School District Partnership Nearly Derailed Over Pool Size Debate
Fort Collins city officials considered reducing the Southeast Community Center's indoor pool from 10 to 8 lanes to save money, a move that would have required renegotiating a key partnership agreement with Poudre School District, which donated land specifically for the larger facility.
The proposed reduction surfaced during an October 14 City Council work session as officials worked to bring the $93 million project back within its $80 million budget. Reducing the pool to 8 lanes would have saved approximately $2.5 to $3 million, but council members ultimately rejected the option after staff warned that the school district was "not excited about that reduction."
The 10-lane pool configuration was specifically outlined in the intergovernmental agreement between the city, Poudre School District, and Poudre Libraries when PSD donated land for the facility. The school district insisted on 10 lanes because it allows two of its six high school swim teams to practice simultaneously, which would not be possible with only 8 lanes.
"It is a very critical issue from what we're hearing from the school district of maintaining those 10 lanes," City Manager Kelly DiMartino told council members.
Partnership Built on Specific Commitments
The Southeast Community Center represents an unprecedented collaboration between the three agencies, with each contributing distinct resources. The city is leading construction and will operate the recreation center, PSD donated approximately 26 acres near Harmony Road and Ziegler Road, and Poudre Libraries is contributing to construction costs and will operate library services within the shared facility.
The intergovernmental agreement formalizing the partnership was approved in 2023 after several years of planning. Under Colorado law, such agreements between public agencies can only be modified through written mutual consent from all parties, with approvals by each partner's governing board.
Council members expressed reluctance to break commitments to their partners. "I think that because the school district's donating the land, they might be unlikely to negotiate down the size of the pools that we're providing," said Mayor Pro Tem Melanie Potyondy. "So I think it's a little risky to approve something that's contingent upon changing of an agreement that we made."
Councilmember Trish Putnam agreed, warning that renegotiating could damage future partnerships. "I would hate to give them any reason to not partner with us in the future. They're such important partners for us in our community and to any other future partners that could see this that we reneged."
Four High Schools Field Swim Teams
Poudre School District currently operates boys and girls swim teams at four comprehensive high schools: Fort Collins High School, Fossil Ridge High School, Poudre High School, and Rocky Mountain High School. Teams currently practice at the Edora Pool Ice Center in north Fort Collins.
The 10-lane configuration would significantly improve scheduling flexibility and reduce overcrowding by allowing two teams to use separate sections of the pool simultaneously. According to national best practices and Colorado High School Activities Association guidelines, competitive high school programs ideally require pools with 6 to 10 lanes, each 25 yards in length.
Recreation Director Leanne Williams emphasized that reducing to 8 lanes would require reopening negotiations with PSD on all aspects of the intergovernmental agreement, including capital contributions, operational costs, and equipment replacement responsibilities. "We have to go back to PSD and renegotiate the IGA in all aspects of that capital operation and replacement," Williams told council members.
Council Chooses to Honor Partnership
After reviewing multiple budget reduction options, council members indicated support for maintaining the 10-lane pool as part of a $76.5 million facility plan. The reduction from the original $93 million estimate came through other measures, including eliminating a licensed childcare wing, shrinking gymnasium sizes, reducing the indoor track from three lanes to two, and removing plans for geothermal heating.
"I don't think it's fine to renegotiate the IGAs with our partners," Councilmember Julie Pignataro said. "It feels like we're pretty far down the road with our library district and our school district as partners to pull rank in that way."
The city plans to bring formal appropriation ordinances to council in November to move forward with the project, which is scheduled to break ground in June 2026 and open in 2028. The facility will be located on the southeast side of Fort Collins and serve a rapidly growing area of the city that currently lacks major recreation amenities.
The Southeast Community Center was first identified as a community need in a 2013 feasibility study, and voters approved funding for the project as part of the 2015 Capital Construction and Infrastructure Projects tax. The project received additional funding through the 2022 Keep Fort Collins Great 2050 tax initiative.
The facility will include indoor and outdoor pools, gymnasiums, fitness areas, meeting rooms, and a branch library. City officials project the completed center will serve as a community anchor for south Fort Collins residents and provide crucial practice and competition space for school district athletic programs.