Outside Pool Memberships

Lol, I ran whole areas of Kings Dominion rides with 16 yr olds when I was a teenager. They just need training and good management. You'd be amazed on what they can do when given the proper scaffold to handle responsibility. And the fact that they actually work here in the LC means there is hope for them!

 

These really aren't anonymous anymore tho, you guys are doing a great job at keeping Chris out lol.

One definition of forum:

A large open space surrounded by buildings in the centre of every Roman town. It was part marketplace, part law court, part religious district, part political arena, and was the place to go for the latest gossip.

I think our's qualifies as the cyberspace equivalent. lol.

 

Ahhhh, the C word! Someone should start a thread on nostalgic postings. Chris would be a star.

 

Thank you for the efforts Staci. Sounds like you are taking this very seriously. It sounds like a good idea to have photos on the ID cards as well....does Broadlands have the capactiy to produce such ID's? Part of the problem really is that the "gatekeepers" are quite lax. Hopefully this system of checking and collecting IDs can be improved.

Thank you.

 

OK all you pool pass haters, direct your venom at me. The idea to sell outside pool passes was mine, I champion it, and will work to see that it is continued as long as possible.
Here's some of the facts about it, and hopefully I'll address most of the questions raised.
Why were the pools crowded this weekend? Let's see if we can guess......first weekend pools are open......it's a Holiday weekend....it was over 90 degrees.......we have probably 2000 Broadlands families with pool passes.......WAIT!!!!...it must be the 100 outside memberships we sold!!!!! (okay, sorry for the sarcasm)

1)Why do we do it? It raises a lot of revenue, $45,000 to $60,000 a year. Do you enjoy all the new furniture at the pools this year? The large canopies? The new large umbrellas and tables? All purchased with the revenues raised from outside passes. We apply $30,000 to the general budget (this equates to $1/house/month) and the remaining money is put back into the pools.

2) Summerbrooke pool is not included. We will work with the pool management company if it is a problem.

3) In determining how many passes to sell, we look at a couple of factors. One, is what are the pool loads. Right now, Southern Walk and Community Center pool loads are ridiculously low. Yes, there will be some occasions, such as last weekend where it is high, but that is the exception, not the rule.
The two times I was at Southern Walk and CC pool over last weekend, they weren't even close to capacity.
Another factor is the fact that there are hundreds of Broadlands residents that do not use the pools. We use this fact in our consideration of whether to sell passes. What would you rather have......an additional 500 families using the pool, or 100-110 that generate about $50,000/year?
We have authorized the sale of up to 200 passes this year and last year, but we are at about 100-110 sold.

4) We keep the price at $400 because we want it to be a very competitive price in the hopes that we'll sell all 200 passes.

5) How much does it cost the HOA to sell them? Total cost in hard costs, postage, and HOA employee time is less than $5 each. Not a bad investment for a $400 return.

We have asked for resident input on this issue last year and the year before and received virtually no input. I heard both years from the same 5-6 who opposed it, but dozens and dozens of responses from people who think it is a great way to generate revenue.

No, the HOA cannot use these forums as a gauge of our community opinion. Since these forums are anonymous, We don't know for a fact everyone on here is a Broadlands resident.
Some people have posted passionately about issues on these forums, but when asked to contact the HOA directly or attend HOA Board meetings to express their concerns, the silence is deafening.
Reading this thread, there are 7 who support the passes, 3 who oppose, and several others that didn't say one way or the other. Of those against it, I can only confirm one as a Broadlands resident.

No, Broadlands will not have anymore pools, nor do we have the property to build one.

Will we sell them next year? We don't know yet. We will do our analysis at the end of the season and talk about it then.

Thank you all for your suggestions for improvements to the pool pass system. If nothing else, we can look into adding some additional conditions if we decide to sell them next year.

 

When I moved to Broadlands in 1999 I was given my pool passes and a guest pass. The guest pass looks similar to the pool pass but there are little punch outs. My question is this.. How is the guest pass different from the outside membership? I assume I can bring anyone from the "outside" with my guest passes right?

 

Cliff - Thank you for your thoughtful and informative response.

 

Thanks Cliff, from a fairly new member to these forums and a 4 year resident of Broadlands. I appreciate such an informed and honest answer. I believe what you say but what I was wondering is - what is the capacity of the Southern Walk Pool? And am I correct in understanding that the outside pool passes are not good at the kids pool? Is that called the Summerbrooke pool?

 

Neighbor: It is different because you have to be with your guests. At least you are home owner. I can understand why homeowners would be put off if they can't use the pool because of outsiders.

I'm not totally against the outside memberships for the reasons Cliff states, but if it is consistently crowded then we have a problem. How was last years opening? The same? If so, then it's just holiday congestion and really, that's the area we live in. Go early or wait. Every place is like that here, Great Falls, fireworks, The Mall, Easter Egg at the Whitehouse, etc...

Zeratul: Nice Avatar! Now just have it say: "Cllliiiifffffff!" jk Cliff

 

Thank you Cliff, I would appreciate it if someone could look into training the Summerbrooke staff to this fact. I did overhear that there were some non-residents their this weekend, and it was fairly crowded.


I can see both sides of the non-resident pass issue. I think overall is it not too big of an overcrowding issue, expect on key holiday weekends. If we continue to sell passes in future years, I would like to see an exclusion for holiday weekends. I do not see any legal problem with that, it is the same thing as when coupons and other deals that say they are not valid on holidays. Perhaps both the passes and applications could have such restrictions on them in big bold letters.

Do the non-resident passes look significantly different from the resident passes?

 

just a thought, if the pool passes are changing, and pictures are being added, a bar code could be added as well. It could be used for counting people, it could also be used for destinguishing between residents and non-residents. It would be easier to implement restricted use days/ weekends, and would take the guess work away from the teenagers who are responsible for controlling entry. Geen light, you come in, red you don't. I know most teenagers are not comfortable in telling adults that they can't enter, it would help out.

 

One of the areas that was looked at with Pool Pass software was the ability to scan the pass to track usage, and to insure that people who were not supposed to use the pool would be stopped before entry. Staci did alot of work looking at the various software packages to do just that.

The new system will have photos, as well as a scanning capability. So enforcement of such things as keeping outside pass holders from entry until after July 5th can be done.

FWIW ... it hit 96 degrees here in Pittsburgh this past week, with about 60 to 70% humidity ... OY!!

 

I always thought Dang.Yu.Hyung was a hoot. Wonder whatever happened to them?

 

A Dang classic:

Crosswalk is good idea. I surprise at number people who drive Safeway. Walk good for body, make you not fat. If crosswalk at intersection, maybe more walking people.

I so sad to hear old man story. No reason to rush so much.

Sorry,

 

Hi! I am concerned from what I have read combined with what I have observed at the pools as far as lifeguards go.
I think it is imperative that there is attention to detail in every aspect of a lifeguard's job. I have not been asked for my card once when I have gone to the pool (Summerbrooke). I just don't want someone who is "not paying attention" also in charge of people's safety in our pool.
There was a tragedy at a pool in Dominion Valley this weekend and my sis was there when it happened. She said the lifeguards were unaware of the little boy at the bottom of the pool and someone else actually found him.
It really shook me up and although I am always right with my kids in the pool, I know that every person should be watched by the lifeguards.
Over capacity combined with lackadaisical attitudes can amount to a really horrible outcome.
I don't really know all of the details about the Dominion Valley tragedy, just that he was 7 with spiky blonde hair...