CARLSBAD – The Carlsbad City Council has delayed putting the proposed $50 million Alga Norte Community Park and Aquatic Center out to bid, saying it would rather wait until the state budget is approved.
Given four options, including putting a pared-down version of the project out to bid, four of five council members said Tuesday that the weak economy and the state's undecided budget were concerns.
“When we asked in February to have this brought back we were anticipating the state would have its budget finished,“ Councilman Mark Packard said.
The council voted 4-1 to reconsider the project in October, after the state has approved its budget and the city has a clearer view of its own finances. Mayor Bud Lewis said he may not be ready to build the park even then.
The 32-acre Alga Norte Park, planned at Poinsettia Lane and Alicante Road in southeastern Carlsbad, is designed to include three basketball half courts, three lighted baseball fields, a concession building and restrooms, a skate park, dog park, playground and picnic area.
The aquatic complex would include Olympic and instructional pools, a therapy pool and wet-play area for children.
The decision to delay construction was a blow to swimmers and swim programs that have pressed for Alga Norte's construction, saying it would fill a crying need in North County.
“We are so under-reaching the demand for aquatics in North County,” said Jeff Pease, who lives in Carlsbad and runs North Coast Aquatics, a nationally recognized program.
“We're not even scratching the surface of what we could do in North County if we had Alga Norte,” Pease said. “That pool gets built and we could put 250 kids in there Day One, and that would generate a nice rental stream for the city of Carlsbad.”
Pease said he moved North County Aquatics to the city's swim complex at Carlsbad High School when the pool opened in 1982 but the program outgrew it by 1995. He said the program is now centered at the Jewish Community Center in La Jolla and also operates at three North County locations.
Pease said he understood the council's worry about the economy, but noted the city turns children away from swim lessons because it can't handle the demand, and said the aging population would benefit from the new pools.
The council approved the park's master plan in January 2003 and allocated $50.4 million for its design and construction in June 2007.
The city rejected construction bids in December on a technicality, and the council told its staff in February to pare down the aquatic center before putting the project to bid again.
Skip Hammann, the city's special-projects director, said after removing recreational elements from the aquatic center, the project's estimated cost dropped to $44.8 million. He said it would take two years to build.
Council members have said they are concerned that the state government may fill a $22 billion gap in its budget by taking money due to cities, and they want to know that impact before committing to such a large project.
Councilwoman Ann Kulchin was the lone advocate for putting the Alga Norte project out to bid now, saying it is in the budget and the city could attract favorable construction bids.
“I just think this is the time,” Kulchin said.
Lewis recalled that his family lost its farm when he was a youngster during the Great Depression and said the city should hold off committing millions to a major project during bad economic times.
“When you look at the total picture Carlsbad is in good shape . . . and I want it to stay that way,” he said.
Council members said the park and pool complex are projected to cost the city $1.1 million annually in operations and maintenance when it comes on line. Councilman Matt Hall said depreciation would bump that amount to $1.5 million.
“As much as we all want to approve this, the economic times . . . really presents a question,” Hall said.
The council never discussed whether to approve the project as a nonunion-wage project, which is possible after the approval of the city charter in June.
Steve Eidel opposed that idea.
“You're thumbing your nose at the working man in America,” Eidel said. “Why would the American working man come to Carlsbad and spend his vacation dollars when you say you're not going to spend your dollars on him?”
Eidel said later he was not affiliated with any union.
Michael Burge: (760) 476-8230; michael.burge@uniontrib.com
