IRVINE

After months of delay, the City Council is scheduled to chart a course for the future of Irvine’s only competitive swimming facility at tonight’s meeting.

The council will discuss plans to renovate the outdated Heritage Park Aquatic Complex or seek alternatives to what has become an expensive project until the city can afford to refurbish the facility.

City officials learned earlier this year that they may have to postpone the improvements, citing recent construction estimates that exceed the project’s $12.5-million budget by more than $5 million.

As many as 50 swimming and water polo teams use the complex. The Community Services Department has recommended that the council use $7 million from the original funds to build pools at or near Northwood and Woodbridge high schools for local teams to use while Heritage is rebuilt on a piecemeal basis.

The council meeting starts at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 1 Civic Center Plaza.