Yountville Town Council, Nov. 4 Meeting Highlights – Yountville Commons Pool?
Sheriff’s Report
Napa County Sheriff James Baumgartner presented his quarterly report at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, noting that combined 911 and non-emergency calls had increased slightly to about 1,700 in the third quarter.
He also shared that the Yountville Halloween Block Party was the first event held under the new Entertainment Zone designation and was pleased to report that not only was it a great success, but also resulted in zero calls for service throughout the evening.
Discussion of a Pool at Yountville Commons
At the September meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, members held an extended discussion about the possibility of including a pool as part of the Yountville Commons development. As the conversation progressed, it became clear that additional information was needed to help make a decision. Parks and Recreation Director Samantha Holland gathered details and presented three options for the Town Council to review and consider.
For both option one and option two, the proposed pool would measure 21 feet wide by 75 feet long, with three lap lanes and a depth of 3.5 feet at each end and 4.5 feet at the center. A spa would be included. With the lanes removed, the pool could accommodate lap swimming, fitness classes and swimming lessons. All three options assume the town will construct restrooms for the site. The cost of restroom construction is not included in these estimates.
Option One: Town Construction, Yountville Fit Management
Under this option, the town would fund, plan, design and construct the pool and would be responsible for future capital maintenance and repairs. A contractor’s estimate places the construction cost at approximately $500,000.
Daily operations and utilities would be managed and financed by Yountville Fit. Yountville Fit owner Donovan Almond attended the meeting to discuss the proposal. Almond reported that since the gym’s opening in January, it has been very well accepted and supported and that membership has grown to 297 members, with 87% of them being Yountville residents. Drawing from his experience managing a pool-equipped facility in Calistoga, Almond noted that their pool has successfully hosted more than 500 aqua classes this year.
In his plan, Yountville Fit members could add pool access for activities such as aqua aerobics, group lessons, lap swimming and private aqua-therapy sessions. Non-members could also join classes and programs on a drop-in basis for a fee.
Yountville Fit would cover all operational expenses, including utilities, maintenance, chemicals, custodial services, supplies, staffing and compliance with regulatory requirements. The business would also carry the required insurance for pool operations. Based on early projections, Yountville Fit could achieve profitability by year three.
Option Two: Town Construction and Management
As in option one, the town would both construct and manage the pool, and the construction cost remains estimated at $500,000, but in this scenario the Parks and Recreation Department would oversee pool operations directly, offering lap swim sessions, aqua fitness classes and swim lessons on a fee-for-use basis.
Holland noted that the town would be unable to provide the same level of specialized programming that Yountville Fit could offer, specifically such as individualized aqua therapy sessions and medical fitness classes. She also explained that staffing would pose a challenge due to the limited availability of qualified lifeguards and the need to hire additional personnel. Family recreational swimming would likely not be possible in this plan.
Under this option, the town would bear all operational and liability costs, including utilities, maintenance, chemicals, custodial services, supplies, staffing, insurance and regulatory compliance. Annual operating costs are projected at $335,000–$355,000, not including capital improvements or emergency repairs.
Option Three: No Pool, Multi-Use Sport Court
If the decision is made not to build a pool, an alternative would be to use the space for a multi-use sport court, not to include pickleball. When asked about this option, Yountville Fit co-owner Donovan Almond said he did not believe the sport court would significantly benefit most of their members.
Council Discussion and Next Steps
After the discussion, all of the council members expressed strong agreement that partnering with Yountville Fit represents the most practical and sustainable option. They noted that the town’s existing partnership model with the gym has been highly successful and provides the best opportunity to add a pool while ensuring flexibility and long-term viability.
The council concluded that the next step will be to solicit formal feedback from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. The item will appear on the PRAC meeting agenda for Nov. 20.
