COMMENT ⊗   VALID 00005 PAGES
C REC  PAGE   DESCRIPTION
C00001 00001
C00002 00002							March 27, 1979
C00006 00003	First draft of a proposed set of regulations.		May 24, 0979
C00013 00004							The Sequoias
C00031 00005	1	2	3	4	5	6
C00032 ENDMK
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						March 27, 1979

Mr. Elmer Hutchisson

Dear Elmer:

In looking into the problems of solar heating for a possible pool, I have
been lead to consider the possibility of The Sequoias doing something
about solar heating for hot water and for space heating.  An artical on
solar heating in the latest Science brings this to a head.

I believe that a good case might be made for us to install a solar heating
system if we could somehow qualify for a government grant for this
purpose.  The National Energy Conservation Policy of 1978 provides for a
tax credit against the cost of solar heating systems.  As a tax exempt
organization the NCPH would not benefit from a tax credit but a properly
worded appeal to the appropiate government agency might get us a federal
grant that would be a larger percentage of the total cost than the amount
normally allowed to others as a tax credit.

The Science article seems to say that we could not justify a solar system
without some assistance, but I rather believe that the article did not
attach enough weight to the rising cost of fuel and it certainly did
not consider the rather special conditions that obtain here at The Sequoias.

As to the practical considerations, it seems to me that we could have
solar colectors on the roofs of all of our buildings. The heat exchange
units in each building would provide a limited amount of heat storage but
we would need to supplement this with additional storage.  This could be a
storage tank at each building, but a more efficient system might be one in
which this storage was in the form of a centrally located tank. During
periods when excess solar energy is available the present piping system
would supply heat to this central storage system.  During periods of
insufficent solar heat, the heat stored in this central tank would be
available so that the demand for gas heating would be reduced.
First draft of a proposed set of regulations.		May 24, 0979

		  The Sequoias Pool and Jacuzzi Club (the PJC)

       General Rules concerning the Pool Maintenance and Club Membership

1. The pool will belong to the NCPH Inc. and the NCPH will be responsible for
enforcement of all necessary safety regulations.  The normal maintenance and the
day by day management of the pool will, however, be the responsibility of The
Pool and Jacuzzi Club (PJC)and the use of the facilities will be restricted to
members of the Club and their (adult) guests.

2. To become a member of the PJC, the resident must submit a formal request for
membership and the applicant must be approved by The Sequoias Physician or by
the Head Nurse as being an individual who is both physically and mentally
capable of making use of the facilities without requiring individual
supervision.

3. Under suitable restrictions, a resident who does not meets these conditions
may become a member if satisfactory personal arrangements have been made to
provide the resident with a qualified attendant who must accompany the resident
when that the resident is using the facilities.

4. As a protection for the NCPH, members of the PJC will be required to sign a
waiver recognizing the normal hazards associated with the use of the pool and
absolving the NCPH Inc. of any extra liability caused by the their use of the
facilities.

5. The pool and the associated jacuzzi will be maintained through assessments
levied against the members of the PJC and the facilities are available for the
individual use of these members only. The monthly assessment will be set so as
to cover all of the anticipated costs of maintaining the facilities and to
accumulate a contingency fund for future repairs.

6. It is intended that the facility be entirely self supporting so that no costs
need be borne by non-users.  In the unlikely event that the future membership
would fall so low as to make the individual assessment unacceptably high, then
the pool would be filled in and abandoned.

7. PJC members will be issued keys to be used to gain access to the facilities
and to operate the automatic pool cover.  The pool cover will be used during the
night and during other periods when no one is using the pool both to conserve
heat and to deny access to unauthorized users.

8. The primary source of heat for the pool will be through solar heating,
although an auxillary gas heater will be provided.  It is anticipated that the
pool and jacuzzi will be maintained at a reasonable temperature for most members
for at least 8 months each year. The auxillary gas heater will be used only
rarely, perhaps early in the spring after the pool has just been refilled and
therafter only occassionally during prolonged cool periods.

9. The temperature will be allowed to drop during the remaining 4 months of the
year on those days when the solar heating proves to be inadequate.  Should
members wish to have the pool and jacuzzi heated by gas during these 4 months
then it may be possible to arrange for a special assessment against such users
to cover the additional cost.

Rules governing the use of the pool and jacuzzi

1. The normal hours will be from 7 A.M. until 6 P.M. or until sunset (which ever
comes first), with a quiet period between 1 P.M. and 3 P.M. when extra care must
be taken not to make any unnecessary noise.

2. No one is to use the facilities if there is not at least one additional adult
person present.

3. Loud or boisterous activities will not be permitted in the pool area. The
pool is intended for therapeutic exercise and for the quiet enjoyment of the
Club members and their adult guests.  The Sequoias is a quiet residential
community and the interests of non-users of the pool facilities must be
respected at all times.

4. Bathers will be expected to wear shoes or sandals and some sort of robe or
coverup and to use the shortest or least conspicuous route in going to and from
the pool.  Bathers are to provide their own towels and to dry themselves before
leaving the pool area so as not to drip water on the walkways.  Under no
circumstances should towels or personal belongings be left in the pool area.
						The Sequoias
						May 25, 1979

	      A progress report from the Pool and Jacuzzi Committe

The earlier pool questionnaire revealed that there were a substantial number of
residents who would like a pool and jacuzzi at The Sequoias but many were
opposed.  Because of this difference of opinion, the Pool Committee was asked to
continue with its study and to report its findings.  This is a progress report
and no firm decisions have yet been reached.

Most objections have to do with either, 1) the problem of locating the pool so
that its presence will not intrude on the privacy of non-users, or 2) the
problem of financing the construction and maintenance so that none of the costs
will fall on non-users.  These problems will be discussed below.

LOCATION

After considering many different locations, the Committee now favors the area
near the southeastern end of the Colonnade.  The pool builders who have viewed
the possible sites have all been of the opinion that this is an ideal site, both
practically and from an aesthetic point of view.

Some of the nearby residents are rather fearful that a pool in this area will
affect their privacy.  The scale drawing on page 3 shows how a pool and jacuzzi
might fit into this area.  The original drawing (to a larger scale) will be
posted on a bulletin board.

The arguments in favor of this site are:

1. The site is ready accessable for construction and maintenance operations
through carport F.

2. The roof of car port F is an excellent location for the solar panels that
would be used to heat the pool.

3. Water, drain and electrical power are all conveniently available.  The only
problem might be that of gas and we are considering the use of tank gas for
supplementary heating.  One service line (to Mr. Ullman's shop) would have to
be relocated and we have in hand a reasonable quote for this work.

4. The site is not visible from outside our own property.

5. There are no steep grades involved in walking to and from the site for
most of our residents.

6. The area is sunny and is of the right size and shape to accomodate a pool
and jacuzzi in an attractive way.  There is enough room to permit the use of
shrubbery to soften the view and to provide shielding.

7. Primary living areas in surrounding apartments all face away from this area
toward their own gardens so that residents of these apartments should not be
bothered by the day-time and adults-only use of the pool.

8. Many users will find it convenient to reach the site via the walkways through
the interior courts, thus limiting the traffic along the Colonnade.

COSTS

We have one bid of $29,997 for the project as shown on the accompanying sketch
including solar heating. This cost figure does not include a key-operated
blanket which we favor instead of a fence to prevent unauthorized use of the
pool.  We have a couple of widely differing figures as to what this would cost,
and we are still looking into the matter.  Also not included are the toilets,
although space has been allowed so that they could be added if this seems
desirable.  For the moment, we are assuming that we should only consider an
open-air pool.

Another builder has quoted $16,242 for the pool and jacussi without decking and
solar heating. In the light of these bids, we are currently estimating the total
cost to be around $40,000.

We are reasonably sure that this sum can be raised by contributions from
residents who either will be users or who are public spirited enough to
contribute for the well-being and enjoyment of others.  These contributors will
want to have some assurance that there will be enough users to justify this use
of their resources, and we will certainly plan to obtain formal committments
from intended users before accepting contributions.  The committee would, of
course, be considerably heartened if potential donors would make their
intentions known on an informal basis.  Gifts for the pool would be made to the
Northern Californian Presbyterian Homes Inc. and would be tax deductable.

As to maintenance costs, 60 residents expressed a willingness to pay $10 or more
per month.  Twenty two people on our waiting list have done the same (solely as
a result of learning about the pool questionnaire in The Sequoian).  This number
is more than enough and it will, indeed, allow for the accumulation of a
contingency fund to cover future repairs and the costs of abandoning the pool if
usage fell to such an extent that it could no longer be maintained.

OTHER CONCERNS

Some of the more frequently asked questions are:

1. What about the financial liability in case of an accident at the pool?

The member of the NCPA board of trustees who handles such matters believes that
the added cost of liability insurance because of a pool on the property would be
quite negligible. The NCPH already must carry comprehensive liability because of
its health care commitments and because of the Sequoian Coach.

2. Would we have to have a life guard on duty at all times?

No.  Other retirement communities have had years of experience with pools. Those
responding to our questionnaire of last fall did not have guards and have not
had any problems.  Most require the presence of two adults at any time the
pool is in use.

3. Would our maintenance staff be used to clean and maintain the pool?

No. We would hire a commercial pool maintenance concern, of which there are
several in this area.  Their fees vary from $40 to $85 per month.

4. Will this be a therapeutic pool or a swimming pool?

A swimming pool.  The therapeutic value of swimming is generally accepted.  A
purely therapeutic pool, such as the C.A.R.  pool on Middlefield Road in Palo
Alto, is a very costly affair, requiring a building, special equipment and
trained personnel and it cannot be used for general swimming.  It is felt that
such a pool is beyond our means.  An outdoor pool can be used for limited
therapeutic exercise and would be valuable to many residents.

5. Isn't this a large undertaking for a relatively few people?

Yes.  One must remember, however, that only a fraction of the residents partake
of any one activity, be it bingo, square dancing, bowling, the various shop and
work room activities, or even our weekly church services in Hanson Hall.  It is
the sum of all of these activities that makes The Sequoias a desirable place to
live.

Many retirement communities feel justified in having a pool if as many as 10% of
their residents use it. The interest here at The Sequoias is somewhat greater
than this.  As long as the cost of an installation is borne by those who use it,
there seems to be very little justification for not having a pool just because a
majority of the residents are not personally interested.


PROPOSED OPERATING PROCEDURES

The Committee has also been giving some thought to the problem of managing a
pool that would only be available to dues paying members.  Our ideas along
these lines are summarized in the following tentative set of rules.

1. The pool will belong to the NCPH Inc. and the NCPH will be responsible for
enforcement of all necessary safety regulations.  The normal maintenance and the
day by day management of the pool will, however, be the responsibility of The
Pool and Jacuzzi Club (PJC)and the use of the pool and jacuzzi will be
restricted to members of the Club and their (adult) guests.

2. To become a member of the PJC, the resident must submit a formal request for
membership and the applicant must be approved by The Sequoias Physician or by
the Head Nurse as being an individual who is both physically and mentally
capable of making use of the pool without requiring individual supervision.

3. Under suitable restrictions, a resident who does not meet these conditions
may become a member if satisfactory personal arrangements have been made to
provide the resident with a qualified attendant who must accompany the resident
when the resident is using the pool or the jacuzzi.

4. As a protection for the NCPH, members of the PJC will be required to sign a
waiver recognizing the normal hazards associated with the use of the pool and
absolving the NCPH Inc. of any extra liability caused by the their use of the
pool.

5. The pool and the associated jacuzzi will be maintained through assessments
levied against the members of the PJC.  The monthly assessment will be set so as
to cover all of the anticipated costs of maintaining the pool and to accumulate
a contingency fund for future repairs.

6. It is intended that the PJC be entirely self supporting so that no costs
will be borne by non-users.  In the unlikely event that the future membership
would fall so low as to make the individual assessment unacceptably high, then
the pool would be filled in and abandoned.

7. PJC members will be issued keys to operate the automatic pool cover which
will be used during the night and during other periods when no one is using the
pool both to conserve heat and to deny access to unauthorized users.

8. The primary source of heat for the pool will be through solar heating,
although an auxillary gas heater will be provided.  It is anticipated that the
pool and jacuzzi will be maintained at a reasonable temperature for most members
for at least 8 months each year. The auxillary gas heater will be used only
rarely, perhaps early in the spring after the pool has just been refilled and
therafter only occasionally during prolonged cool periods.

9. The temperature will be allowed to drop during the remaining 4 months of the
year on those days when the solar heating proves to be inadequate.  Should
members wish to have the pool and jacuzzi heated by gas during these 4 months,
it may be possible to arrange for a special assessment against such users to
cover the additional cost.

Rules governing the use of the pool and jacuzzi

1. The normal hours will be from 7 A.M. until sunset, with a quiet period
between 1 P.M. and 3 P.M. when extra care must be taken to avoid noise.

2. No one is to use the pool or the jacuzzi unless at least one additional adult
is present.

3. Loud or boisterous activities will not be permitted in the pool area. The
pool is intended for therapeutic exercise and for the quiet enjoyment of the
Club members and their adult guests.  The Sequoias is a quiet residential
community and the interests of non-users of the pool facilities must be
respected at all times.

4. Bathers will be expected to wear shoes or sandals and some sort of robe or
coverup and to use the shortest or least conspicuous route in going to and from
the pool.  Bathers are to bring their own towels and to dry themselves before
leaving the pool area so as not to drip water on the walkways.  Under no
circumstances should towels or personal belongings be left in the area.
1	2	3	4	5	6



							The Pool Committee
							Paula Burr
							Betty Hone
							Jack Mansfield
							Arthur Samuel, Chairman


Demonstration of a typical Pool Cover.