What is the history of the pool upgrade?

The existing LBHS pool was built around 1993, relocated from what is now the LBHS quad. The pool has reached its end of life and is currently in need of replastering, repairs and replacements to the equipment in order to pass health code inspections. The estimated cost to meet the minimum repairs to pass inspection is $2-3 million. The current pool is 38 meters and does not meet the minimum requirements for CIF to host home events for water polo matches and swim meets.

The end of life for the pool has been on the horizon for some time and a new pool was planned for with warrants from the General Fund into the Capital Improvements Fund on a yearly basis. The School Board conducted extensive outreach to the larger community throughout the design process. The following stakeholders were engaged in the process:

• City of Laguna Beach

• City of Laguna Beach Recreation Committee

• LBHS aquatic teams (Waterpolo, Swim, Dive)

• LBHS Boosters

• Thurston and LBHS Physical Education departments

• Additional LBHS athletic teams (Surf, Track, Cross Country)

• Beeler Aquatics

• Laguna Beach Water Polo Foundation

• Current lap and recreational swimmers

• Village Laguna

• Sensible Laguna

• TOW Neighborhood Association

• Schoolpower Foundation and Endowment

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

• Residential neighbors on Park Ave, Virginia Way and Manzanita 

In 2023, the Board of Education held five study sessions and four site-based community sessions. In all, the Board of Education received over 500 pieces of public input through written or verbal public comments in 2023. In response to community feedback regarding noise, size and cost, the Board of Education looked at ten different pool concepts and made the following compromises:

• Eliminated the plan to build a parking structure with tennis courts constructed on top to be located where the current district lot exists. It was removed based on feedback from those residing in the immediate area about the height of the project and affirmation that current street and lot parking are sufficient

• Reduced the length of pool from 50M to 45M

• Required solid concrete seating with a solid shade covering and specific positioning to reduce spectator noise to nearest neighbor

• Added separate community restrooms and indoor showering

• Approved new policy language in BP1330: Use of School Facilities and Grounds to require board approval for non-high school aquatic events

In 2024, the Board of Education held additional Community Outreach meetings on August 12 and September 26 to hear public feedback on the 45M reduced size concept for the pool.

What is the current conceptual design for the pool? 

As it stands today, the current design is a 45 meter x 25 yard pool that achieves these benefits: 

• Almost doubles the # of lanes (currently 10 lanes to 17 lanes)

• Increases size and depth (25 yard to 45M; 7" deep)

• Meets modern water polo program needs (floating goals, uniform depth, home games, updated scoreboard, team room) saving our students valuable time and money from having to drive out of the city to compete

• Improves student safety/district liability (separate locker rooms for students and public)

• Improves spectator experience and better mitigates sound (concrete bleachers with solid, noise-attenuating solar roof)

• Improves energy efficiency (pump equipment 30 years old, solar water heating, automatic covers)

• Improves recreational usage (more water, rim flow gutters for easier in/egress, same size shallow area for community programs)

• Expands programming options for simultaneous practices, earlier end times, and the overlap of boys and girls seasons that occurs regularly

• Opens up use to other LBHS groups such as PE and cross-training by non-aquatic teams such as surf, cross country and track teams

What are the next steps for the pool?

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Negative Mitigation Declaration (NMD) is expected to be presented to the Board of Education on March 20, 2025. The CEQA NMD is a declaration of all the mitigation measures intended to be implemented to reduce any impacts to the environment, including air quality and noise abatement. If the Board approves the NMD, then the project will go out for bids. Construction would begin over the summer to minimize impact to students and school traffic. If the NMD is not approved in March, any construction or improvements would be delayed by a full calendar year in order to maintain the commitment to the city and community to minimize traffic interruptions and lack of availability of the pool. If the project is delayed, an estimated $2 million in repairs are necessary to keep the pool operational including replastering and replacing equipment or parts that are 30 years old.

What is the current cost of the proposed pool?

If the board approves the CEQA NMD and directs staff to request bids in March, the pool is estimated to cost $23 million, including hard and soft costs. Once bids are submitted for review by the Board, the estimates provided by the competing builders will be guaranteed unless the scope of work changes or there is a delay in approving the bids.

If the CEQA NMD does not get approved in March 2025 and construction is delayed, the cost of construction will increase. If the Board directs staff to re-design and downsize the pool and surrounding structures, the cost would exceed $23M and does not factor in the rise in the cost of construction, availability and cost of equipment and any proposed tariffs on steel or other imported construction materials and resulting price increases. This is on top of the $2-3 million that would need to be paid for immediate repairs to the existing pool.

What will the pool cost taxpayers?

Nothing. The end of life for the pool has been on the horizon for some time and was planned for with warrants from the General Fund into the Capital Improvements Fund on a yearly basis.  There are no bond measures planned to fund the improvements to the pool.