Pool Contract Cost and Hours of Operation

Started by MikeS1 • 14 replies • 1396 views

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MikeS1
Posts: 668

Posted:

We have always had our pool staffed with lifeguards 7 days a week, but with the sharply increasing contract prices this year, we're considering closing one day per week or shorting hours. Our pool contract proposals are up about 10% over last year and it seems that all of our contract vendors are passing on large cost increases. We don't really seem to have much attendance on certain days during the week and the attendance logs support this fact.

Here's my question. Amongst the various communities that post on this website with fully staffed pools and a comparable size community, has anyone else tried shortening hours or closing for one day during the week? If the board moves in this direction, it might be enough to incite a riot, but there must be a Cost vs Benefit scenario here. Some days we might have just 3-4 people visit the pool.

Don't suggest canning the lifeguards pls - They are not going to do that here in Northern Virginia. So, what are other communities doing in this situation? Anyone else cutting hours? Everyone open 7 days a week?

PaulM (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 1,347

Posted:

MikeS1: Have you been advised of what state/community law is on having a lifeguard at poolside the entire time the pool is open? I would start by speaking with the assn. insurance company to assist you in knowing if/when/how to lock the pool gate at appropriate times when the lifeguard will not be on duty.

In the interest of using funds wisely, the community should understand that perhaps pool hours w/lifeguard need to be reduced. Once you come to a decision on how the costs will be lowered, I strongly suggest you hold a member meeting to present back-up for the decisions which have been made. Doesn't mean it is up for a member vote--but that members will be informed and made to see that is for the 'financial good' of the community as a whole.

It is still winter, and you do have a bit of time on your side to get the info necessary, get your 'ducks in a row', and then present at a meeting which will give members time to digest before summer swimming sets in.

GeraldT4
Posts: 1,022

Posted:

MikeS1 - The route I'd take it to put the topic "Reduction in Lifeguard Services vs. 10% Cost Increase" on an agenda, post the agenda and discuss the matter at an open meeting seeking owner input and come to a resolution then and there. Shortening the service by 1 hour per day might be an option. I'd send the pool contract out for the most competitive bid as well. Either way, no one can turnaround and say they didn't have the opportunity to chime in with their opinion. Perhaps fending of a "riot".

CharlesW1 (Georgia)
Posts: 826

Posted:

MikeS1,

The rising costs have also affected our community, although it isn’t mandatory for our association to have a life guard 24-7, which certainly reduces the cost significantly.

I don’t believe the answer is doing away with the lifeguard position entirely although, perhaps reducing the hours h/she would be lifeguarding would be an option worth considering.

I would assume the weekends are the most active, as it is in our community. Obviously, you would need to review the log in sheet to determine what to change your operating hours too. Perhaps only several hours a day, maybe mornings/evening over the course of a month you can save a substantial amount of money and everyone (eligible) can still enjoy the pool. That would all depend on the activity throughout the week though.

Our community maybe subjected to a mandatory PH level check, which would mean we would need to hire a lifeguard/certified PH lever specialist in the near future. According to the county, the PH levels need to be within parameters too be considered legal, periodic test would be conducted and those in violation, will loose their pool permit and will be closed. So the possibility of having a lifeguard is something the BOD have considered.

Hopefully others can give you some additional insight.
Chuck W.

Charles E. Wafer Jr.

GeraldT4
Posts: 1,022

Posted:

"Paul, Gerald and Charles - Thanks for all your input. We've asked the bidding contractors for alternative quoates with either shorter hours or close one day during the week. We'll advertise this in the agenda, but when the word gets out on this thought process, it will be like advertising free beer at the monthly meeting. There's no doubt that everyone will be coming out on this one and the folks that we be most vocal, will be the few diehard folks who use the pool as a babysitting service. Most folks would care less and would be OK if it meant controlling spiraling costs. Thanks again."

MikeS1 - Your post above was entered on another HOATalk discussion topic, so I've copied it for reference.

Nothing like controversy to wake the sleeping giants, and nothing I'd loose sleep about worrying if owners will take issue. I'd capitalize on the discussion topic, place the topic as New Business (therefore at or near the end of the open meeting) and get all and any Old Business on the agenda beforehand. Be a good experience for owners to see their "tax dollars" at work. Not sure what you mean by using the pool as a babysitting service??

MikeS1
Posts: 668

Posted:

Opps - Thanks Gerald.

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

About two years after I moved to my condo community, we reduced the number of days to Thursday - Sunday because of the expense. There wasn't much hoohaa about it because I'd say about 10% of the residents use it (because all of them have kids and, of course, the kids are in there most of the time).

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius

MikeS1
Posts: 668

Posted:

Thanks Shelia! good info.

PeterB1 (Florida)
Posts: 257

Posted:

While we have no lifeguards to reduce, we want to reduce 'open time'. Florida regulations require the pool equipment operate for 3 hours before opening and 3 hours after closing.

So, we don't save a lot of anything by reducing pool hours. Check your local laws!

PaulM (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 1,347

Posted:

PeterB1: As a matter of info, and for some addtl guidance for the OP's question, Peter, does your assn. ensure the contract with the lifeguard is for 3 hrs. AFTER the pool is turned on and 3 hrs. BEFORE the pool is turned off? This seems like a very long period--6 hrs--without benefit of anyone actually able to use the pool during this prep time. Certainly not cost effective for Floridians paying community pool costs.

DavidW5 (North Carolina)
Posts: 565

Posted:

Our active adult community in No. Va. INCREASED our pool hours. In previous years during the summer when our outdoor pool was open, the indoor pool was closed from 11 am to 4 pm. The problem with that was the spa (hot tub) is contained in the indoor pool. What often happened was that those who wanted to use the spa, or who couldn't use the outdoor pool for medical reasons (sun sensitivity) waited until 4 pm only to have typical afternoon thunderstorms cause both pools to be closed. After much wrangling the board budgeted the additional $5k needed to restore those indoor pool hours. Now, year round, the indoor pool is open from 6:30 am (for pre-work swims of those who still work full-time) until 9 pm, seven days a week. The indoor pool is used for water aerobics classes several mornings a week and has at least a few users during most hours of the day.

We looked into operating the pool without guards on a "swim at your own risk" basis but our insurance company said they would not renew our insurance if we did that.

The total costs to operate both pools amounts to 7% of our total budget or approx $15 per home per month out of total HOA dues of $220 per month.

DAve

MikeS1
Posts: 668

Posted:

Great info, Dave - Thans.

MikeS1
Posts: 668

Posted:

Dave - Your expense ratio appears to be very reasonable considering the fact that you have two pools and a tub. I'm curious.. Can you tell me about how many units or homes are there within the HOA?

DavidW5 (North Carolina)
Posts: 565

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MikeS1 on 02/01/2008 1:00 PM
Dave - Your expense ratio appears to be very reasonable considering the fact that you have two pools and a tub. I'm curious.. Can you tell me about how many units or homes are there within the HOA?

When fully built out, the community will have 800 homes. We currently have around 700 occupied.

Dave

MikeS1
Posts: 668

Posted:

David - Anyone else charging for use of the pool facities? I noticed the article about the HOA that started charging for the horse stables which was part of the common areas, so I was wondering if it might be possible (without starting WWWIII) to start charging perhaps an annual usage fee for the pool to anyone who wanted to use the pool in order to defer costs. It seems totally odd that less than 10% of the folks use the pool, but our annual cost for the pool is about 10% of our budget. This is a huge drain (no pun intended) on our budget. Any other thoughts here? Anyone else charging for use of common area facilities - like the pool?

PS - David - 700 homes? No wonder your expense ratio is down so low. We're about 1/2 of that. Tks.

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