GLENWOOD SPRINGS ” The price tag for the Community Center pool has increased to as much as $900,000 more than originally estimated.

The pool would actually be an aquatics center that would include a lap pool, a “leisure pool” play area and a “cardio balcony” for the center’s exercise equipment, now located downstairs.

The original estimate of $3.2 million for the pool addition didn’t include the cardio balcony.

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Also, inflation has played a role in the increased price over the past two years, parks and recreation department director Bill Efting said. New estimates put the center at $3.8 million to $4.1 million.

“If City Council is in favor of this design, it would be excellent timing to begin the bid process, which would enable the project to have a late winter or early spring construction schedule,” Efting wrote in a Oct. 31 memorandum to City Council.

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The aquatics center will be discussed during tonight’s regular City Council meeting set for 6:30 p.m. in City Hall.

When first introduced, the idea of including a cardio balcony resulted in some outcry by area gyms and health clubs. But Efting said if the pool is approved with the balcony, no new exercise equipment will be bought.

“We’re not expanding it,” he said. “Where there’s cardio now, we’ll be doing another locker room. At this point, we’re not adding any new equipment.”

If funding for the aquatics center is approved ” a question that’s up in the air after Tuesday’s election ” Efting has all the documents, including bid documents, ready to go.

The remaining funding needed for the pool ” along with a municipal golf course and a whitewater park in the Colorado River ” was slated to come from certificates of participation.

But with the election of Joe O’Donnell and the possible election of Larry Beckwith to City Council, COPs might not be used.

The pool would be located along the east wall of the Community Center, sharing a wall with the basketball gymnasium.

Plans call for the cardio balcony to overlook the gymnasium on one side and, through windows, to look over the pool on the other side.

According to the rendering presented to the city by Ohlson Lavoie Collaborative, an architecture and design company of Denver, the pool itself would have nine lanes, as well as a slide and some play water features.

Also on the agenda:

– Council will receive all available official results from Tuesday’s election. Some items on the agenda related to this, including the appointment of a mayor and the seating of a Ward 1 representative, might or might not happen Thursday because of the possibility of a recount in that close election.

– Comments will be made by departing City Council members Don Gillespie, Mayor Don Vanderhoof and Jean Martensen.

– Three new City Council members will be sworn in, Ward 3 representative Chris McGovern, Ward 4 representative Bruce Christensen and At Large representative Joe O’Donnell.

– Council will receive its third quarter financial report.

Contact Greg Masse: 945-8515, ext. 511

gmasse@postindependent.com