HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 10435 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 20-10435
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 23, 2020
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SUBJECT: 2020 POOL SEASON
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The purpose of this Informal Report is to provide an update from the Park & Recreation Department
(PARD) on the 2020 pool season operational logistics related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On April 17, 2020, Informal Report 20-10396 was submitted to Mayor Price and City Council on the
status of summer programming in light of public health concerns associated with the COVID-19
pandemic. At that time, the report stated that a traditional pool season would not be able to take
place at Forest Park and Marine Park pools due to the uncertainty associated with the pandemic
and its impacts; because lifeguards could not obtain the required certifications at that time; and
because delays in obtaining certifications and hiring temporary staff would potentially push the
pool openings into late June or later in the summer.
Staff has continued to monitor CDC guidelines, National Recreation and Park Association
recommendations, benchmarking of other large cities, and Governor Abbott's plan to reopen Texas.
Based on current information, PARD staff is taking the necessary steps to reopen the pools for a
modified 2020 pool season.
In order to reopen the pools, the following steps are being taken:
• Authorization was received on Friday, June 12, 2020 to recruit a minimum of thirty (30)
lifeguards, two (2) head lifeguards, and fourteen (14) pool attendants. Positions were posted
on June 13, 2020.
• Applications will be processed and applicants will go through tryouts. Successful applicants
will then attend 40 hours of training in classes of 10. If training is successful, guards are
certified and can be hired to start work.
• Staff is investigating methods of bringing on additional lifeguard instructors to speed up this
part of the process if enough applications are received.
Based on an estimated 35-56 business days to complete the hiring, training, and certification
processes, it is projected that pools will reopen at the end of July.
The following are staff priorities:
• Ensuring the safety of the public and staff:
o Sufficient staffing levels will be in place. This may result in one pool opening before the
other or one pool possibly not opening, and reduced days of operation.
o Pool patron occupancy numbers will be reduced and limited to two time slots per day:
12:30-3:00 p.m. and 3:30-6:00 p.m.
o A break for sanitization will occur between the time slots.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 20-10435
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 23, 2020
Page 2 of 2
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SUBJECT: 2020 POOL SEASON
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o Deck furniture will not be accessible and the closed flume slide at Forest Park
unavailable (Marine has an open flume).
o Every other picnic table will be unavailable.
• Working with contractor to provide swim lessons.
• Working with contracted user groups for access outside of normal hours of operation.
Informal Report 20-10396 also noted that the Sycamore Sprayground would remain open. At the
time staff did not know that CDC guidelines would recommend that the public not use water
playgrounds. That guidance has recently changed, and staff is currently preparing the site to open in
by July 1, if not earlier, for the remainder of the summer season.
If you have questions about this information, please contact:
o David Creek, Acting Park & Recreation Director(817-392-5744)
o Kelli Pickard, Assistant Director, Park & Recreation (817-392-5461)
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS