MISSION VIEJO, California, April 23. THE Mission Viejo Nadadores had a bit of a fight on their hands Monday night at the Mission Viejo City Hall, but managed to secure a 20-year renewal to remain the exclusive rights holders to the Marguerite Aquatics Center in Mission Viejo according to the OC Register.
With Olympic gold medalist Brian Goodell in attendance, the Nadadores held off a fierce challenge by Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht as the council voted 4-1 to renew its agreement with the swim club for another 20 years.
“I just want to say I support anything to keep the Nadadores program going,” Goodell said. “The things that they’re going to do in this world because of the discipline, the training, the love, the respect that they learned being a part of such a great program is invaluable to our community.”
Mission Viejo has had exclusive rights to train at the city-owned three-pool facility since 1972 with Schlicht objecting to a renewal based on the fact that Mission Viejo pays out about $275,000 a year for utilities and landscaping without the pools being open to the public.
“It’s not fair to ask residents to pay for private facilities,” Schlicht said.
The rest of the council, however, disagreed in support of the Nadadores continuing on as the exclusive tenant at the facility.
“You all are being singled out unfairly,” Councilman Frank Ury said. “You guys shouldn’t have to be up here justifying your existence for the value you put forward.”
Schlicht definitely didn’t pull any punches during the meeting, as she brought up the fact that former Mission Viejo coach Ad’m Dusenbury has been banned for life from USA Swimming due to a relationship with a teenage swimmer. Mayor Trish Kelley ended that line of questioning, refocusing the conversation on renewing the Nadadores contract with the city.