I made a public records request back in January about some land that the city of Bandon had purchased and wanted to post it.  Many of us suspect the city was looking at this property as a possible place to put the pool.  The city has backed off the idea, but that does not mean they are not working on this project behind the scenes.   ​The following is the response the Bandon city manager sent back....Rob T.

Robert Mawson <citymanager@ci.bandon.or.us>
Tue 1/22/2019 3:46 PM

• You;
• Denise Russell

Hello Rob

The City of Bandon purchased the former Face Rock Golf Course property for $250,000 on a five-year privately carried note from the seller. General fund money was used to make the purchase costs and initial payment. We will be looking for grant opportunities to assist with the completion of the purchase.
This property is just over 37 acres in size and is almost completely zoned Natural Resource (NR). There is one small portion that is zoned CD-1. The City will go through the process to determine exactly what will happen with the property in the coming years, beginning with discussions at the Parks and Recreation Commission level. The general intent is to make it a part of the City park system and utilize it for walking, hiking, exercise, education and similar activities. The initial concept and final design of the park will be determined during the public processes, as mentioned above. If things work out on the calendar we may introduce the discussion during the February Parks & Rec meeting. The property is identified in the Parks Master Plan.
The 2018 property tax assessment was $2,058.64.   
Robert J Mawson
​City Manager
City of Bandon

City of Bandon ~ Ballot Measure 6-172 Pool Funding ~ Voting YES Means No Pool ​

City of Bandon ~ Ballot Measure 6-172 Pool Funding ~ Voting YES Means No Pool ​

Bandon Pool Ballot Measure 6-172
File Size:	573 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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Results of the last election with the pool question:  

​VICTORY for the Taxpayer ~ Measure FAILED ​Bandon Community Swimming Pool Recreation District Formation Measure (November 6, 2012)A Bandon Community Swimming Pool Recreation District Formation measure was on the November 6, 2012 election ballot in Coos County, which is in Oregon, where it was defeated. If approved, this measure would have formed the Bandon Community Swimming Pool Recreation District with a tax rate of $0.489 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. This District would be formed in order to construct, operate and maintain a public swimming pool in the Bandon city limits.[1]

Here is the background starting in September of 2016, which is four years after the voters rejected the pool on the ballot in the General Election in November of 2012.
At the end of the post is a reply from the City Mayor & City Manager 

Minutes from the Regular City Council Meeting 09/12/2016

REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 11, 2016, 7:00 P.M.
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 555 HIGHWAY 101, BANDON
AGENDA
5. PROCEEDINGS
 5.1 ACTION & DISCUSSION

Video link to Bandon City Council meeting on October 11, 2016:
https://coosmediacenter.viebit.com/player.php?hash=rEWxvxX8fRfp

Link to more info on Planning Meeting: 
Bandon Planning Department Informally Platting a Pool that the Voters Rejected

Video link to the Bandon Planning Commission meeting on January 25, 2018: https://coosmediacenter.viebit.com/player.php?hash=o2WIWpQOqcKV

Can you tell me if the city ever passed or enacted an amendment to the city charter concerning the swimming pool?  Also, was the UR plan changed to reflect the city's wishes?  Sincerely, Rob Taylor

From: Robert Mawson
Sent: Monday, February 05, 2018 2:04 PM
To: Rob Taylor
Subject: RE: Need Clarification on Pool Amendment

 Hi Rob
The City has not moved to create a charter amendment addressing the swimming pool.  I am working now to address the Council’s direction, which was not limited to a charter amendment.  The swimming pool is still a part of the UR#2 Activities Plan. It was originally added, along with several other projects, as part of Amendment #2 back in 1991.    

 Robert J Mawson
City Manager

I put the swimming pool item on the agenda, so the council could give Robert direction. The motion, which passed 5-1 (Braun), said that the swimming pool would not be allowed to be put in city park, and that the city will not be entering into any kind of a public/private partnership with the swimming pool committee. In guiding the motion, I also suggested that we continue to work with the swimming pool committee in any way we can, and also suggested that before a swimming pool could possibly pay for itself, the people of the area would have to approve a taxing district. Or at the very least, submit the charter amendment ( which Robert opposes) to prohibit city money from going to the pool. That would still allow us to support their efforts, but not financially. And it would not indebt property tax payers. 
I would love to have a pool, and have pledged $5,000 of my own money, as has Madeline, but we cannot support something that the voters have already turned down ... and has such a high probability of failing.  Our first obligation MUST be to the taxpayers of Bandon. Period. Swimming pools across the country are closing, unless there is a taxing district to support the operation and maintenance.

Mayor Mary Schamehorn

2016-09-12 Bandon City Agenda File Size: 35 kb File Type: pdf Download File

2016-10-11 Bandon Council Packet File Size: 3028 kb File Type: pdf Download File

Here are the results from the election where the voters rejected the public pool: 

Here is the background for the Agenda Item: 

Bandon Aquatic Center - Potential Location in City Park
January 25, 2018
Background
The Bandon Community Swimming Pool committee has been working for several years to raisefunds for the construction and operation of an aquatic center. City staff (City Manager and Planning Department) have been looking at options for the location of the aquatic center in City Park.

This is not a formal proposal by the Pool Committee, but rather an effort by Staff to assist in finding a location with appropriate access and infrastructure to successfully support a future aquatic center.

An option has been created to potentially locate the pool near the library, allowing opportunities for access from several points, as well as the possibility of sharing parking with the Barn/Sprague Theater/Library complex. Further, the new pool structure could also serve as a windbreak for the amphitheater stage area.

We are in the very early stages of this discussion, and, in an effort to be very clear and transparent, the staff is sharing these ideas in an informal fashion with both the City Parks and Recreation Commission and Planning Commission for comments prior to more formal discussions with the Pool Committee and the City Council.

The Parks and Recreation Commission viewed the sketches at their January 11 meeting, and found merit in the proposal, but reserved judgement regarding the entire project to a future time when a more fully prepared project would be considered. While the Commission generally found that there are positive attributes associated with a new building near other larger buildings in the City Park complex, concerns were also raised regarding the future financial responsibilities associated with having a pool in the City Park, conflicts between uses, and with the potential loss of passive/active outdoor park space.

These sketches are provided to the Planning Commission for initial discussion and informal comments. There are no binding decisions associated with this item, and the Staff is merely looking to see whether there is enough merit to continue working on design options for the location of an aquatic center in City Park.

Thank you.
John Mclaughlin
Planning Director
City of Bandon

6.2_bandon_community_pool_location.pdf File Size: 1450 kb File Type: pdf Download File

“Pounder” trout stocked in Coos Bay area lakes

Good Morning Rob,
 Attached are the results I received from the County Election Offices regarding Petition I2014002 to amend charter regarding residency requirement of elected officials.  The requirement is for 268 valid signatures, which is 15 percent of the registered voters.  I have included the County’s Petition Processing Statistics Report that shows the breakdown of accepted/rejected for the signatures collected. 
 Unfortunately, the ballot measure will not be included on the next ballot as not enough valid signatures (224) were collected to meet the minimum requirement for inclusion on the ballot.
 Sincerely,
Denise Russell
City Recorder
City of Bandon

New Bandon Initiative is About More Choice