City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 4, 2021
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of an ACPS Funding Request of up to $12.5 million to add an Aquatics Facility to the High School Project.
BODY
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ISSUE: (1) Should the City provide up to $12.5 million in funding for the requested aquatic facility at the New High School site?, and (2) Should the City study other locational options for expanding aquatic facilities in the City?
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council adopt one of the two recommendations below:
(1) That City Council indicate for financial priority reasons that the City at this time has no interest in funding and studying increasing aquatic facilities in the City, or
(2) That City Council indicate its interest in increasing aquatic center capacity in the City, and direct City staff to work with ACPS staff in: (a) looking at locational options other than the new High School building, including looking at renovating the Chinquapin aquatic facility to meet swim team competition requirements, (c) determine the likely operational costs and potential revenues, (d) explore Public Private Partnership (P3) feasibility, and (e) develop a report and recommendations and bring them back to the School Board and City Council for consideration in 2022.
BACKGROUND: As the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) staff and School Board have been planning their High School Project to be constructed on the Minnie Howard grounds they have been considering whether or not to include an aquatic facility inside the school facility underneath the planned gymnasium to provide a competitive aquatic facility for the swim team of an official length that meets competition standards (something that the Chinquapin pool does not currently meet), as well as to expand the swim access for ACPS stude...
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