Thanks mostly to another year of strong auto sales, the City of Aurora will have $5.4 million to use for one-time expenses in 2014, and free pool time on Fridays is part of the plan.
Some city council members proposed using the cash toward increasing employee pay and benefits at a special study session May 3. That was something Aurora Finance Director Jason Batchelor said would be difficult given that employee services already make up 66 percent of the city’s budget.
But one thing everyone could agree one was a free day at the swimming pool! That’s right, the city will put $18,000 towards providing a Free Friday for all Aurora residents at all city-owned outdoor swimming pools (excluding Del Mar) starting at the end of May and lasting through the summer.
Councilwoman Molly Markert, who suggested the Free Fridays said they would serve as a gesture of goodwill to Aurora residents and families.
Councilman Bob Broom worried that things could get out of hand with the swimming incentive–see every story from last summer about Brooklyn’s McCarren Park Pool for reference.
“If you don’t charge, that means a gang of kids can go into the pool, and that can cause problems with maintaining safety in the pool area,” Broom said.
Tom Barrett, director of the city’s Parks Recreation and Open Space department, assured council members the pool would be adequately staffed that day.
— Rachel Sapin, staff writer