PORT ANGELES — Hope still springs eternal that new lighting will illuminate Civic Field to replace failing fixtures installed in 1979.
Those wishes — mixed with faith — burst forth Tuesday when the City Council unanimously approved a $226,500 state grant application supplemented by $106,500 in new funding that council members approved at their regular meeting.
The grant program has not even been funded — but it does have a good chance of passing state legislative muster, 24th District state Reps. Steve Tharinger and Kevin Van De Wege, both of Sequim, said Wednesday.
The Youth Athletic Facilities Grant from the state Recreation and Conservation Office would be combined with a 50 percent match from the city for a lighting-upgrade project that would cost $453,000.
The city’s match would consist of $60,000 in already dedicated city general funds; $60,000 promised by the Port Angeles School District, which uses the field for sporting events; and $106,500 in real estate excise taxes the city garners that are paid by the sellers of property at the time a transaction closes.
Byron Olson, city finance director, said at Tuesday’s meeting that excise tax proceeds have reached $350,000 and are expected to generate $500,000 in 2015.
That compares with a $100,000 total by year’s end a few years ago, “so we are doing quite well in that regard,” Olson assured the council.
Regional tournaments
City Parks and Recreation Director Corey Delikat said Wednesday that adequate lighting is required to draw regional baseball tournaments for night games and possibly teenage Babe Ruth League-type World Series games that could generate $500,000 in retail revenues to cities such as Port Angeles.
Some lighting has already been removed or fallen off light posts, Delikat said.
“They are just continuing to go out, and we can’t replace them,” he said.
In 2012, city voters failed to provide the 60 percent supermajority required to fund a $4 million improvement bond that would have included replacement of field lighting.
In 2014, the city lost out on a state grant.
The latest grant would be drawn from a state capital budget that has not been approved by the state Legislature.
Not to worry, said Tharinger and Van De Wege, Democrats whose district includes Clallam and Jefferson counties and about half of Grays Harbor County.
“The city is correct in going after this funding because I think we are going to pass a capital budget,” said Van De Wege, House majority whip.
Tharinger also had high hopes for the city.
“They are in pretty good shape depending on the funding level,” he said.
City Councilman Lee Whetham was on a council subcommittee with Councilwoman Sissi Bruch, who is running unopposed in the Nov. 3 general election, and Deputy Mayor Patrick Downie that was unsuccessful in coming up with a solution.
More than once at council meetings, Whetham has expressed concerns that unless the issue was addressed, Civic Field would simply go dark.
“To be honest with you, that could still occur this fall,” he said Wednesday.
Whetham, who is running for Port of Port Angeles commissioner this year, said he is “very optimistic” that the grant will be approved.
“I’m very happy we found some solid movement,” he said.
“It’s been a long time.”
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
