Plan to get swim center under way
To the editor:
I have a proposal that I hope the city council will consider that will address both the major concerns of the citizens and the time constraints of the NSCC and USA Swimming.
Grant a conditional contract for NSCC to develop the swim center based on a $1 a year/99 year lease with a claw-back/revision clause during April’s business meeting based on NSCC meeting certain conditions.
1. No money spent on site development until the NSCC has secured all financing and covered all shortfalls for the swim complex portion.
2. Site development to be done in stages based on firm contracts and commitments along with utilizing public/private partnerships to lower the amount invested by the city.
3. The city’s $5 million investment to be “last-in” upon completion of the swim center.
4. Put timelines in place for NSCC to:
a. Secure financing
b. Build the swim complex
c. Have Hotel/Convention Center under contract
5. Allow for time to develop a comprehensive contract prior to groundbreaking; ideally from the time from signing the conditional lease to NSCC on April 26, to NSCC obtaining full financing and site work begins which should allow the council and staff to develop a revenue plan and draft a fair contract for both parties. This proposal gives NSCC the land under contract allowing financing and contracting to move forward while also ensuring the city does not waste any money nor gets stuck with a half finished project.
The “key” is the contract.
The main concerns of citizens are that the venture is successful, the city gets a reasonable return on investment based on a fair contract of revenue sharing, and the venture is sustainable and self-supporting. Not one person I talked to wants continued loss of jobs and population, higher taxes or lack of opportunities for our children and grandchildren although many of us wish for the “good old days” which are unfortunately gone – and at such a terrific personal cost.
I ask the city council to task the staff to come up with income generating ideas asked for in the original proposal to make the project viable for the city of Cape Coral. Some ideas I have already submitted, and I am willing to work with staff.
Finally Mr. Martin was incorrect in his statement that the timeline was determined by the 2012 time trials. He is absolutely correct in stating the time and location are already set. The error was that he stated this event was the reason for the timeline.
USA Swimming operates on a four- year schedule, the current schedule runs 2010 through 2012 – the last half of the current four-year plan. This calendar dictates the time and location of the meet Mr. Martin mentioned during his address. The calendar is posted on the USA Swimming Web site.
It was presented to the city council by USA Swimming that the time frame deadline is to set the schedule for the next four year calendar. The deadline for the 2013-2014 scheduling and contracts are fast approaching. This is the reason for the deadline, not to steal events that already committed.
Another perception Mr. Martin included in his presentation was that the USA Olympic Committee is a governing body of sports. This is not factual – individual sports have their own governing bodies. Olympians earned a special place in sports, they are part of an elite group even having a link on the USA Olympic Committee web site but again, prior Olympians do not govern sports. USA Bowling just opened a National Bowling Center and Museum; the facility sports the Olympic Rings. The governing bodies of the Olympic sporting events work with the USA Olympic Committee but are separate entities.
Information included in the presentation by Mr. Martin are “first-hand” experiences and come from the heart – the problem is, the experiences are from the 1960s and prior. No one had proper facilities as was demonstrated by speakers, so everyone was on an even keel, the best could rise to the top. This is not the case today; the USA is way behind in developing proper training facilities. Where are the Olympic pools built for the 1984 Olympics? Gone-temporary above ground pools were used and dismantled after the games. Other countries are putting their money and national honor into developing world class athletics. The USA cannot get by with diving off of ocean piers or swimming in small community pools to compete in the future.
How does the cost of $15 million plus $1 million a year operations cost to be borne by the city save money? The project Mr. Martin proposed is 20 years overdue but at the same time 20 years plus out of date. The Sarasota Swim Complex is larger than his alternate proposal – how many national events have been held there? It is great for their city and swimmers, plus it has produced champions, but the facility does not make Sarasota a destination location for major events.
The Cape will have six high schools but only one with a small 30-year-old pool run by the county. Drown-proofing is not a required safety class in school – you do not have to be able to swim to keep from drowning but it takes training; with all the water around the Cape this does not make sense not to teach drown-proofing to our children. Where was Mr. Martin’s proposal 20 years ago? Why have we cheated our children for so many years with the lack of facilities either in the community or in the schools?
Lastly Mr. Martin is a very valuable resource inviting him to help staff and council to reduce the city’s costs, forge viable contract provisions, and promote the success of the NSCC with his contacts should not be wasted.
Gerald P. Finan
Cape Coral