Members of a government district that runs a long-standing Danville swimming pool fear their group could be disbanded, and therefore lose its property tax funding, forcing it to close a pool that's served the community for more than 50 years.

The Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission meets Wednesday to discuss the future of the Green Valley Recreation and Park District, which runs The Green Valley Pool near Green Valley and Diablo Roads. The district also includes a portion of Alamo. The pool is open from May to September to members, who pay a higher fee if they are not from the neighborhood, and their guests.

One option before the commission could result in the dissolution of the district, although commission staff is recommending postponing a decision so other options can be explored.

Lou Ann Texeira, the commission's executive officer, said a standard commission review last year found Green Valley did not meet the requirements of government districts, including having a budget, regularly scheduled audits or regularly scheduled public meetings. She said there have been improvements since, but during the process some asked why the pool is connected to the government.

The pool is funded through property taxes from about 400 nearby homes and membership fees. She said about 120 families have memberships. She said the pool is used for swim lessons, social gatherings and noncompetitive swimming. Some commission members wonder why the pool isn't privately run, such

as by a homeowners association or community pool association, Texeira said.

"They provide limited services," she said. "It brought up the basic question as to why this agency is a government district."

Pool leaders, however, say the commission should leave the pool be, as it has served the community for more than a half-century.

"It's been in existence for over 50 years," said district board member Scott Horton, who likened the pool to a public park. "It exists. It's there."

Horton said about the pool gets about $35,000 to $40,000 from property taxes, with the other half of operating costs coming from membership fees. Without the tax money, the pool would have to double membership fees to make up the difference. He said the $350 annual membership fee for area residents is lower than that for surrounding pools, which are larger and have more amenities for swim teams and other uses. Green Valley Pool would not be able to compete with other pools if it raised prices.

District board member Blythe Soria said the pool was built during the early 1950s, shortly after construction started in Cameo Acres. The pool has three lanes and is about 50 feet long.

"A lot of people have pools that size in their yard," she said. But she said users don't want a large pool, preferring a small one they can use for community gatherings. "It's a small pool and we're proud of it."

Soria said going private also brings up other issues such as buying the pool property and the loss of eligibility for public funds for improvements.

Texeira said if the district is disbanded, the portion of property taxes that go to the pool would be reallocated to another agency in the district's area. The tax money could not go to a private group, she said.

A commission staff report on the issue said no public agencies have expressed an interest in taking over the pool should the district be disbanded. However, the report said another option -- to consolidate the Green Valley district into the existing parks and recreation R-7A district -- hasn't been fully explored. That's because the R-7A advisory board has been eliminated as part of plans to create a new Alamo Municipal Advisory Council, which would need to weigh in.

Reach Eric Louie at 925-847-2123.