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  Good News for the City of Richmond and THANK YOU - Richmond Swim Center was Awarded Tonight
March 27, 2014
 
 

On Wednesday, March 26, 2014, the WCCUSD Board of Education awarded a $7.6 million contract to Arntz Builders for repairs and improvements of the Richmond Swim Center located on the Kennedy High School Campus. The project is expected to be completed in June 2015. The WCCUSD also paid for the soft costs, including design.

The Richmond Swim Center is a joint project of the WCCUSD and the City of Richmond. It was originally constructed in the early 1990s and has suffered from moisture damage related to an imbalance in the water temperature and the HVAC system, as well as general wear and tear over the last two decades.

The City of Richmond provided augmentation funding over a three year period to keep three local neighborhood schools open when the WCCUSD was in dire financial straits. The WCCUSD financial condition has improved, and the City’s assistance is no longer required. Now it was the WCCUSD turn to help out the City by funding the Swim Center rehabilitation.

School Board President Charles Ramsey wrote:

Just a big round of thanks to the City Council for the commitment and belief that the school board would keep true to its word and award the Richmond Swim Center.  Yes, tonight the school board voted unanimously to accept the 7.6 Million Dollar Bid for the Richmond Swim Center. Arntz Builders was selected to do the project and it is scheduled to start work in April.

So yes it has happened and the project will last about 14 Months.  I am pleased that this helps brings a new recreational facility to the City of Richmond and that this pool joins the Richmond Plunge as a new place for all of Richmond residents to use.  For anyone to say that keeping the schools open was a mistake, they can now point to this community benefit.  All can now say that the school district kept its promise to the City of Richmond.

I want to personally thank the City Council for keeping schools open. Without this vision, we would have seen three of our vital schools, including Kennedy High School, permanently closed. Fortunately this did not happen and those schools are thriving and growing in enrollment.  I do not have the Mayor’s email or Councilmember Nat Bates. I would value this email being forwarded to those two members. 

So it was truly a win-win and any naysayers will have to say they were WRONG.  What also is important is that the City of Richmond will have a brand new swimming pool on the South Side of Richmond that will last for the next fifty years.

Thanks Again.  Our school district will never forget your generosity and kindness.

Charles T. Ramsey, Esq.
School Board President
West Contra Costa
Unified School District

City Manager Bill Lindsay responded:

Charles:

Thanks for the email and for your help getting this done.  It is absolutely critical for a city and school district to work together in order to effectively serve our shared constituency.  I believe that the City of Richmond and the WCCUSD have a great working relationship that will only get better as we continue to work on projects such as this.

Thanks again for your leadership.

Bill Lindsay

 

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