COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council
FROM: Anthony Kozlowski, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Discussion and Action: Resolution No. 26-3953 Approving Services Agreement with Lake Havasu Unified School District No. 1 to Initiate the Mission 3: Water Ready Program (Anthony Kozlowski)
Body
FUNDING SOURCE:
Grant
PURPOSE:
To consider adopting a resolution approving the Services Agreement with Lake Havasu Unified School District No. 1 (“LHUSD”) to initiate the Mission 3: Water Ready Program.
BACKGROUND:
Kinder Swim began in 1999 as a program designed to introduce kindergarten students to swim instruction and essential water safety practices. In 2000, the program was adopted into the curriculum of LHUSD, ensuring that every kindergarten student receives this critical life-saving education. Since the program’s inception, the Rotary Club has generously provided annual donations to the City to support its continued success.
Kinder Swim has been recognized with multiple Awards of Excellence from the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association, the Association of Aquatic Professionals, and the National Recreation and Park Association, highlighting its lasting impact on youth safety and community wellness.
Building on the success of Kinder Swim, the department is proud to launch Mission 3: Water Ready Program, a structured school integrated swim instruction program targeting approximately 350 third-grade students including those third graders enrolled in the self-contained special education classrooms, across six elementary schools during the 2026-2027 school year and Mission 5: Ready to Rescue, serving fifth-grade students in LHUSD. Through these programs, students will complete a swim competency assessment, refresh water safety skills, and receive training in hands-only CPR and other essential life-saving techniques, equipping them with the confidence and skills to protect themselves and others.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children ages 1-14, and in Arizona, the rate of child drownings is nearly double the national average. Lake Havasu City is uniquely vulnerable due to its proximity to one of the largest lakes in the state and the high number of residential swimming pools throughout the community-factors that significantly increase the risk of water-related incidents.
The Kinder Swim program addresses this risk by introducing kindergarten students to essential water safety skills and swim instruction at an early age. Building on that foundation, Mission 3: Water Ready and Mission 5: Ready to Rescue ensures those critical skills stay with students as they grow. The program not only reassesses swim competency among LHUSD third and fifth-grade students but also provides hands-only CPR training and other vital lifesaving skills-empowering youth to be safer, more confident, and better prepared in and around the water.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Lake Havasu City is the sub-recipient of a non-federal grant in the amount of $23,063.30 to implement Mission 3: Water Ready. As with all Recreation programming, the City subsidizes the cost of administration, including any required staff training. This includes the Grant Manager, Program Coordinator, Aquatics Supervisor, Recreation Superintendent, and Parks and Recreation Director. No administration cost will be incurred by the grant. Grant funds are allocated and available in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution No. 26-3953
Services Agreement
POSSIBLE MOTION:Recommended Action
I move to adopt Resolution No. 26-3953 approving the Services Agreement with Lake Havasu Unified School District No. 1 to Initiate Mission 3: Ready to Swim.
I move to not adopt Resolution No. 26-3953.