operate more reliably given the depth of the YMCA’s
expertise and aquatics network. It would also allow the YMCA to hire the staff needed to operate the
pool, subject to City Council approval, so the pool can re-open as soon as possible.
The Port Townsend City Council will be presented with a resolution on Monday, August 16, that would
approve this partnership agreement between the City and the YMCA.
The City and the YMCA are committed to pursuing a sustainable long-term solution to providing aquatic
services for our community. The opportunity exists now to place the operations of the pool within the
YMCA who has the depth and experience operating aquatic facilities as compared to the City. The
opportunity is made possible with the goals of the YMCA to improve programming opportunities in Port
Townsend while leveraging their aquatics program and experience in Sequim.
The City and the YMCA would like to thank Jefferson County Aquatics Coalition for their advice and
support, as well as the patrons, residents, and visitors for their patience as we work through this
transition of the pool on behalf of the community. “The strength of Port Townsend is in its dedicated
people and thus we are confident with the support of the community we will pull through this and
emerge better on the other side. Our work this last year has demonstrated a solid relationship with the
YMCA and that this transition is appropriate to consider at this time.” City Manager Mauro