SEQUIM — The City Council narrowed a selection of six layout plans for the proposed civic center to two and created a third plan from scratch Monday at a special planning session.
But some council members voiced doubts as to whether residents would be willing to pay for the project.
The plans that were presented at the meeting offered a variety of ways to organize the three buildings comprising the center — City Hall, the police station and a combination council chambers/emergency operations center — on the site of City Hall at 152 W. Cedar St.
City Manager Steve Burkett and other city representatives toured facilities at Shoreline, Snoqualmie, Kenmore and Bothell to see which features could be included in the center, as well as things to avoid.
A Northwest look
A modern office-building edifice is not what fits the city, the council agreed. Instead, members want something with a distinct Pacific Northwest feel that would fit in with the rest of downtown Sequim.
Orienting the buildings so front entries are visible from Washington Street via Seal Avenue and from Sequim Avenue also is important, the council agreed.
Council members said they preferred two of the layouts provided by Arai Jackson Architects & Planners and created a third concept that was not included.
The first layout discussed sets all three buildings against the back of the property, centers City Hall on Seal Avenue and provides alley access for secure police parking.
Public parking would be near the Sequim Transit Center and a public square in front of the buildings.
A second layout places the buildings in a U-shape facing Cedar, with a central public plaza lined up with Seal Street and parking by the transit center.
The plan’s disadvantage is the long walk for elderly or disabled residents from parking to the City Hall entrance, said Councilman Ted Miller.
A third concept, created by council members by manipulating a rejected layout, puts all three buildings at the east end of the property and locates parking and a public area at the corner of West Cedar Street and Sequim Avenue.
Parking lots are not allowed on Sequim Avenue, according to city code, but it is a simple matter of four council votes to allow an exemption, council members noted.
‘Control our destinies’
“We control our own destiny,” Miller said.
The city can afford about $12 million for the project, Burkett said.
Based on other cities of about Sequim’s size, the new facility would need to have 30,000 to 35,000 square feet for workers, storage and public spaces, as well as room for future growth, according to calculations for the city’s current mix of functions.
A civic center of that size would cost between $11.3 million and $13 million, Burkett said.
The old City Hall, which the city has outgrown, was designed to have another floor added as needed, but the existing building does not meet current code, said Paul Haines, city public works director.
City employees are spread across at least three buildings, including two that are rented from private owners at $200,000 a year, as well as in the transit center building.
Councilman Erik Erichsen said he believes funding for a new police department would get the votes, but he was unsure whether residents would approve paying for a new City Hall.
A City Hall was ranked as the lowest concern for residents in a study conducted in 2011, well below public safety, street repairs and parks.
“It’s almost not on the Richter scale,” Erichsen said. “I would agree to a police station, but for a City Hall, I don’t think they will vote for it.”
Councilwoman Laura Dubois disagreed.
Doesn’t see it as ‘no’ vote
“It’s not going to be a top priority, but I don’t see it as a ‘no’ vote,” Dubois said.
The current economy and low interest rates would make it relatively cheap to build, Miller said.
“Paying $13 million today is better than paying $20 million four years from now when the economy is better,” he added.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
