PORT ANGELES — A newly formed citizens committee will pursue outside grants and private donations to repair Civic Field before it decides whether to seek a property tax levy.
The Civic Field Steering Committee held its first meeting Monday night to share ideas about how to raise the estimated $4 million to renovate the multi-purpose field at 300 N. Race St.
Ten people turned out for the hourlong meeting at the Port Angeles Senior Center.
“I think every source of revenue that’s available to us needs to be brought on the table,” committee member Steve Zenovic said.
“We’re talking private grants, we’re talking RCO [state Recreation and Conservation Office] funds, and then city finds and private donations.”
Richard Bonine, recreation manager for the city, and Corey Delikat, parks superintendent, answered questions and provided background information.
Bonine said the Civic Field committee is still in an information-gathering phase.
The committee discussed the challenges of replacing the muddy grass field with synthetic field turf, replacing the lights and fixing a broken boiler at the aging stadium.
“How to pay for it I guess is the greatest problem or challenge,” said Scott Ramsey, a member of the Civic Field committee and the Port Angeles Parks, Recreation & Beautification Commission.
The improvements would include a new drainage system and replanting the grass with new grass or synthetic field turf used by most colleges and high schools in metropolitan areas.
Artificial turf and a new drainage system would cost between $2.4 million and $3 million, according to an assessment paid for by the city of Port Angeles.
“I don’t think this is a project even worth undertaking unless we put synthetic turf on the field,” Zenovic said.
“I think if we go back to natural turf, we’re going to be right where we are in terms of having six months, maybe, seven months of usable field and five months of a pond,” Zenovic said.
Home of Port Angeles High School football, baseball and boys and girls’ soccer teams, Civic Field turns into a mud bowl in the wettest months of the year.
Poor drainage has been an ongoing problem that has causes games to be delayed or relocated.
Currently, the field doesn’t meet Washington Interscholastic Activities Association standards for playoff games because it doesn’t have artificial turf.
“The bottom line is we can’t have any kind of playoff games for — never mind Port Angeles — but Port Townsend, Sequim, Neah Bay, Crescent,” Zenovic said.
“We’ve got a lot of teams out here that have to travel at least to Silverdale to do anything,”
Failing lights could lead to the elimination of night games over the next five years, city of Port Angeles staff have said.
Youth football, recreational soccer and other community sports teams share the city-owned facility with the high school teams.
City officials, who will spend $35.8 million on capital projects this year, have said there isn’t enough money to spare on Civic Field.
Ramsey, who was nominated Monday as committee chairman, has said a property tax levy could be brought to voters early next year.
“I don’t think we’re going to be anywhere near making a decision and getting (city) council approval for six months,” Zenovic said about a levy election.
Meanwhile, the committee members agreed to speak with legislators, school officials, state agencies and others about costs and grant opportunities.
Bonine said state grants would likely require a 50 percent up-front match.
Another committee meeting was scheduled for Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. at a site to be determined.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
