College, City Near Agreement on Complex

Ventura College and the Ventura City Council are nearing preliminary agreement on building a new sports complex on the college campus that may include an Olympic-size swimming pool, a smaller indoor pool and an all-weather track.

Gary Ray, the city’s recreation supervisor, said his department and college officials are continuing discussions on a joint powers agreement to develop the sports complex.

“We’re at the stage of agreeing to agree,” said Jerry Dunlap, Ventura College physical education and athletic director. “I know that’s a funny thing to say, and most people would laugh at it, but it’s an agreement to talk.”

Under a joint powers agreement being discussed, the college would build the complex on the campus and the city would pay for it, Dunlap said. Once the agreement is signed, negotiations would focus on management of the facility and architectural design.

Last year, the council approved a proposal for a $5.6-million pool facility as part of its six-year plan for construction projects. Findings from a search for a central site concluded that the college would be ideal, Ray said.

Last week, the city Parks and Recreation Commission recommended that Ventura work with the Ventura County Community College District to develop the sports complex.

In addition to an Olympic-sized pool, officials are considering a warm indoor pool for seniors. Both of the pools would connect to an existing pool at the college.

Also, the college and the city are discussing an all-weather track on a site that has the college’s tennis courts.

The city’s last municipal pool facility was demolished in 1958. Since then, the only public pools have been at the college, and Buena and Ventura high schools. But the pool at Ventura High School was closed last year because of water loss through leaks.