ST. JOSEPH FAMILY YMCA COMMUNITY AQUATIC FORUM WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, YMCA

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1 ST. JOSEPH FAMILY YMCA COMMUNITY AQUATIC FORUM WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, YMCA MINUTES Present: Welcome: Invocation: Introductions: Discussion: Tom Bliss, Debra Bradley, Jean Brown, Pat Dillon, Bill Falkner, Neal Hook, Ron Hook, Alyssa Humphreys, Shana Meyer, Robert Sigrist, Angie Springs, Kylee Strough. Staff: Mark Cartledge, Suzanne King, Monica Ottman, Julie Ryan PAT DILLON called the meeting to order. PAT DILLON gave the invocation. Everyone introduced themselves and shared their first aquatic experience. Overview PAT DILLON asked everyone to write down what they would like to see accomplished with regard to aquatics in the St. Joseph community. The responses were compiled into the following list: Competitive Pool Youth Swim Teams Identify Needs Lifeguard Training Classes affordability Next Steps Collaborations Community Investment availability to low-income families Winter Indoor Pool year-round availability Therapy Exercise Arthritis Identify Assets Programs all aquatic programs Water Safety training Master Competitive Adult Swim Team Community Assets - PAT DILLON led the group in a discussion of the aquatic assets our community already has, and compiled the following list: 6 lane/25 meter, warm water (86 ) indoor pool at YMCA 6 lane/25 yard, warm water (85-86 ) indoor pool at MWSU Therapy pool at new Campus Family Y, 109, 10-person capacity 30x60 outdoor pool at Camp Marvin Hillyard Country Club pool Moila pool

2 -2- COMMUNITY AQUATIC FORUM JULY 16, City outdoor pools Wildman Fitness outdoor pool Genesis outdoor pool potentially building a 5 lane indoor pool YWCA pool (currently closed) zero entry, primarily 5 feet deep, with a deep foot for lifeguard training Hotel pools Stoney Creek Inn, Holiday Inn, etc. Community Needs PAT DILLON led the group in a discussion about the aquatic needs of the St. Joseph community. BILL FALKNER said we need an indoor aquatics facility for competitive swimming with room for spectator seating. He added that the St. Joseph Community deserves such a facility. KYLEE STROUGH asked about the MWSU pool size and available seating for spectators. WONDA BERRY-HOWE explained that the Missouri Western State University (MWSU) pool has one spectator bench, but it can be difficult to have swim meets there because the MWSU pool is measured in yards, and distances must be converted to meters. It was discussed that the year-round aquatic facility in Gladstone, Missouri is a good example of an aquatic facility with seating. The high schools in North Kansas City use this facility for swim meets. The facility is located right next to the YMCA in Gladstone. WONDA BERRY-HOWE added that every area of Kansas City has its own indoor aquatic facility with meeting rooms and space for spectators. She also mentioned that these facilities generally charge for memberships. It was discussed that Central and LeBlond are the only high schools in St. Joseph with swim teams. MWSU does not have a swim team. NEAL HOOK shared that Benton and Lafayette might have an opportunity to develop swim teams if they had a facility and funding. He added that the youth in St. Joseph generally attend Central High School if they want to swim competitively. KYLEE STROUGH asked if potentially building an aquatic facility in St. Joseph would adversely affect the aquatic facilities in the Kansas City area by diluting the market. ROB SIGRIST commented that the Kansas City aquatic facilities are supported by memberships and taxpayers. He added that an aquatic facility in St. Joseph would be convenient for those living in Northwest Missouri. ROB SIGRIST shared that Savannah and Maryville both have swim teams that start kids at age 6 to 7. WONDA BERRY-HOWE added that St. Joseph is behind in the aquatics area and we need to catch up. SHANA MEYER asked why St. Joseph is having so much trouble finding lifeguards. ROB SIGRIST explained that lifeguarding is not considered a great job anymore. Lifeguards don t want to work at the Aquatic Center because of the lack of parental supervision. Other hindrances are the skill set required to be a lifeguard

3 -3- COMMUNITY AQUATIC FORUM JULY 16, 2014 and the cost of lifeguard training classes. KYLEE STROUGH asked if we know the number of certified lifeguards in St. Joseph that aren t getting hired. BILL FALKNER will check into that and report back at the next meeting. BILL FALKNER reported the City has raised the wage for lifeguards and offers to pay part of the training costs if they work for one year. ROB SIGRIST said the lifeguard training classes at MWSU cost between $200 and $250. WONDA BERRY-HOWE noted that the kids may not be able to work enough hours to recoup the money spent on training. JEAN BROWN mentioned that kids don t want just a summer job anymore, they want to work year-round. WONDA BERRY-HOWE added that only MWSU students can lifeguard at the MWSU pool. She also pointed out that there is a much higher degree of liability for lifeguards today than in the past, especially since youth can lifeguard at the age of 15. KYLEE STROUGH asked if the fact that we have only one City pool open this year will lead to decreasing trends in the number of lifeguards and a diminishing interest in swimming. JEAN BROWN mentioned that being a lifeguard requires extensive swimming experience, and we may have a decrease in youth with enough swimming experience to develop the skill set needed to be a lifeguard. ALYSSA HUMPHREYS mentioned she was a lifeguard for 8 years, and she received free training through Parks and Recreation. She is surprised that our Parks and Recreation is not involved in our pools or lifeguard training. ANGIE SPRINGS added that the Red Cross has offered free lifeguard training to families of military members, which was funded by a grant. SUZANNE KING shared that the YMCA s lifeguards are trained in O2, AED and CPR. She mentioned that there is quite a bit of reinvestment required to keep those certifications current. ROB SIGRIST pointed out that swimming is an expensive sport. NEAL HOOK said that he thought current high school swim team members might be interested in a Master team, which is adult competitive swimming, if it were available in our community. SUZANNE KING explained that the Y has a Begin to Swim Program that gives 3 rd graders in some St. Joseph elementary schools the opportunity to take swim lessons at the Y. The classes cost $4 and the Y has some scholarship money available for children who can t afford the fee. In addition to swimming, the program also teaches water and boat safety. SUZANNE added that last year, 4 schools in the St. Joseph School District participated in Begin to Swim. ANGIE SPRINGS noted that this program doesn t reach youth living in rural areas and outside of the St. Joseph School District. ALYSSA HUMPHREYS mentioned that the use of pools for arthritis therapy is a great need in St. Joseph. These individuals need zero entry access and a consistent 5 foot depth. The only pool in the community that has a zero entry

4 -4- COMMUNITY AQUATIC FORUM JULY 16, 2014 ramp is the YWCA pool, which is closed. The Y s pool and the pool at MWSU have stairs. RON HOOK said we are looking at different kinds of pools, the therapy pool for individuals with arthritis, knee replacement, or other medical issues, and the competitive swimming pool. ROB SIGRIST mentioned that people sometimes see swimming as a 3-month activity rather than a year-round activity. MARK CARTLEDGE suggested we develop a detailed inventory of pools in St. Joseph and what programs are offered at each facility, and then do a gap analysis to determine what our needs are. KYLEE STROUGH suggested we also determine whether each pool offers lap lane swimming, open swimming, and/or hosts birthday parties. MARK CARTLEDGE suggested the Y staff put together the inventory and gap analysis to be discussed at the next meeting. Additional Forum Members PAT DILLON asked the group if there were any other community members we should invite to be a part of this group. The group suggested the following individuals: Jende Smith, the City s Aquatic Coordinator; Marnie Jenkins, Central Swim Team Coach; someone from PEST. The group discussed the possibility of meeting at other locations in the future. The Red Cross and United Way were mentioned as possible meeting locations, as well as at the YMCA. Next Steps - PAT DILLON asked everyone to think about ways the assets we currently have in our community could be repurposed to address our needs. BILL FALKNER said that they will be discussing the City pools at next month s City Council meeting. RON HOOK suggested we tour the pool facilities that we have, to review what the potential of each is, and what repairs may need to be done. Are the City pools worth saving, or should we look at building a new one? BILL FALKNER noted that Krug pool is in decent shape, but Hyde pool needs a lot of work. RON HOOK asked what it cost to renovate the Noyes pool into an aquatic park, and BILL FALKNER said he would find out that information. PAT DILLON suggested breaking the group into Task Forces at some point to look at individual issues. KYLEE STROUGH suggested we find out the number of permits for residential swimming pools the City gave out last year. BILL FALKNER said he could get that information. RON HOOK said he might be able to get that information from the city, but most pools outside the city limits are above-ground. MARK CARTLEDGE said that the minutes of this meeting will be sent out next week and Y staff will begin developing the inventory of aquatic assets and gap

5 -5- COMMUNITY AQUATIC FORUM JULY 16, 2014 analysis. He said that he will be contacting each member of this group to find out what programs you offer. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 9:09 am. Respectfully recorded, Julie Ryan Operations Administrative Assistant