Suggestions to better market the city pool so it might generate more use and revenue for the city will be considered by the Washington City Council during its meeting Monday.

The city’s pool committee and Recreation Advisory Committee developed several recommendations regarding the Hildred T. Moore Aquatic & Fitness Center. In recent weeks, the city has been discussing the future of the pool, which does not make money for the city. It costs the city about $360,000 a year to operate the pool.

The committee’s marketing recommendations include the following:

• hold a membership drive each January and June, waiving the $25 application fee;

• waive the $25 application fee for any corporation (organization) that donates at least $1,000 to the save-the-pool campaign and obtains a corporate membership for use of the center;

• provide six pool-party rentals at no cost for raffles, silent auctions or similar events each fiscal year;

• sell decorative tiles to raise money for the save-the-pool campaign at $100 per tile or $150 for two tiles.

On May 9, the council endorsed the committee’s save-the-pool campaign. The vote was 3-2. Councilman Doug Mercer and Mayor Mac Hodges believe the money the city spends on the pool each year could be spent better elsewhere, such as possibly moving the Grace Harwell Martin Senior Center into the building now occupied by the pool and fitness center. Pool supporters contend the pool is valuable because people learn to swim there, it is where area swim teams train and it helps keep area residents healthy.

Council members and pool supporters agree that increasing pool memberships would help increase revenues to help keep the pool operating, noting that other strategies to increase pool-related revenues are needed.

Under the save-the-pool campaign, the committee is tasked with raising $150,000 to help pay for replacing the pool’s dehumidifier, with the city providing a matching amount. Replacing the unit will cost about $300,000, not including the cost of installing the new unit in a different location that makes it easier to maintain and repair.

Mercer and Councilwoman Virginia Finnerty express concerns that if the committee does not raise all or part of its $150,000, it would leave the city “holding the bag” on covering the replacement cost.