Title
Aquatics Update
Description
This report provides the Community and Cultural Investment Subcommittee with updated information on the 2022 aquatic season and efforts to prepare for future aquatics seasons.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
During a typical aquatic season, City of Phoenix pools welcome more than 463,000 visitors. The Parks and Recreation Department provides programming to include over 2,700 swimming lessons classes, swim and dive recreational teams, water basketball team and water safety classes with over 20,000 participants. Approximately 650 aquatics staff are hired to operate and provide services at 29 aquatic facilities.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic all pools were closed in 2020. As a result, the Parks and Recreation Department lost more than 50 percent of the aquatics workforce resulting in only 12 of 29 pools opening in 2021.
Due to the ongoing national lifeguard shortage the Parks and Recreation Department implemented a variety of recruitment efforts to help attract lifeguards for the 2022 season. Recruitment methods used each year include working closely with high schools, community colleges and universities to promote job opportunities. Aquatics staff visit school campuses and work with high school swim and dive teams. Job opportunities were also promoted at local community events. The Aquatics team collaborated with the City Manager’s Office Communications team to initiate a new Instagram account for PHXLifeguards to continue recruitment targeted to the teen age group. This account debuted in October 2021.
New this year was a $2,500 incentive for all certified positions. Pool Managers, Assistant Pool Managers, Swim Lesson Instructors and Lifeguards all received $500 on their first paycheck and $2,000 at the completion of the summer. The incentive announcement created interest in the Aquatic positions, increasing applications by over 400 applicants from the previous year. Despite the interest, many candidates did not show up for the certification class, and some were not able to pass the swim skills to become certified. Additionally, the Department received a donation from the Phoenix Parks Foundation to reduce the lifeguard certification courses from $80 to $20.
Recruitment efforts helped the department hire 415 aquatics staff which resulted in opening 14 of 29 pools. The season ended with 384 staff members due to resignations throughout the summer.
To promote future lifeguard opportunities, the Department offered Junior Lifeguard and Lifeguard Academy programs for youth ages 14 to 17 in the months of June 2022 through August 2022. These five-week programs teach water safety and leadership skills. A total of 119 participants registered in the Junior Lifeguard Program and 47 participants registered for Lifeguard Academy. Of these program participants, 21 individuals successfully completed the Lifeguard Academy and obtained lifeguard certifications in August 2022.
Open Swim
This year, 162,376 guests visited the pools between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Of the 14 open pools this summer, 11 participated in the Kool Kids program that allows kids 17 years and younger to swim for free. The Kool Kids donations this year included $56,432 from the Milwaukee Brewers and $10,000 from Salt River Project.
Swim Lessons
The Parks and Recreation Department offered swimming lessons at the 14 pools open this summer. Swimming lessons were for participants ages six months to 12 years old and were held June 6 through July 28. Each session consisted of eight 30-minute classes. Due to the Parks and Recreation commitment to ensure programs are affordable and accessible to everyone, each session was $15, which equates to $1.88 per class. These prices were the lowest in comparison to other nearby municipalities, as their prices ranged from $22 to $45 per session.
Registration for all swimming lessons began on May 12 and were ongoing throughout the summer as space was available. Swim lessons were marketed on the Parks and Recreation Department’s website, via social media, flyers at pools, interviews with local media and by targeted marketing.
Over 8,100 participants registered for swimming lessons at the 14 pools. Classes were filled to 99.5 percent capacity across the city. An additional 3,494 people were registered on waitlists for swimming lessons for the 2022 season.
Recruitment Plans
Preparation for the 2023 swim season has already begun. The Aquatics team works year-round recruiting and training lifeguards and swim lesson instructors due to the large number of aquatic staff needed each year.
In addition to lifeguards, the Parks and Recreation department is also in need of Pool Managers and Assistant Pool Managers. These positions can be even more challenging to fill as they have increased minimum qualifications. A total of 17 staff members interested in these positions participated in an intensive hands-on training, as well as additional two-week course, Aquatic Academy, to learn and prepare for the assistant manager position. Staff are also assessing minimum requirements for Pool Manager positions.
In other recruitment efforts, the Parks and Recreation Department is collaborating with the Human Resources Department to evaluate current aquatics staff wages and identify potential increases to remain competitive in the local market. The Aquatics team will continue communicating with high school, community college and Arizona State University (ASU) teachers, coaches and administrators to distribute recruitment materials on a regular basis. For example, throughout September and October 2022, staff will actively work with high school swim and dive teams to recruit students at team events, practices, and meets throughout the season. From November 2022 to March 2023, staff will visit high school lunch rooms to engage with students and perform additional recruitment outreach. In preparation for the 2023 aquatics season, staff will also participate in community events and job fairs to engage with prospective aquatics staff. The Parks and Recreation Public Information Officer will assist with outreach on social media, media outlets and newsletters.
Staff will have ongoing contact with participants from the Junior Lifeguards and Lifeguard Academy to promote employment opportunities and application processes. In addition, the Aquatics team will work with StarGuard Elite, the lifeguard certification agency, to implement a shallow water lifeguard certification that can be utilized for guarding areas of water that are less than four feet deep. This certification could expand the pool of qualified lifeguards.
Staff recognizes that retention is a large part of maintaining such a large workforce; therefore, working throughout the year to remain in regular contact with previous employees is essential. The Aquatics team will have bi-monthly communication with aquatic employees from 2022. Pool Managers also reach out to their team members throughout the off-season to answer questions and encourage staff to return.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Inger Erickson and the Parks and Recreation Department.