By Megan Ma

The Los Altos City Council last week directed fund-raisers for the Rosita community pool project to submit a more comprehensive design by the Feb. 27 council meeting.

After a heated discussion at the Dec. 12 council meeting over two conceptual designs for a community pool at Rosita Park, the council approved a site plan more in line with the one-pool plan members approved in April.

“It’s still a work in progress, but this is the conceptual design. There are likely to be many more changes before the February council meeting,” said Dick Thomas, chairman of SPLASH (Swimmers Promoting Los Altos Aquatics, Safety and Health).

By the end of the late council meeting Dec. 12, council members agreed that city and SPLASH leaders, needed a master plan to move forward.

“We need a master plan to have a view of the whole site,” Councilman Lou Becker said.

Although the meeting was open-ended and council members touched on myriad pool design issues, Becker said he wasn’t frustrated.

Councilwoman Val Carpenter said she thinks city staff should begin work on the infrastructure surrounding the pool.

“I think its appropriate now that staff move forward with looking (at) pathways, a parking lot and a traffic study,” Carpenter said.

The proposed facility, designed by Palo Alto architect Steve Bowers of Spenser & Associates and pool architect Dennis Berkshire, features a 25-yard-by-25-meter pool, a children’s activity pool, a 3,800-square-foot building that includes lockers, restrooms, an office and storage area and small snack bar at the north end of the site.

It would be a breach of community trust if we were to go back to the two-pool element,” Councilman Ron Packard said.

Patti Beaulieu, a nearby resident, said she was flabbergasted when she saw the plan.

“It’s frustrating to see the proposed drawing look like the one that was rejected,” she said. That a play feature is attached to the pool, which is 4 feet at its deepest point, she said, is unconscionable. Toddlers frolicking in the shallower water near the play elements could be tempted to dip into deeper water.

Some criticized the design team for moving forward with a pool that was not family oriented but catered to competitive swimmers.

Other issues included whether access to pool bathrooms should be limited to pool users or open to the public. Several public speakers raised questions about parking area constraints.

Discussion on multiple pools had been discarded three years ago after a group of Rosita Park neighbors sued the city to force a full environmental review of the project. The city approved the construction of one full-size pool and a wading pool as a compromise.

“We need to ask ourselves what we as a community are trying to do. We’re doing the pool for families. This is not a family-oriented (pool),” Packard said.

Los Altos residents have been without a community pool since 2003 when the Covington pool was demolished to make room for renovations to the school.

“I’m very optimistic about the direction of the pool. We just want your support and the opportunity to tweak some pool elements,” SPLASH member John Day said.

SPLASH leaders have raised $3.5 million of the $4 million they agreed to contribute toward the community pool. Cost estimates for the entire facility are not available yet, Thomas said, since the team has more details to finalize.

The council directed SPLASH to increase the shallow area of the pool but maintain eight diving lanes. The wading pool, 18 inches at its deepest point, should include a toddler-safe entry. Council members suggested a 15-foot sound wall should surround the pool facility.

The council agreed to enter into an informal agreement with SPLASH leaders. The agreement is worded carefully to avoid any legally binding language and includes the provision that the non-profit group raise the funds for the entire pool facility before any construction begins.