Nadadore’s Boosters Plead for City Backing

About 200 Natadores swimmers and parents jammed City Hall on Monday to ask the City Council to financially support the world famous swim team.

Faced with shrinking revenues and a dwindling budget surplus that has dropped from $20 million to about $14 million, council members said the Nadadores may be a luxury the city can’t afford.

But Natadores supporters argued that the city has a responsibility to its residents to ensure that the swim team stays in Mission Viejo.

“You talk about fiscal responsibility; you also have a moral responsibility to provide the ‘waters of dreams’,” said Dr. Sam Lee, former U.S. Olympic diving coach. “Do you have the guts to deny these children here a chance to become Olympic champions?”

At issue is whether the city will continue to subsidize the team by paying for the maintenance of their swimming/diving complex.

The Mission Viejo Co. confirmed in September, 1991, that it would be eliminating support for the swim team as part of their plan to move operations out of Mission Viejo.

Last December, the development firm subsequently traded four recreation centers, including the Nadadores facility, to the city in exchange for a city-owned office building.

The city staff estimated last year that the maintenance cost for the swim team’s facilities could top $300,000 annually.

But, parents and supporters pointed out the 13 Olympic gold medals brought home by former Nadadores including Greg Louganis, Shirley Babashoff and Brian Goodell.

“As a member of the Natadores, I’ve been privileged to represent Mission Viejo all over the world,” said Goodell, who won two gold medals in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. “There are cities and even countries that would die to have a team like the Natadores.

“Should we shut the door on this team? Goodell asked. “That’s a no-brainer in my estimation.”

Another problem is the loss of the Mission Viejo Co.’s sponsorship. When that company pulled out, the club’s fund-raising foundation was handed the task of raising about $750,000 annually to maintain a championship-caliber swim program.

With the state in an economic slump, the club’s fund-raising foundation has so far failed to find another major sponsor.

However, by hosting national swim meets and fund-raisers and charging dues to swimmers, parents say, they have managed to come up with about $450,000 to pay for expenses like coaches salaries and transportation to out-of-state competitions.

In addition, Nadadores parents say they will pay $17,000 toward upkeep of the swim complex. It’s an amount they say is comparable to what any city in Southern California charges a swim club renting public facilities.

The Nadadores facilities could also be opened to the public for swim lessons, say club parents.

“We will have the facility available at all times,” said Natadore spokesman Bill Kuser. “The Natadores would be very happy to have their fellow citizens swim beside them ... please, please keep the aquatics park open for all Mission Viejo residents.”

The public hearing and council discussion continued into the night.

But council members suggested that the city could easily do without the Nadadores’ complex. The other recreation centers in Mission Viejo have pools where swim programs are conducted, they said.