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In the latest move as part of a deteriorating relationship between the Menlo Park City Council and the city’s pool operator, the city of Menlo Park sent the pool operator a notice of default after the pool operator said it would be modifying Burgess pool’s hours without 14 days notice and did not increase the operating hours of the Belle Haven pool, The Almanac learned on Wednesday.
Menlo Swim and Sport, owned by Team Sheeper, informed Menlo Park on Friday, May 16, 2025, of its plans to decrease Burgess pool hours starting May 21. The city’s contract with Team Sheeper requires 14 days notice and could potentially require the city manager’s approval. The City Council was informed of the change on May 19, according to Mayor Drew Combs.
Team Sheeper CEO Tim Sheeper admitted to violating the contract in an email to this news organization and said Menlo Park sent him a notice of default in response. According to the contract, if Team Sheeper does not correct the default within 30 days, the city can terminate its agreement.
A previous staff report indicated that it could cost the city between $3 million to $4.7 million annually to run the pools itself.
“The City Council’s relationship with the pool operator has been challenging, especially recently,” Combs said in an interview.
The change closes the pool at 7 p.m. on weekdays, an hour earlier than previously, and opens the pool at 7 a.m. on Sundays, an hour later. In addition, the entire pool facility will be closed from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays until June 5, when the summer season begins.
“On May 21, the city issued a notice of default to the aquatics program operator, Menlo Swim and Sport, due to a reduction of hours at Burgess pool that lacked the required two weeks notice and a reduction of operating hours at Belle Haven pool below the required minimum operating hours, as specified in the city’s agreement with Menlo Swim and Sport,” Public Engagement Manager Kendra Calvert said in a statement.
“This action does not terminate the agreement with Menlo Swim and Sport,” she added.
In February, Sheeper was allowed to open the Belle Haven pool for less than 63 hours a week, the contract minimum, until April 14. Sheeper requested the City Council allow that to continue permanently during the off-season. Even though the City Council denied his request, Sheeper has yet to increase the hours of the Belle Haven pool to meet the contract minimum.
Sheeper did not say if the changes to the Burgess pool would continue next winter.
“We are carefully and thoughtfully implementing the few operational mechanisms we still have to endure our current financial challenges in order to continue serving the entire Menlo Park aquatic community,” Sheeper said in a statement.
Combs said the City Council is not scheduled to discuss the pool operator at its next meeting. He said if there are any further decreases in hours, he will ask for the City Council to discuss it.
“It would have been nice to be informed,” Combs said. “It is clear that was an option they were considering. I have had direct conversations [with Sheeper] but it did not come up in my conversations.”
As previously reported by The Almanac, Sheeper has made several requests to the City Council to modify its agreement. Sheeper claims Menlo Swim and Sport is in rough financial waters.
Sheeper previously warned the city it faces “imminent insolvency” without fee increases and changes to pool hours. The City Council did not implement most of his requests during its April 15 council meeting. The City Council agreed to raise the fees for non-residents but Councilmembers Cecilia Taylor and Betsy Nash vetoed any additional changes and since councilmember Jennifer Wise was absent, the City Council moved further discussion to when Wise returned.
On May 13, Wise told the rest of the City Council and Sheeper she did not want to modify the agreement further. Sheeper had asked for the revenue share portion of the agreement to extend a few additional months and the minimum hours to be reduced, in addition to further fee hikes.
During its April 15 meeting, Nash expressed disappointment that Menlo Swim and Sport had not been proactive in response to senior’s concerns about the timing of the Aquafit swim class. A staff report on May 13 indicated that the concern has been addressed.
On Menlo Swim and Sport’s web page about the change, it asks community members to advocate to city leaders about the aquatics program.
This article was updated with the statement from Calvert, in addition to information on Belle Haven pool.
I continue to be puzzled about the difficulty our city council continues to have with Team Sheeper. This organization operates the Rinconada pool for the city of Palo Alto with great success and appreciation from all. Based on reporting here, I’m starting to wonder if two of the council members have deep personal antagonism towards Team Sheeper…