PORT ANGELES — Ballots for the May 19 metropolitan park district election will be mailed today to 19,167 registered voters.
The voters live within the Port Angeles School District boundaries, which is the area defined for the proposed district, and will vote on whether to be taxed to fund the maintenance and operations of William Shore Memorial Pool, which was constructed in 1962.
If the measure passes, the district will levy an estimated 15 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation, according to the ballot language.
The levy would cost the owner of a $200,000 home — the median price of a home within the school district — about $30 a year.
If the proposal is rejected, the city of Port Angeles will close the pool, which has been funded by donations since April 1, on June 15.
The special election was proposed by Save the Pool PA — which formed in October after the city announced it may close the pool.
The group also spearheaded fundraising efforts to fund a gap between revenue and expenses for the pool while the ballot measure is considered by voters.
Save the Pool PA Chairwoman Krista Winn said about $64,000 has been raised for pool funding. The group has held separate fundraising drives to purchase signs, billboard space and other advertising for the election.
“We’re feeling pretty optimistic. Pretty positive” about the election, said Winn, who is also a physical education teacher at Hamilton Elementary.
Rally Saturday
To encourage voters to support forming the park district, Save the Pool PA will hold a rally at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Participants will gather at the Port Angeles High School track, which is behind the school at 304 E. Park Ave., and walk to the pool at 225 E. Fifth St.
“Hopefully, people will bring posters and smiles, even if it’s raining,” Winn said.
Winn said signs and fliers promoting the pool and the park district that would fund it will be handed out at the pool that day.
Out of the 1,000 signs that were purchased, Winn said the group has 300 left.
Winn said if voters still have questions about the proposed park district, they can attend a community meeting at 7 p.m. Monday in the Jefferson Elementary School gym, 218 E. 12th St.
There, pool group members City Manager Kent Myers, City Council member Cherie Kidd, Clallam County Administrator Jim Jones and Clallam County Commissioner Mike Doherty will answer questions.
The park district board would be made up of City Council and County Commission members.
Five people showed up at a meeting Paril 19, Winn said.
“We’re actually taking that as a good thing,” Win said. “We’re hoping that it means that people are getting their questions answered through the fliers and the Web site.”
Also to promote the formation of the park district, Save the Pool PA members will be marching in the Sequim Irrigation Festival on May 9.
The ballot must be postmarked by Election Day to be valid. A voter who does not receive a ballot by Monday should phone the Clallam County Auditor’s Office at 360-417-2221.
Ballots also can be placed in the drop box in the Auditor’s Office or outside the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
The election will be certified on June 3.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
