Board to weigh pool costs

NEWPORT BEACH — The Corona del Mar Community Aquatics Facilities Foundation will ask the Newport-Mesa Unified School District tonight to approve an additional $500,000 to cover renovations to the Marian Bergeson Aquatics Center at Corona del Mar High.

The request will be made at the school board meeting at 7 at district headquarters.

Angela Kraus, the parent of CdM High aquatics athletes, is the chairperson of the CCAFF committee, a nonprofit organization that initiated the once-$1.3 million renovation project now estimated to cost $1.8 million.

Costs increased after architects and engineers recommended to Tim Marsh, the school district’s facilities manager, that CdM’s pool needed more than replastering, and repairs to the deck and drainage system.

Kruas said replastering, repairing broken and missing tiles, replacing the cantilevered deck from water’s edge to first expansion joint around the entire perimeter of pool, and repairing drainage around the perimeter of the pool are needed.

Kraus, a lawyer, is optimistic that the additional $500,000 will be approved.

“Under the terms of the [joint-use] agreement, the school district is obligated to maintain the facility,” Kraus said. “The structural integrity has been compromised. Just normal function of wear and tear and the age of the facility, but it could pose a hazard of possibly injuring somebody.”

If the funding is approved, the city of Newport Beach would grant its $290,000 challenge pledge, agreed to if the CCAFF fundraising exceeded $710,000.

Kraus said the CCAFF, with members like former California Assemblywoman Bergeson, has raised more than $100,000 since Thanksgiving.

Both Marsh and Kraus said they don’t see the request being denied, but if it is, Kraus said the community would respond.

“We have a generous community. The cost should be allocated among all the users,” Kraus said of the year-round facility, which could be completed as early as May if construction begins in March.

“I’m hopeful that the trustees will follow the staff’s recommendation. We’re trying to avoid the situation like Newport Harbor encountered where [its renovation] was postponed for so long and the deterioration was so great, but it was a huge deal.”

Kraus said additional fundraising could cover improvements to the 17-year-old facility. Those improvements include a remodeled office area for coaches and city staff, new restrooms, locker rooms and showers, installation of bleacher awnings, updated wiring, lighting, ventilation and communication systems, and a new scoreboard.

“[The deck] is definitely a need, and the reason to do it now is the economy of scale to basically to be able to do the job right the first time … and avoid having to do it in say two years and replaster the pool again,” Kraus said.