Kittitas Valley Memorial Pool

Background

  • The City is not considering closing the Kittitas Valley Memorial Pool & Fitness Center (KVMP or "Pool").
  • The City has made investments in facility and equipment improvements, building maintenance, operating costs, and current conditions since the Pool was constructed in 1977.
  • Public attention has escalated around the City Pool since Central Washington University announced closure of their facility earlier this year.
  • The City is updating the community-informed Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) plan which will gather information from all recreation interests and help to guide priorities and funding options for future investment in facilities and amenities, including a new pool and community center.

City Council Actions

At the August 4, 2025 meeting, the City Council approved the Kittitas Valley Memorial Pool & Fitness Center (KVMP) flat roof and HVAC improvements above the KVMP office, fitness room, and locker rooms. The flat roof and HVAC are at the end of their lifespan and need to be replaced before winter. Additionally, the HVAC unit is a rooftop unit, so coordinating the two projects at the same time is an efficient, more cost-effective way of doing the project. The anticipated total project cost is $160,000 including sales tax, inspection and permitting. Watch the Council meeting live stream on ECTV's YouTube channel. The pool discussion starts around 1:20:08.

At their September 2, 2025 meeting, the Council conducted second reading of ordinance 4970, amending the 2025/26 Biennial Budget. These changes included amended adding $35,000 in 2025 for the engineering and design a of a new sloped roof and a placeholder of $500,000.00 to replace the sloped roof in 2026. 

Replacement shingles on the sloped pool roof

Additionally, replacement shingles (pictured) were added to repair spots on the sloped roof during the annual shutdown. Thus far, this work has yielded positive results, after a very large rain event, there was no evidence of the roof leaking.

The HVAC was installed the week of October 20, 2025, and the flat roof work is taking place the week of October 27, 2025.


Kittitas Valley Memorial Pool PFD Discussion

Early discussions with the Upper Kittitas County Community Recreation Center (UKCCRC), a nonprofit organization seeking to build a community recreation center in Cle Elum, WA, have framed a potential partnership to explore county-wide support for a Public Facilities District (PFD) to partially fund the development and/or operation of recreational facilities in Cle Elum and Ellensburg.

Authorized by Chapter 36.100 RCW, counties can create Public Facilities Districts to develop, improve, and operate regional centers costing at least $10 million and serving a regional population. Pursuant to RCW 82.14.048, PFDs may impose a sales tax up to 0.2%, but the measure must be approved by a simple majority of voters. PFDs may impose other taxes, fees, and charges, including admissions taxes (up to 5%), parking taxes (up to 10%), general obligation and revenue bonds; lodging taxes, state shared sales tax credits, and user charges and fees. Public facilities districts are municipal corporations with independent taxing authority and are taxing districts under the state constitution. PFDs must be consistent with the boundaries of the jurisdictions that created them. PFDs are flexible in that they can own and operate public facilities or contract with cities, counties, or other PFDs to develop and operate those facilities. 

Review the agenda report presented to City Council on September 2, 2025 or watch the meeting. The PFD presentation starts around 50:06.

Kittitas Valley Memorial Pool & Fitness Center Roof Replacement Project and Adaptive Reuse Study

Staff completed the review process for qualified consultants to complete the pool roof replacement project and will be negotiating an agreement to complete the work in the next couple of weeks. Staff anticipate bringing an agreement to Council for their consideration at their March 2, 2026, meeting. There is a possibility that the pool will need to be closed for an extended period of time while construction for this project is underway. Council previously approved an expenditure of $35,000 for design and $500,000 for construction of the sloped roof from the Second Quarter Percent Real Estate Excise Tax (REET 2) restricted revenue fund.

Staff will be issuing a ‘Request for Qualifications’ for design services for the completion of an adaptive reuse study of the KVMP. The study will look at the feasibility and scope of facility renovation necessary to meet the needs recreational needs of the community.

This could also include:

  • Preparation of conceptual design(s) showing floor plan options organized to accommodate the program requirements identified in the public process within the existing footprint of the building.
  • Structural evaluation of the building with specific emphasis on infrastructure improvements necessary to repurpose the building.
  • Preparation of planning level cost estimates to complete the renovation including structural, HVAC, and mechanical system necessary to meet the identified needs.

The study will be completed by September 2026.

A pre-design phase will be initiated concurrently this year to begin planning for the Kittitas Valley Memorial Pool replacement with a future Kittitas Valley Aquatic Center, including facility location and early design. A funding request was submitted to the State’s Capital Community Project fund to match the City’s $150,000 budget to advance the scope of this design.