San Ramón publishes regulations for its municipal pool including rates and scholarships

The San Ramón Municipal Council issued the new “Regulations for the Use, Maintenance, Administration, and Control of the San Ramón Municipal Pool,” published for the second time in La Gaceta No. 178 on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, pages 31 to 35, under official reference IN202601120896. The regulation governs the use, operation, administration, maintenance, and fee schedule of the complex located at the “Edwin López González” San Ramón Sports Center. It takes effect as of the date of its publication.

The agreement was adopted through Agreement No. 10 of Ordinary Session No. 198 on July 28, 2026, and was signed on July 30, 2026, by the Council Secretary, Katherine Núñez Rodríguez. The Municipality issued it based on the Political Constitution, the Municipal Code No. 7794, the General Health Law No. 5395, and report DMR-DAR-INF-108-2026 from the Regulatory Improvement Directorate of MEIC. Its application complements Executive Decree No. 35309-S, “Regulations on Pool Management,” from the Ministry of Health.

The pool is the exclusive property of the Municipality of San Ramón, and its superior administration corresponds to the Mayor’s Office, which delegates operational management to a Pool Administrator. A single transitory provision grants the administration one calendar month, from the date of entry into force, to prepare the planned forms and declarations.

Fees, capacity, and schedules

The Municipal Council will annually review and approve fees for private users, monthly memberships, rentals, and other services, based on a financial study of operating costs presented by the Administration, in accordance with Article 83 of the Municipal Code No. 7794. Payment may be made at the facilities via point-of-sale (POS) terminal, bank transfer, cash, or SINPE Móvil, with the issuance of the respective receipt.

• Capacity: 64 simultaneous people in the pool, calculated at 8 swimmers per lane, and a maximum of 100 people in the bleachers, except as provided by the Ministry of Health and the technical criteria of ICODER.
• Schedule: Monday to Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; closed to the public on Sundays for deep maintenance and superchlorination.
• Session: 60 minutes in the water, plus 15 minutes before and after for locker rooms and showers.
• Time slots: athletes and training, academies and classes, free swimming, and therapy and seniors.
• It is prohibited for private coaches or academies to profit within the facilities without a formal contract or agreement approved by the Council.

Sports and health scholarships

The regulation creates a system of full and partial scholarships to promote sports and public health. Scholarships are granted for one calendar year, are renewable, and the Administration resolves the process within a maximum period of 15 calendar days.

• Merit and projection sports scholarships: cover 100% of the payment for athletes from the canton with a competitive track record or projection, with a sports curriculum and training plan endorsed by the Cantonal Committee for Sports and Recreation or their federation.
• Health and therapy scholarships: cover 50% for people with a medical prescription for hydrotherapy and without the resources for the regular rate; socioeconomic status is verified via SINURIBE or the Social Work Office.
• Vulnerability scholarships: 50% for people in extreme poverty certified by IMAS, people over 65 years old, and people with disabilities.

Accessibility, safety, and discipline

In accordance with the Law on Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities No. 7600, the complex guarantees universal accessibility and equitable treatment, with technical supports such as the robotic arm for entry and exit from the pool, with a maximum capacity of 170 kilograms and exclusive use by the Administrator or authorized personnel. Wheelchair spaces must be respected in the bleachers.

The complex must have a current civil liability policy required by the Ministry of Health; unauthorized manipulation of the robotic arm voids coverage for the offender. The Lifeguard has maximum authority in the wet area and their instructions must be followed immediately.

The disciplinary regime classifies three levels of offenses:

• Minor (failure to maintain hygiene, inappropriate clothing, eating in unauthorized areas): verbal warning.
• Serious (recidivism, manipulation of the robotic arm, lack of respect): temporary suspension from 1 to 6 months.
• Very serious (physical aggression, theft, immoral acts, entry under the influence of drugs, damage to infrastructure): permanent expulsion and entry ban.

For suspensions or expulsions of regular users, due process is guaranteed, with 5 business days to file a disagreement with the Municipal Administration.

Impact for users

The regulation organizes for the first time in a single regulatory body the conditions for access, payment, scholarships, and sanctions of the municipal pool, with explicit rules on capacity, schedules, and accessibility. Users of the Edwin López González Sports Center must process their pool card, comply with the annual medical report, and those under 12 years old must enter accompanied by a responsible adult or under the tutelage of an accredited instructor. Health, sports, and vulnerability scholarships are subject to a formal request to the Mayor’s Office and a resolution within a maximum period of 15 calendar days.

Source: La Gaceta No. 178, Tuesday, September 22, 2026, section I (Municipalities), pp. 31-35 (official reference: IN202601120896).