CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
8/22/2022
1 SUBJECT:
Resolution of Support for the Reopening of Mack E. Mickelson Therapy Pool RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt the attached resolution supporting the reopening of the Mack E. Mickelson Arthritis and Rehabilitation Center Therapy Pool located at the Mills Health Center in San Mateo, California.
STAFF CONTACT:
Christian Murdock, AICP, Acting Planning Director
(650) 738-7341
[email protected]
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
The Mack E. Mickelson Arthritis and Rehabilitation Center Therapy Pool (“Mickelson”) is an ADA-accessible warm water therapy pool constructed in the City of San Mateo over 25 years ago using charitable contributions from the residents of San Mateo County. For over 25 years, the pool had been open to community residents of all ages. Its healing, warm water provided a vital resource for chronic pain management and rehabilitation for seniors, disabled individuals, patients recovering from surgeries, children with special needs, and pregnant women. Patrons drove from across the Bay Area, including Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, to use the facility for physical rehabilitation. In June 2021, Sutter Health, its current owner, permanently closed the pool after its original closure in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mickelson is the only facility of its kind in San Mateo County and there are no comparable warm water therapy pools on the Peninsula able to adequately accommodate the residents who previously relied upon the pool to treat and prevent significant health issues. In the interim, those community members who did rely upon it are suffering from acute and chronic physical pain and mental anguish without it, impacting their ability to live with dignity. Closing Mickelson has removed a valuable healthcare resource of San Mateo County residents. There is currently no plan to construct an adequate and accessible replacement warm water therapy pool in San Mateo County, and any plan to do so would require significant financing as well as several years of design, planning, permitting, and construction.
Many recognize the importance of the pool and there is growing support within the San Mateo County community for its reopening. Over 4,800 patients, caregivers, and community members have signed a petition to reopen Mickelson to increase the health, independence, and dignity of residents who rely upon it. State and local representatives including Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Kevin Mullin and Senator Josh Becker have expressed their support of the initiative with letters to Sutter Health asking for their commitment to find a solution. The cities of Millbrae, Burlingame, San Mateo, Foster City, and Half Moon Bay, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, the San Mateo Labor Council, and the Sequoia Healthcare District have all passed Pacifica City Council 2
August 22, 2022
resolutions calling for the pool's reopening. The Peninsula Health Care District has offered to finance the necessary upgrades and operating costs of the facility.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
The Council could choose to not adopt the resolution of support.
RELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND WORK PLAN:
Support for the reopening of the Mack E. Mickelson Arthritis and Rehabilitation Center Therapy Pool is consistent with the Council goal of “A Healthy and Compassionate Community.” FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact related to this recommendation.
ORIGINATED BY:
Planning Department
ATTACHMENT LIST:
Pacifica City Council 3
August 22, 2022
RESOLUTION NO. _____________
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PACIFICA IN SUPPORT OF REOPENING THE MACK E. MICKELSON ARTHRITIS AND REHABILITATION CENTER
THERAPY POOL LOCATED AT THE MILLS HEALTH CENTER IN SAN MATEO,
CALIFORNIA
___________________________________________________________________ WHEREAS, the Mack E. Mickelson Arthritis and Rehabilitation Center Therapy Pool ("Mickelson") is an ADA-accessible warm water therapy pool located in San Mateo, California at Mills Health Center, which is operated by Sutter Health; and WHEREAS, Mickelson was constructed over 25 years ago using charitable contributions from residents of San Mateo County; and
WHEREAS, for over 25 years, thousands of San Mateo County residents who suffer from health issues, including permanent disabilities, debilitating injuries, autoimmune disorders, and mobility impairments have used Mickelson to rehabilitate and mitigate physical decline; and WHEREAS, both intervention and prevention are equally critical components of an equitable and effective healthcare system; and
WHEREAS, Mickelson's ability to provide both preventative and interventionist therapies to residents of San Mateo County suffering from health issues makes it an asset to the community at large and even more so to elderly residents and residents with mobility impairments; and
WHEREAS, notwithstanding the COVID-19 pandemic, Sutter Health, its subsidiaries, and its employees receive significant financial benefits for providing healthcare services in San Mateo County from both public and private contracts; and WHEREAS, in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sutter Health ceased operating Mickelson; and
WHEREAS, in June 2021, Sutter Health publicly announced its intent to permanently close Mickelson; and
WHEREAS, as a direct result of Sutter Health's decision to close Mickelson, residents of San Mateo County who previously relied upon Mickelson to treat and prevent significant health issues are now suffering from acute and chronic physical pain and mental anguish, which in turn decreases the independence of those residents and impacts their ability to live with dignity; and
WHEREAS, over 4,800 patients, caregivers, and community members have signed a petition to reopen Mickelson to increase the health, independence, and dignity of those residents who rely upon it; and
WHEREAS, there are no comparable warm water therapy pools able to adequately accommodate the residents of San Mateo County who previously relied upon Mickelson; and WHEREAS, there is currently no plan to construct an adequate and accessible Pacifica City Council 4
August 22, 2022
replacement warm water therapy pool in San Mateo County, and any plan to do so would require significant financing as well as several years of design, planning, permitting, and construction; and
WHEREAS, estimates provided by Sutter Health suggest that reopening Mickelson with any required repairs or upgrades would cost approximately $250,000.00; and WHEREAS, warm water therapy pools in the region can and do operate profitably and safely under relevant COVID-19 regulations.
BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Pacifica, California that considering the foregoing, the prompt reopening the Mack E. Mickelson Arthritis and Rehabilitation Center Therapy Pool for community use is the most prudent option to preserve and improve the health of residents in San Mateo County who now rely upon, or who will rely upon, warm water therapy to maintain their health, independence, and dignity. The City Council urges Sutter Health to take advantage of the Peninsula Health Care District’s generous offer to fully fund any necessary repairs, remodeling, and operational costs of the Mickelson therapy pool until a new facility becomes available in the area. * * * * *
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Pacifica, California, held on the 22nd day of August 2022, by the following vote:
AYES, Councilmembers:
NOES, Councilmembers:
ABSENT, Councilmembers:
ABSTAIN, Councilmembers:
Mary Bier, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________ ______________________________ Sarah Coffey, City Clerk Michelle Kenyon, City Attorney