PORT TOWNSEND — A newly formed citizens group is lobbying for voter passage of a $3.6 million bond measure that would go toward the renovation and repair of Mountain View Commons.
Meanwhile, the Jefferson County YMCA has a separate project to upgrade the public swimming pool at Mountain View.
The pro-bond organization is called Mountain View Proponents, or MVP, which is also a play on “most valuable player,” the more common use of that acronym, according to Shelly Randall, who is heading the group along with her husband, Jeff Randall.
“In order for this measure to pass, we have to tell the story of the tenants who occupy the building,” Jeff Randall said at an organizational meeting last week at the Port Townsend Community Center.
The meeting was attended by about 40 people.
“It’s hard to get people excited about a bond,” Randall added, “because people tend to not want to increase their taxes unless there is a very good reason.”
Tenants at the former elementary school at 1925 Blaine St. include the Police Department, the Port Townsend Food Bank, Jefferson County YMCA, the ReCyclery, the KPTZ 91.9 FM radio station, Working Image, the Olympic Peninsula chapter of the Red Cross and the only public pool in Jefferson County.
The Port Townsend City Council, which signed a 30-year lease in June with the Port Townsend School District, approved in October the placement of the measure on the Feb. 10 special election ballot.
If passed, the measure would authorize raising up to $3.6 million in bond sales to go toward the estimated $4.1 million needed to complete repairs at the aging community campus.
Among work planned: installation of a new heating system, roof repairs, city pool maintenance and fixing other structural issues.
A bond requires a 60 percent majority of voters for passage.
While a considerable portion of the bond money would support the operation of the pool, its passage is not related to a proposal to construct a YMCA facility on the site, said Erica Delma, YMCA executive director.
That proposal, now under development, would include an aquatic center that might include new pool facilities, she said, adding that the existing pool would be used in conjunction with new construction.
The bond would raise public money, while the YMCA project would rely on private donations, Jeff Randall said.
“If the bond measure passes, it will show that people in the community want to develop Mountain View, and it will help the YMCA in their campaign,” he said.
“If the bond fails, the YMCA will have a lot more work to do.”
If the bond is approved, taxpayers would pay for only part of the cost of repairs.
The amount between the total cost of the project and the amount raised by the bond measure would come from grants that are already committed from the state Department of Ecology for $300,000, the state Department of Commerce for $500,000, a grant of about $180,000 administered by the Jefferson County Public Utility District, as well as future sources, according to City Manager David Timmons.
The measure would mean a property tax increase of no more than 13 cents per $1,000 of valuation for 15 years.
If property values increase during the 15-year period, the assessment would have a corresponding decrease, Timmons has said.
If approved, the full increase would first appear on the 2017 tax statement, although property owners would most likely see a 5-cents-per-$1,000-of-valuation increase in 2016.
Thursday’s presentation was intended as a dry run for the campaign.
The Randalls expect to address service clubs beginning with an appearance at the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce at noon Jan. 5 at the Elks Lodge, 555 Otto St.
Presentations also are planned at the Port Townsend Rotary and the Port Townsend Kiwanis clubs.
For more information or to schedule a presentation, see www.ptmvp.org or call 360-385-2575.
________
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
