COVID 19 Update

Dear Members,

We are excited to announce that the pool will reopen on Saturday, April 3rd!

Since last season, board members and pool volunteers have been working to get the pool ready for a full 2021 swim season with the proper modifications and safeguards in place. The pool will operate similar to the 2020 summer and fall this season within the required guidelines by Santa Clara County Public Health and/or budget constraints. More details are below.

First, we would like to share with you where we are with membership numbers. Initially, we will begin with a limit of 100 memberships compared to our usual capacity of 220. In 2020, we only had 97 memberships and no new memberships. This year we will allow returning members to sign up first and then open to new members to fill the 100 spots. Therefore we will begin the season with less than half the usual number of members using the pool.

Recreational Swim: We are limited in the number of families that can use the pool at the same time. Based on our interpretation of the guidelines put out by Santa Clara County Public Health, and our pool capacity, we can only safely accommodate a maximum of 2 membership families at the same time during recreational / family swim. Therefore a lane line will be put down the middle of the pool and each family uses one side, making it a sort of "semi-private" pool experience.

Lap Swim: Due to popular demand, we will also offer lap swim again, just like 2020. We will have four lanes for 30 to 45 minutes (please see the schedule) during lap swim. We strongly recommend that these times are used for quiet lap swimming with members of the same family sharing a single lane.

Swim Team: Gator Swim Team will also begin in early April. Please contact swimteam@westgatecabana.com for details. Swim team will begin the season during the evenings M-F, but when summer arrives, times may adjust.

In order to allow the most families to access the pool, we have established a reservation system for 45 minutes time slots for recreation swim and 30 to 45 minute time slots for lap swim. The 45 minute recreation swim time is reduced from 1 hour in 2020. This time slot allows more families to reserve swim times during the spring when we do not have seven full days of swimming. When summer arrives, we will reassess our swim times and spots as we expand our schedules to start earlier in the day M-F. In the spring, times will start at 2:30pm M-F.

Reservation Limits: Each membership will be allowed to occupy one recreational swim spot at a time. After a swim time is completed, a member can then sign up for a new spot to hold one spot looking forward, and so on. The booking system signups will be explained further when we are ready to open signups to the membership. Since there are very limited spots, we hope members can honor our request to not sign up for more than one spot at a time.

Lap Swim reservations will operate similarly, with times available a few nights per week and in the morning and late on the weekends. A reservation sign up will be available mid-to-late March.

We ask that members abide by the maximum of 1 time slots for lap swim and 1 for recreation swim time per membership or we reserve the right to remove ALL your reservations. We understand that this might be new for some members, so please feel free to ask us questions if the system is not clear.

Pardon our Dust. We were in the midst of renovating the patio cover over the party area in March 2020 when the original shelter in place was ordered. Due to the pandemic, this work was halted and has not yet been completed. Because this work is isolated to the party area, which is closed at this time, the work to complete this project could eventually take place during open swim hours. We will do our best to notify members if we are able to get this work started up for completion of our new party area.

Now for more nitty gritty "details"...

No Lifeguard on Duty: There will be no lifeguard on duty, so you are responsible for watching your children in the water.

Social Distancing Supervisor: There will be staff member on site at all times to ensure protocols are followed. This person is trained in First Aid and water rescue and can administer first aid or assist in the case of an emergency. However, this person will not be watching swimmers.

Touchless Check-in: When you arrive at your reserved time at the pool, you can simply show your Digital ID to the staff member on duty from a safe distance of 6 feet. Please be sure to download the Digital ID App and set up Digital ID on your phone prior to arriving at the pool. See instructions here. If you used Digital ID last year, we can simply reactivate your account.

No Gatewatch Duty: Gatewatch requirements will be waived for this season. There will be no deposit and no refund in 2021.

Restrooms: Per Santa Clara County Public Health guidelines, bathrooms can be open for restroom use only; showers and changing areas are closed. Please plan accordingly for changing and showering at home. Please wear your mask when using the restrooms.

Other Amenities/Services Closed: To avoid shared items and high touch surfaces, the following remain closed until further notice:

· No BBQ Area

· No Drinking Fountain

· No Popsicles

· No Ping Pong Table 

· No Foosball Table

· No Play Structure and Toys

· No Pool Parties

No Guests/Visitors allowed during this time. We will continue to monitor the health order and we will notify members should we begin to allow guests.

No gatherings are allowed. Socializing and picnicking with your own household is allowed.

Social distancing required at all times except with members of your own household.

Face coverings: Face coverings are not required in the water, but are required outside the pool when social distancing cannot be maintained (i.e. inside restrooms). Children under the age of 6 are not required to wear a mask. Safety Note: Do Not wear face coverings in the pool as they can be a suffocation hazard when wet.

Stay Home if you have Symptoms: Please do not enter the facility if you have a fever or symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, loss of smell, or feel unwell.

Cleaning and Sanitizing: We are putting a number of cleaning and sanitizing protocols in place to make you safe. High touch surfaces such as the gate, doorknobs, faucets, seating areas, etc. will be sanitized frequently and after each use. Hand sanitizer dispensers will be installed throughout the facility. Touchless hand soap dispensers and faucets will be installed in the restrooms.

Four seating areas with umbrellas have been set up around the deck to allow ample space between families and to allow time for the staff member on duty to clean and sanitize in between members. New seating furniture was donated to the club in 2020, we hope you will enjoy this new upgrade.

Water safety: As per standard pool maintenance guidelines, pool water will be checked hourly for ph and chlorine levels.

Finally, thank you for taking the time to read through all these details and more importantly thank you for your patience and support as we navigate this season together. In the past year, we have learned how to operate safely and we have also learned that the health orders are fluid. We anticipate things will continue to evolve and hope restrictions will be eased further in the coming weeks or months to allow for more pool usage. We welcome your feedback and questions at info@westgatecabana.org.

Happy Swimming,

Board of Directors