By Khalida Sarwari
In an effort to cut costs in the face of a $116 million budget shortfall, the San Jose City Council on Tuesday voted to close all but two of the city’s swimming centers this summer.
The 30-year-old aquatics program serves about 59,500 residents annually at six city-owned pool centers, three leased pools at public schools and Almaden Lake Park.
However, following the Tuesday vote, it appears only the pools at the Camden and Mayfair community centers will be open this summer. The Camden Community Center is open year-round the Mayfair Community Center will open June 15.
The Council voted 10-1 to reduce the city’s summer swim program, with Councilman Pierluigi Oliverio dissenting.
Oliverio said the city’s $750,000 aquatics program could be saved if the city would consider other cost-saving measures, such as hiring standard janitors at City Hall. He said by opting for private sector janitors, the city could save more than $1 million.
“We have a choice,” he said. “I could take that $1 million and save the entire aquatics program or open up every city library one extra day a week.”
Oliverio said the council also discussed finding contractors that could offer services at the centers facing closure, but that it would likely not happen because the city does not allow outsourcing.
City parks and recreation staff are in the process of finding providers for the Alviso, Biebrach, Rotary Ryland, Fair Swim and Almaden Lake centers, as well as for leased pools at Willow Glen Middle School and Santa Teresa and Silver Creek high schools.