MISSION VIEJO : City to Pay for Most of Divers’ Insurance

The City Council has finalized a deal to keep the Nadadores swim club in Mission Viejo for at least a year by agreeing to pay for most of an insurance policy to cover the diving squad.

The Nadadores will provide a $5-million policy for the swim team and will pay for a $1-million policy to cover the divers. The city will pay about $4,000 for an additional $4 million in insurance for the diving team.

Last month, the city had agreed to pay about $350,000 to maintain the Marguerite Parkway swim stadium used by the Nadadores for one year. In the past 20 months, the internationally recognized swim club has lost its major sponsor and seen its training complex acquired by Mission Viejo.

The council agreed to partially subsidize the Nadadores for a year. But city officials were concerned about the level of insurance for the club, which has about 350 swimmers and holds at least two major national swim meets each year.

The city staff had asked the council to consider a $10-million policy for both the swim and diving teams. Nadadores officials protested the $10-million figure, saying it is far more than needed.

Alex Dean, president of the Nadadores, said the club has not had a significant claim against it in recent history. Other sports groups using city facilities, such as Little League baseball and youth soccer, must acquire a minimum $1-million policy.

However, city officials said the potential for a major accident was higher at the swim complex, particularly for people using the diving tower. Used exclusively by the Nadadores in the past, the swim stadium on Marguerite Parkway will be opened to the public in the coming months.

However, the diving tower will remain off-limits to the public.