Oxford City Council discusses aquatic center plans

The city council also approved multiple resolutions

The Oxford City Council discussed a proposal to shift the Oxford Aquatic Center to a third-party management system during a Nov. 3 work session – a change that could expand community programming and increase the center’s annual operating budget by more than $71,000.

The city council also approved resolutions relating to city tech upgrades and an Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant.

Oxford Aquatic Center proposal

The city council held a work session before its regular meeting on Nov. 3 to discuss potentially shifting the current city-operated system to third-party management for the Oxford Aquatic Center, 701 Kay Rench Dr.

The center’s current operating budget is $372,675. With the suggested change to third-party management in place, the operating budget would be $444,320 – an increase of $71,635.

With the new proposed budget, the center’s projected revenue is anticipated to be $626,000. After applying the cost of operations, the center would make $181,680. 

The shift could potentially give the center a net improvement of $4,355, according to the presentation.

The presentation also shows an increase in projected revenue if the operational budget increases. 

The center currently makes around $290,000 annually. With the change, the proposed revenue would be bumped up to $315,000 – a $25,000 increase.

With third-party management, the center would see a $25,000 increase in revenue from admission costs.

The center would also see a potential increase of $5,000 in concession sales – a projected $85,000 annual sum – according to the presentation.

The center’s property tax would also see a $21,000 increase, according to the presentation.

Chad Smith, director of the Oxford Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), said the change to third-party management would create more opportunities for the center to involve the community.

“We can really take the programming and events to the next level,” Smith said.

According to the presentation, the community would benefit from more programming, while the OPRD would have less of a burden to keep up with seasonal operations and could reinvest some money into the center itself.

Additionally, the change would alter the center’s operations by creating more program offerings, events, community partnerships and services, Smith said. 

Smith said the center could host more summer camps and after-school care; add environmental education, guided hikes and Oxford Area Trails programming; strengthen partnerships with local organizations like Miami University, Oxford Lane Library, Talawanda School; and support more youth sports leagues, according to the presentation.

A contractor would take on the staffing responsibilities, including recruiting, hiring and training supervisors and managers, lifeguards, front desk and concession staff, performing spring de-winterization and fall winterization, the seasonal procedures to prevent pool and/or equipment failure, managing pool maintenance and supplying all pool chemicals and concessions.

Smith said the center would continue to hire locally, and the city would still retain all revenue from daily admissions, seasonal passes and concession sales.

Smith said the city could have a 1-year out clause, depending on how the relationship with the third-party contractor is functioning after a calendar year.

After a positive response from the city council, Doug Elliott, city manager for Oxford, said the next step is to provide an amended budget to present at the next city council meeting. If approved, a request for proposal would be issued. Elliott added that he hopes to have a firm elected by the end of 2026.

Resolutions approved

During the regular session of the meeting, the city council approved a resolution allowing the city manager to enter into an agreement with Parallel Technologies Inc., an Ohio-based IT and business consulting company, to purchase and implement a new Mitel phone system for the city. 

The project cost is $92,400.53, including a contingency of $9,240.05, totaling $101,640.58.

The city’s current Mitel phone system was first installed in 2012 and, due to its age, will no longer be supported by the company in 2027, according to the city staff report. 

“Continued operation of an unsupported phone system presents increasing concerns related to system reliability, availability of replacement equipment and technical support,” the city staff report reads. 

The new system will “provide the City with a current, supported telecommunications platform. … (Allowing) the City to transition to the new system in a planned manner rather than responding to equipment failures or support issues after the existing system becomes obsolete.”

The city council also approved a resolution allowing the city to apply for a $50,000 grant from the Ohio EPA to fund a household hazardous waste collection day. The application includes a local match that could reach $12,500. 

The city staff report adds that the collection day would be in fall 2027.

The Oxford City Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 17 at the Oxford Courthouse, 118 W. High St.