PORT TOWNSEND — A decision on the future of Mountain View Elementary School campus is imminent.
A public hearing Monday night saw mostly positive support from the community for the lease of the facility to the city of Port Townsend.
Now all that is left is a decision: to lease or not to lease.
Under the proposed lease, the city would pay $66,000 annually for use of the Mountain View school campus for five years, beginning in September.
The terms of the proposed lease state the city also would pay all utility charges and all taxes and assessments during that time.
The city plans to use the property for a variety of purposes, such as relocating the police department, temporarily housing the library during its planned remodeling, offering space for YMCA programs and other public services.
“This is an opportunity,” Port Townsend City Manager David Timmons said during the public hearing.
“This is a chance to adapt and reuse a facility so it doesn’t become another Lincoln Building [which was mothballed by the district years ago and now used as an administration building.]”
“It would also bring a lot of community services together, and Mountain View can be an example of reusing something that otherwise would just sit.”
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.
“Also, after speaking with [East Jefferson Fire-Rescue] Chief [Chuck] Tandy, he has said they are looking for a temporary relocation of their administration offices for three to five years,” Timmons said.
“Possibly having the police and fire administration in the same facility would truly be a benefit to the greater community.”
Timmons said other ideas include expanding the YMCA operations, creating a larger space for the Port Townsend Food Bank and possibly creating a meeting facility for 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.
The proposed lease says that 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.
After a five-year period, 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.
A draft of the proposed lease is available for public review at the Port Townsend School District office.
Superintendent Tom Opstad said there was still some minor wording to correct in a final draft.
Tom Thiersch, a Jefferson County resident, said he felt that while the price of the lease was less than the true value, the special maintenance agreement would take a financial burden off the district.
“In the end, I think the city is getting a good deal, and the people of the city of Port Townsend should be grateful to the school district for this agreement.”
Speaking against the lease agreement was Paul Richmond, a Port Townsend lawyer.
“I still don’t believe it’s the right thing to do,” Richmond said.
“They are moving toward an action that will make this community less family-friendly by removing a school.”
No time frame is set for a decision. The lease would need to be approved before September as that is when the proposed lease begins with the city.
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
