News
Aquaplex gets family-friendly, married or not
Domestic partners and their children will qualify for cheaper family passes.Some families have been paying a premium to use the Flagstaff Aquaplex because they don't have one important document: a marriage certificate.
The current definition of "household" at the Aquaplex is up to five related family members living at the same physical address, forcing unmarried and gay couples with children to buy at least one additional pass. Buying just one three-month household pass at the Aquaplex would save a family of three roughly $27 a month over buying multiple passes to cover the whole family.
One woman in a long-term lesbian relationship said she was one of those couples unable to buy a household pass from the Aquaplex.
She said a few weeks ago she was forced to buy one pass while her partner and daughter bought another at the Aquaplex.
She noted she had been a member at local health clubs and they had been more progressive in their membership policies, offering family-like memberships to both gay and unmarried couples.
City Manager Kevin Burke said he was unaware of the city's policy until contacted by the Arizona Daily Sun. He confirmed the policies were in place but vowed to broaden the definition of household at the Aquaplex next week to include more Flagstaff-area families.
"My policy is a household is a household," Burke said.
While Burke was short on specifics, he said the new definition would include some type of combination of adults and children, with a maximum of five people to be covered.
He said the original policy was written to exclude a specific group of people: College students living together in a condo.
"My interest is that a house full of college students are not getting the discount," Burke said. "It was never designed to prohibit two domestic partners raising a child -- that was not my intention."
Burke has already killed one suggestion for how the city will qualify unmarried couples for the household pass: a domestic partner registry.
He said he had privacy concerns about such a registry and believed the city could qualify couples with something less formal, such as a utility bill with both of their names on it.
Burke said couples who were unable to buy a household pass can return to the Aquaplex in a few weeks for a refund.
J. Ferguson can be reached at 556-2253 or jferguson@azdailysun.com.
Aquaplex passes
3-Month Pass
Resident/Non-resident
Child $50 $55
Youth $65 $71
Adult $105 $115
55 plus $65 $71
2-person household $148 $164
Household $174 $192
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Leave your comments below:
azxjer wrote on Oct 14, 2008 6:40 AM:
" That's a slippery slope there! Way to cave in, Aquaplex! You just lost a potential customer.
So all that a couple of straight roommates would have to do is say they're gay, and they get a household discount? Too funny! "
So all that a couple of straight roommates would have to do is say they're gay, and they get a household discount? Too funny! "
Gina wrote on Oct 12, 2008 9:31 PM:
" So, I suppose those who practice bestiality or are pedophiles should openly be able to get memberships based on those ***biological behaviors***. Is that right? It's ok to think these behaviors are disgusting and unacceptable but not LGBT. Is that right, too? The LGBT are all over the place carrying on about how their "rights" are being quashed and are forcing an ordinance on this fine city, when they have the same EXACT rights as everyone else in Flagstaff, and now the Aquaplex has caved to give PREFERENTIAL treatment to the LGBT, when all they could have done is simply offer adult memberships. I suspect the Aquaplex is afraid of a potential lawsuit, which is an absolute shame. Businesses should be able to conduct business how they see fit as long as they abide by city and state laws. To introduce biological behaviors into city law is absurd, especially when every citizen INCLUDING the LGBT have the same rights. Now, for those of you who insist I must be a bigot or hateful, you're wrong. I just think ALL citizens should abide by the same current laws with no preference where sexual preference is concerned. What the LGBT do in their bedrooms is their business. As a straight person, what I do in my bedroom is my business, but I'm not demanding the law be changed merely because of my ***biological behavior***. I just don't think changes in the law are just not needed. "
FLAGSTAFF RESIDENT wrote on Oct 11, 2008 1:44 PM:
" YOU KNOW I THINK NO MATTER IF THEY ARE LESBIANS OR WHAT EVER..AS LONG AS THEY HAVE THE SAME ADDRESS OR ANY PROOF THEY ARE AT THE SAME ADDRESS . I THINK THEY SHOULD USE THAT AS A HOUSEHOLD PROOF. TO LET PEOPLE GET THE HOUSEHOLD DISCOUNT. AND I THINK PEOPLE WOULD AGREE TO THAT. MOST OF ALL IF THIER LICENSES MATCH UP AT THE SAME HOUSEHOLD RESIDENT THEY SHOULD GET THE HOUSEHOLD PASSES...WEATHER PEOPLE ARE GAY OR LESIBIANS THEY SHOULD STILL LET THEM APPLY. ITS NOT FAIR. I HONESTLY DONT HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST THAT AND NOBODY ELSE SHOULD EITHER. BECUZ ITS NOBODY'S BUSINESS BUT THERES.. "
Pines wrote on Oct 11, 2008 11:33 AM:
" What about handicap/disabled discounts and having a 93 deg pool so those with arthritis, fibromyalgia and MS could have access to the pool? The Aquaplex is still to limited in access for many and is not right that mainly it was built only for children as plenty of taxpayers without children have paid for it, but cannot access it. "
Awesome wrote on Oct 11, 2008 10:57 AM:
" Wow, way to go Kevin Burke! I'm glad that there are people in charge that realize what's really important, family, and not out casting people because of their lifestyles. Keep up the good work! "
WOW wrote on Oct 11, 2008 8:27 AM:
" It's interesting that the City has spent hours upon hours debating the possibility of a new discrimination bill at Council and in committees but runs its own facilities the way that the manager chooses. I thought he came from Boulder and was progressive? It's beginning to seem that between the budget, reorganizations, the Mayor and Council, a looming deficit, he is in way over his head. Council and Mayor, wake up before the ship sinks! This is the same fellow that has been adding staff and handing out Christmas bonuses to staff (and it's OUR money) while we continue to suffer from the economic downturn. May be he needs his own economic downturn! "
Selly wrote on Oct 11, 2008 8:26 AM:
" I think same-sex marriage is OK. Same-sex couples are just as committed in their romantic relationships as heterosexual couples, say researchers who have studied the quality of adult relationships and healthy development. I have a friend getting married with the same sex under the help of the site **BiLoves dotcom** (a site for exploring sexuality, coming out,
enjoying life, etc. And there are about 150 members per day and they are very active). And they live happily and wonderfully. "
enjoying life, etc. And there are about 150 members per day and they are very active). And they live happily and wonderfully. "
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DeAnn wrote on Apr 17, 2009 6:32 PM:
Second, we still need a pool. The Aquaplex has great water fun for kids, but what about teens and adults? There is not much depth to the pool and no place for an adult to have fun without either playing with kids (mine are all grown and moved out now) or just doing a few laps. I want a diving board, and a nice deep area for underwater back-flips and diving from the ledge. So thanx to the city for building a nice place for the kids, but I'm really sad that you never thought about the non-kids. "