GLENWOOD SPRINGS ” New members of City Council wasted no time getting into the swim of things Thursday.

The first major decision came in the form a unanimous approval to gather bids to add an aquatic facility to the Community Center. And, according to city manager Mike Copp, the pool could be open in less than a year.

“We’d like to be up and operating by Nov. 1 when the swim season starts,” Copp said.

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The aquatic center, which includes a structure, a competitive-sized eight-lane lap pool and a leisure pool for play, will cost from $3.8 million to $4.1 million, according to Chuck Musgrave, senior architect for Community Center design firm Ohlson Lavoie Collaborative of Denver.

It’s still unclear where the funding for the pool will come from, but Copp said he’ll find it someplace in the city budget.

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“We really haven’t had a chance to find the best way to do it,” Copp said of the funding. “If council wants to go ahead, we can come up with various funding options.”

The original plan for the Community Center called for a swimming pool, but when the main building was constructed, there wasn’t enough money in the budget to include the pool.

The building, however, was designed with the pool in mind, and it will be relatively easy to add on, said Musgrave.

The pool itself will be changeable from 25 yards to 25 meters by using what’s called a “moveable floor.”

It will also have a play area and a slide so toddlers and older kids can enjoy the water.

“This pool was designed for, really, all ages of the community,” Musgrave said.

“I really think this completes the Community Center,” Parks and Recreation Department director Bill Efting said. “I think our revenues are going to increase. It will really make this a community center.”

Sopris Elementary principal Howard Jay represented the swim committee, a group of local swimmers who gave input into the pool’s design. He said the group is satisfied that the design “will meet community needs.”

“We’re really comfortable with the competitive aspects of this pool,” he added.

Another part of the design includes a raised running track, but the track could be axed if the cost is too high.

In 2001, a fund-raising campaign was initiated, which has since raised $1.1 million. But in order for the project to move forward, the pledged money must be collected. The city’s share of the project would be $2.7 million to $3 million.

“I would hope that we could get those pledges in hand and in the bank before we sign the contract,” City Councilman Dave Merritt said.

A motion to approve sending the pool out for a bid was approved unanimously, prompting new Mayor Larry Emery to smile.

“Wonderful, we’re going to have a pool,” he said.

Contact Greg Masse: 945-8515, ext. 511

gmasse@postindependent.com