By Kami Nguyen

Town Crier Editorial Intern

Los Altos city officials met with skeptical residents last week to discuss a business plan for an aquatic center designed to fill swim needs while potentially overwhelming the neighborhood with traffic and noise.

The meeting, held at the request of neighbors, was to be a follow-up to a meeting that discussed pool designs two weeks earlier. Several of the neighbors are involved in a lawsuit against the city over the perceived environmental impact of the project.

Kathy Englar, an executive member of the non-profit group Swimmers Promoting Los Altos Safety and Health (SPLASH), said nearly 30 residents attended the “lengthy meeting,” to answer questions and discuss future plans for the pool.

She said David Breef, who has been a long-time member of the recreational staff in Mountain View, and who has worked with projects such as Eagle Pool, began discussion by saying that the meeting was not a debate about the pool, but a way to provide information.

Patti Beaulieu, a resident who lives on La Prenda and attended the meeting, said she feels the meeting was not as hostile as the meeting that took place two weeks ago, but said the information that was provided this time was not “adequate enough for the residents to ask meaningful questions.”

“We’re not backing down on this. We’ll get more information, go back and hammer the point some more,” Beaulieu said.

She said one of the concerns neighbors had dealt with was financial issues and what the outcome would be if the pool did not generate as much money as planned.

“(We’re worried that) they might take money from recreational programs or try to bring in more users for the pool,” Beaulieu said.

She said for now neighbors will have to wait for the city staff to “dig up more information” before holding a future meeting - possibly in a few weeks.

Jim Porter, public works director, said the “general sentiment has changed” but residents are still asking for “additional information for backup and assumptions of the business plan.”

The meeting gave residents a chance to discuss issues pertaining to the business plan of operation for Rosita Park and Pool events.

Porter said the plans will proceed further, including gathering the information the neighbors requested during the meeting.

“It’s hard to know when to draw the line,” Englar noted on the possibility of a future discussion. Discoursing on the pool and business plan details with neighbors, she predicts, will raise more concerns and conflicts. But, she said, “we truly want the pool to be a good neighbor.”

The council is also scheduled to hold a meeting to discuss conceptual pool designs on Aug. 27.