According to the most recent project schedule dated January 16, 2004, the new aquatic center is scheduled to open in August 2005. Construction is scheduled to begin in late September or early October 2004.

The 50% construction documents for the project were submitted to the City by project architect Phillips, Metsch, Sweeney, & Moore (PMSM) in late December 2003. The construction documents have been reviewed by the City=s project management firm of Willdan & Associates in early January 2004. Revisions to the 50% construction documents are currently in progress.

Before the 90% construction documents can be submitted to the City for the Aplan check@ phase of the project, the following three issues need to be resolved:

1. Making a final decision on the feasibility of a fuel cell for the aquatic center.
2. Resolving some of the outstanding storm drain issues for the project site.
3. Resolving the issue of a single bid or a split-bid for the pools and the bathhouse.

City staff is working with the respective consulting firms to resolve these issues as soon as possible.

The final issue is resolving any outstanding fiscal issues related to the construction of the aquatic center. This would include the issuance of bonds for the project (through the proceeds from the benefit assessment district) as well as staying within the budget for the project. The projected cost for the new aquatic center is just over $8 million dollars.

For the past six-months, and leading up to the submittal of the 50% construction documents, City staff has been working with PMSM in making decisions on hundreds of details regarding the new aquatic center. Some of the details include types of equipment to be utilized on the decks of the pools, the type of water playground equipment, the type of water slides, the type of security system for the pool, color schemes for the building including the pool decks, restrooms, lobby, offices, etc.

The following is an outline of some selected highlights for the aquatic center project.

Selected Project Highlights:

March 2, 2004: The Lompoc City Council approved an agreement between the City and the school district allowing for the construction of parking facilities on a portion of vacant school district property east of Lompoc High School. The vacant property lies in the area known as College Park and is a strip of land 540 feet long by 36 feet wide.

January 20, 2004: The Lompoc City Council awarded a bid to Open Air America, Inc. in the amount of $1,780,000 for the glass and metal frame structure that covers the aquatic facility.

October 21, 2003: The Lompoc City Council awarded a contract to Willdan & Associates of Ventura, CA. in the amount of $451,000 to provide construction management services for the project.

June 3, 2003: The Lompoc City Council awarded a contract to Phillips, Metsch, Sweeney, & Moore, Inc. of Santa Barbara, CA. in the amount of $598,450 to complete the design work, construction documents, bid packaging, construction phase monitoring, and other associated elements of the project.

May 20, 2003: The Lompoc City Council certifies the environmental review document for the aquatic center project.

September 3, 2002: The Lompoc City Council approved an agreement between the City and the school district designating 150 parking spaces on the campus of Lompoc High School as an overflow parking area for the new aquatic center. In exchange for the parking, the school district will receive 500 hours of pool time annually at no charge at the new aquatic center.

August 6, 2002: The Lompoc City Council accepts the ballot results for the formation of a pool and parks benefit assessment district. The district is successfully formed and will generate $2.17 million dollars towards the projected $7.8 million dollar cost of the new aquatic center.

March 19, 2002: The Lompoc City Council appropriates $112,000 to complete the studies necessary to certify the EIR for the aquatic center project. The City utilizes the services of Impact Services, Inc. of Agoura Hills, CA. to complete the necessary studies.

November 2001: The Lompoc City Council accepts a final report (schematic design) from Roger Phillips of PMSM and the 11 member Citizen's Committee recommending a new three pool aquatic center at College Park. The Council accepts the report by a vote of 4-1.

July 17, 2001: The Lompoc City Council approved a resolution requested City staff to study three primary sites for the new aquatic center --- with College Park being the preferred site.

September 5, 2000: The Lompoc City Council awarded a contract to Phillips, Metsch, Sweeney, & Moore, Inc. (PMSM) of Santa Barbara, CA. in the amount of $62,000 to complete preliminary design work for the proposed new aquatic center. PMSM will work with an 11 member citizen=s committee (appointed by the City Council) to develop a preliminary design for the new aquatic center.