History of the Community Pool Project

July 25 , 2007

Eighty nine members of the Los Altos Covington Critters Swim Team surpassed their $10,000 fundraising goal to $10,300. Swimming a combined total of 4,450 laps (333,750 feet; 64.2miles) to raise money for the pool.

March 27, 2007

Los Altos City Council unanimously approved the conceptual site plan and building design for the Los Altos Community Pool.

March 25, 2007

Open House Meeting at the Los Altos Community Pool site in Rosita Park. The first opportunity for the public to see the pool layout and architectural renderings on site.

December 12 , 2006

Los Altos City Council discusses conceptual design for the Community Swimming Pool.

April 25 , 2006

City Council Votes Unanimously for Pool
Favors one 25 yard x 25 meter pool at Rosita Park

August 16, 2005

Lawsuit Resolved - Pool Project Can Move Forward The Los Altos Community Pool project is no longer on hold. The 2002 Rosita Neighborhood Coalition lawsuit against the City resulted in the Environmental Impact Review which was completed and certified last year. At an August 12 hearing, the City asked the court to lift the ban on moving forward, based on the thorough study involved in the EIR. The judge agreed that the EIR satisfied the terms of the lawsuit, which is now officially dismissed.

March 2005

Citizen task force to determine pool configuration named.

December 2004

Los Altos Council reviewed and certified the Final Environmental Impact Review (FEIR) December 14.

April 2004

The Draft Environmental Impact Review (DEIR) released to the public. A public comment meeting was held in June.

August 2003

Los Altos City Council votes 5-0 to adopt a resolution supporting the Los Altos Community Pool Project.

July 2003

City of Los Altos begins the Environmental Impact Review mandated by the Rosita Neighborhood Coalition's lawsuit against the City predicated by the mitigated negative declaration adopted in 2002.

March 2002

EIP Associates delivered the environmental review in February and at its March 26 meeting, City Council votes agrees with staff's recommendation to move forward with the pool project with mitigation measures to reduce the impacts of traffic, noise, lighting, and parking.

July 2001

City Council awards contract for CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) study to EIP Associates and votes to establish a joint task force including swimmers, neighbors, city staff, and school district representatives to monitor the pool project.

May 2001

City Council votes to move forward with the Environmental Impact Report for the Community Pool Project and to allocate an additional strip of land from Rosita Park to the pool footprint.

February 2001

Covington Pool is demolished, displacing the City’s only location for children’s swimming lessons (600 children taught summer 2000), the Covington (youth) swim team (approximately 150 members), Los Altos Masters (adult) swim club (approximately 200 members), and various other organizations, including Special Olympics, that relied on Covington Pool.

November 2000

Two milestones: the final land lease swap agreement is signed by both the City and the School District, and Public Works awards the pool design contract to a team from Spencer Design and Aquatic Associates.

August 2000

Public Works releases Request for Proposal for a pool architect.

April 2000

The City of Los Altos and the Los Altos Elementary School District agree to combine their maintenance facilities at the City’s corporation yard at MacKenzie Park. In turn, LASD offers land on the Covington Campus (adjacent to Rosita Park) intended for its maintenance yard for City recreational use. The Parks & Recreation Commission endorses the use of this acreage for the pool. At its April 11, 2000 meeting, Los Altos City Council decides to use that site for an aquatic complex with multiple pools that can accommodate both the existing competitive programs and expanded recreational swimming opportunities.

November 1999

Parks & Recreation Commission begins the process to evaluate each City-owned park as a potential pool site.

1999

Galvanized by the forthcoming loss of Covington Pool, the Los Altos swimming community unites in a lobbying effort aimed at Los Altos City Council and Los Altos Parks & Recreation Commission. The SPLASH (Swimmers Promoting Los Altos Aquatics Safety and Health) Community Pool Project builds its organization.

November 1998

Los Altos voters pass the bond measure to fund refurbishment of all schools in the Los Altos Elementary School District and the reopening of Covington School. The plans for Covington School require the closure of Covington Pool.