Cañon City council members unanimously approved placing a measure on the November ballot that asks voters whether they support replacing the R.C. Icabone Swimming Pool with a year-round facility.
This facility, which would cost approximately $24.8 million, is an indoor combination recreational and program pool and an outdoor leisure pool. The recreational pool would be available year-round.
Council members chose this option over a pool open only in the summer.
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To fund this, council members approved a 0.30% sales tax increase, which will also go to voters for approval on Nov. 5. On Wednesday at 7 p.m. during a special board meeting, the Rec district is scheduled to approve additional funding options that will also be on the ballot if approved.
Both options presented to the council contained contingency language that if the bond issue does not pass, the sales tax will fail.
"Both the sales tax initiative and the bond initiative from the Rec District would have to pass in order for this project to move forward," City Administrator Ryan said during Monday's meeting.
A survey was recently sent to registered voters in the district, asking what type of pool facility they would support. According to the questionnaire, 66% of voters are more likely than not to support the year-round option City Council approved. To pay for this, 61% are in favor of a .30% sales tax increase, while 56% support a 4 mill (levy) property tax increase and 61% approve of debt financing.
During Monday's city council meeting, Cañon City Rec. District Board President Nick Sartori said the rec board has been working hard for more than a year to try to bring a pool to the city.
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"I can just tell you that this is a decision that we've put a lot of time, a lot of effort into," he said to the city council. "I felt like this is one of the biggest decisions we have to make going forward because if we make the wrong one, our community is going to suffer for many more years. We've already been without a pool for a while, and it's showing."
Sartori informed the city council that the rec board unanimously agreed the year-round pool is the best choice for the community.
"A lot of the reasons have to do with the return on investment," Sartori said. "It just makes sense to be able to provide services to more people year-round, that's what it really comes down to. Days of use, it provides a great opportunity for our students. A thought of having a swim team is huge."
"… We know that this community has a hard time accepting taxes and increasing things, but we also know that when we invest in our community, it grows in a good way," he added.
After the meeting, Sartori said he was happy with city council's decision.
"There has been a lot of hard work over the last 12 months, and it is just great to finally get somewhere with city council being so supportive," he said. "We feel like we've done our due diligence with the surveys that have been done, analyzing the data and trying to provide the best option for a growing community."
If voters approve the new facility this November, the Fremont County Board of Commissioners said they will contribute $100,000 toward it.
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