PORT TOWNSEND — City Council members will wait until Aug. 3 to make a decision about a lease agreement with the Port Townsend School District for the vacated Mountain View Elementary School campus — but some council members may have already made up their minds.
“I think empty buildings are bad for the community,” said Deputy Mayor George Randels.
“Keeping [the facility] alive and active versus having it empty seems like there is no doubt to which action we should take.”
The Port Townsend School Board voted to offer the lease to the city July 13.
Under the proposed lease, the city would pay $66,000 annually for use of the Mountain View campus for five years, beginning in September.
The terms of the proposed lease have the city paying all utility charges, taxes and assessments during that time.
Pay the school district
The proposed lease also says the city of Port Townsend will pay the school district in monthly installments for use of the property.
The school district would reserve the right to use some parts of the campus for classrooms or other uses, the proposed lease says.
Beginning Aug. 31, 2014, the lease would continue on a year-to-year basis, unless either the district or the city terminates it.
Two years’ notice would be necessary for termination.
City Manager David Timmons asked council to hold off on action while one portion of the lease was still decided on: what to do in the event of a catastrophic systems failure.
“The only remaining issue I see is what happens if there is a major systems failure [at the site] and who pays for it,” Timmons said.
“I will continue to talk to [Superintendent Tom Opstad] about it and bring back a complete lease [next meeting.]”
Timmons said as far as the budget is concerned, the city has more than enough in budgeted expenses for renting a police building and the pool at the Mountain View to pay for the lease.
“It’s actually less than what we pay for just the pool right now,” he said.
“Overall, I think this is a pretty good deal for the city, the district and the community.”
Councilwoman Laurie Medlicott voiced concern over the rental of a property.
“I would support this whole program . . . if we would discuss buying this property rather than leasing it,” she said.
Medlicott said she was unhappy with the city’s lease of the Waterman-Katz building, which was previously used for city offices.
The city plans to use the property for a variety of purposes, such as relocating the Police Department, temporarily housing the library during a planned remodeling, offering space for YMCA programs and other public services.
Timmons said after taking a tour of the facility, he believes the Port Townsend Police Department could move into the campus with very little retrofitting.
Port Townsend Police Chief Connor Daily walked through the building Monday afternoon and said that the building would greatly improve the department’s ability to serve the community.
“Right now, we have witnesses, victims and others all cramming into one spot in our office,” Daily said.
“If this were to be approved, I could spread that out and keep people separate.
“We would have interview rooms, separate lobbies and a back entrance for the processing of prisoners before we move them to the jail.”
Daily also said it would give the department more opportunity to be involved in the community.
“With everyone who may join us here, it gives the community a chance to see us do more than just make arrests and write tickets,” he said.
Timmons has also discussed the possibility of East Jefferson Fire-Rescue using of the building.
Medlicott, a member of the joint East Jefferson Fire-Rescue board, took issue with the idea that the fire district was looking at moving its administration office into the building.
“As far as East Jefferson Fire-Rescue relocating it’s administration, that has never been discussed,” she said.
“I have requested it be on the agenda [for Tuesday night] but it has not been discussed yet by the board.”
Timmons has said he hopes to see multiple agencies use the space, including the Port Townsend Farmer’s Market, OlyCAP, the state Department of Licensing, the YMCA, the Port Townsend Food Bank and possibly organizations such as the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce.
Under the agreement, the city also would maintain and operate the swimming pool, the only public pool in Port Townsend.
________
Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
