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AGENDA ITEM NO. 24.
CITY OF HAWTHORNE City Council AGENDA BILL For the meeting of 06/24/2025 Originating Department: City Manager |
City Manager:
Department Head:
SUBJECT:
Hawthorne Aquatic Center Procedures for Rental Permits- A. Reyes English
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Receive and file this report and affirm staff’s practice of reserving the City pool for City-sponsored programs during posted Summer Program hours (9a.m.–6p.m. weekdays; 8a.m.–4p.m. Saturdays). Staff will continue to accommodate third-party rentals outside these hours and collaborate with adaptive providers to expand offerings in 2026.
DISCUSSION:
The City’s Summer Aquatics Programs (Swim Lessons, Junior Lifeguard, Recreational Swim, Lap Swim, and Water Aerobics) operate at near capacity each summer. To meet community demand and comply with safety ratios, staff limit outside rentals during summer program hours. All permit/rental partners adjusted their schedules accordingly for 2025; however, Leaps N Boundz (Permit Group) requested exclusive lanes from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday–Friday, directly overlapping peak City program hours. After multiple attempts to offer alternative times, they declined to modify their request. Staff seeks Council concurrence with the current scheduling policy and to continue monitoring options for city-operated adaptive programming next year.
2025 Summer Programming Schedule
Staff seeks Council concurrence with the current scheduling policy and directions to continue monitoring options for adaptive programming next year.
2025 Summer Programming Schedule
| Program | Summer 2025 Operating Hours |
| Swim Lessons / Jr. Lifeguard / Recreational Swim | 9am.–6p.m. (Mon–Fri) & 8a.m.–4p.m. (Sat) |
| Lap Swim | 6a.m.–9a.m. & 12p.m.–1p.m. (Mon–Fri) & 8a.m.–1p.m. (Sat–Sun) |
| Water Aerobics | 6a.m.–9a.m. (Mon–Fri) & 8a.m.–1p.m. (Sat–Sun) |
At the end of May, staff contacted all rental groups to secure their requests for the June 15, 2025 –August 15, 2025, summer season (8 weeks). All current permit groups were advised that summer availability would be altered and limited, and that the pool is not available for rentals during City Summer Program hours. All rental partners except Leaps N Boundz accepted the revised schedule. Staff connected with this group and apologized for the inconvenience, and reiterated City policy prioritizing City-sponsored programs. To note that staff offered post August 15, 2025, evening/weekend slots and proposed meetings to explore other accommodations. Staff also emphasized limited staffing capacity and safety considerations, prohibiting overlap with summer programs. Despite these efforts, Leaps N Boundz declined alternative times, maintaining their original request.
Staff seeks Council concurrence with the current scheduling policy and directions to continue monitoring options for adaptive programming next year.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN:
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
Maintaining the current policy has no additional fiscal impact. However, allowing rental use during Summer Program hours would require approximately $18,000 in unbudgeted seasonal staffing costs to meet state-mandated lifeguard-to-swimmer ratios and ensure safety compliance
NOTICING PROCEDURE:
72 hours posted notice pursuant to the Ralph M. Brown Act