MISSION VIEJO : City Seeks 10-Year Pact With Swimmers

City officials are seeking a new 10-year agreement with the Nadadores swim team that could keep the Olympic medal-winning organization in Mission Viejo.

With three months to go before the Nadadores’ lease for a city-owned aquatics complex on Marguerite Parkway expires, the City Council by a 4-1 vote Monday told its staff to start talks with the swim club and bring back a 10-year deal.

“The timing is right” to start negotiations, said Mayor Susan Withrow. “In three months their lease is up.”

The proposal, offered by Councilman William S. Craycraft, drew strong opposition from Councilwoman Sharon Cody.

The council shouldn’t produce a long-term agreement to “support the Nadadores 10 years hence, not knowing whether we’re going to have to lay off police officers by then,” she said.

Although Craycraft’s motion called for the city staff to return to the council with a 10-year agreement, other council members said it doesn’t have to be binding for that long.

“We’re not committing” to any length of time, said Councilman Robert D. Breton. “It might be four years. But at least we’ll be in negotiations. We need a quick resolution here.”

The swim team, whose members have won more than 40 Olympic swimming and diving medals in the past 20 years, has been struggling to stay in its longtime home in the aquatic complex since ownership of the facility was transferred last year from the Mission Viejo Co. to the city.

The company also dropped its financial support of the team, which had to raise money for team trips and swim meets. The city agreed to pay about $350,000 in maintenance and utility costs for the pool complex for one year.

That agreement will expire in July.