SEQUIM — The County Council has discontinued efforts to explore the feasibility of placing a citywide park district on the February ballot, delaying the process indefinitely.
“It is still a goal and priority. It just may have to be pushed out a year or two or more,” said Councilwoman Laura Dubois during the Monday meeting.
“Right now is not the time.”
The council also tabled a funding proposal that would have provided money for a $36,000 market feasibility study to determine if the YMCA should collaborate with the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center (SARC) in operating the center.
It also endorsed the Sequim School District’s construction plan, which includes a proposed $49.3 million construction bond on the Nov. 3 ballot.
“I am hoping the school bond is going to pass,” said Genaveve Starr, council member.
MPD on back burner
The council on April 27 said it would consider placing a citywide metropolitan park district on the February ballot but had put the issue on hold until the Aug. 4 election, when voters considered approving a metropolitan park district to solely fund SARC.
Voters rejected the SARC measure.
The measure would have provided funding for the facility at 610 N. Fifth Ave., which includes the city’s only public pool.
SARC board members have said the facility will run out of money by September 2016 and may close before then.
Following the Aug. 4 defeat, the city once again began looking into the feasibility of pursuing a separate park district that would fund multiple parks and recreation activities in addition to SARC, and began contacting local organizations to determine the level of support for such a measure.
“What we have generally found — besides SARC and the city being very interested in pursuing this — is most organizations are neutral to saying ‘not right now,’” said City Manager Charlie Bush.
And “without the county’s direct support, it is not even possible to get” such a measure on the ballot, he said.
The three Clallam County commissioners would need to pass a resolution endorsing the placement of the measure on the February ballot in concurrence with a similar city resolution no later than Dec. 7.
“We have a very tight deadline if we are going to get this on the ballot in February,” Bush said.
“My recommendation at this time is to delay the MPD and continue discussions” with SARC and other local entities to find alternative funding sources to keep the facility open, he said.
“They are in a very difficult predicament financially.”
YMCA study
The council chose to delay its decision to provide $5,000 toward the YMCA’s feasibility study until its Oct. 12 meeting and directed city staffers to approach the county to request funding be set aside for the process.
YMCA will provide $12,000 from private donors toward the market feasibility study, Kyle Cronk, chief executive officer of Olympic Peninsula YMCA, has said.
SARC will provide an additional $5,000. Olympic Medical Center also will provide funds, Bush said.
If the study is done and results are favorable, Cronk has said the YMCA will present a proposal to the SARC board in November.
School bond
The City Council unanimously supported the Sequim School District’s plans to build a new elementary school, renovate and expand four existing facilities, and demolish a fifth one.
The plan is contingent upon passage of a $49.3 million construction bond during the upcoming general election.
The Nov. 3 measure needs a 60 percent supermajority for passage.
Passage of the resolution endorsing the school’s construction plan came after six area residents spoke in favor of it.
David Shreffler, a Sequim business owner, urged the council “to vote yes” on the resolution.
“Our community is at a crossroads,” he said. “We need you to demonstrate leadership. We need you to show the community that you do value children and you do value their educational future.”
Colleen Robinson, Citizens for Sequim Schools president, said, “There is an opportunity here for the council to support our community, our schools, our children [and] our future.”
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or at cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
