PORT TOWNSEND — In a split vote Monday, Jefferson County commissioners approved asking the county Lodging Tax Advisory Committee for a recommendation on the county contributing $20,000 to help keep parking free at Fort Worden State Park.
The issue before the commissioners Monday morning drew supporters of county pay-for-parking in all state parks of Jefferson County, as well as Port Townsend’s Fort Worden.
With Commissioner Pat Rodgers, R-Brinnon, opposing the action, Democratic Commissioners David Sullivan of Cape George and Phil Johnson of Port Townsend voted also to form a task force to analyze the economic and access benefits of eliminating day-use fees at other state parks in Jefferson County.
The task force would be made up of representatives from all parts of the county.
Recommendation in June?
Going to the county lodging tax panel could take until June before a recommendation is handed back to the commissioners that could be acted upon.
Explaining his position, Rodgers said he supports free parking at state parks but does not believe county dollars should be used to benefit just one state park and not all.
“We have little enough as it is. . . . It’s just ethically wrong,” Rodgers said after the vote was taken.
“Hopefully, we will be working this through and can listen to what the county [Lodging Tax Advisory Committee] has to say.”
Rodgers said the issues had become a “matter of equity” because no other state parks in Jefferson County were funded to keep parking free.
“If were really doing it to sustain economic development, then Dosewallips State Park would be part of it,” Rodgers said of the Brinnon-area park in his district.
