SEQUIM – One old funding source and one recently revamped funding mechanism are being eyed by city officials to provide money for fixing and maintaining city streets, especially in older neighborhoods adjacent to the downtown core.
Sequim is seeking a consultant to analyze formation of one or more “local improvement districts” – of LIDs – and a citywide “transportation benefit district,” which was modified by the state Legislature during its last session.
The money from the new taxing districts would supplement current transportation funding from state gas tax money, state and federal grants and the city’s general fund.
The deadline for consultants to submit their qualifications to City Hall is 5 p.m. today.
The City Council will select one to give a presentation on possible options at a future meeting.
“It was brought up [in City Council meetings] that our streets in the old downtown core were never built to any standard and the city has no revenue stream to fix them,” said City Manager Bill Elliott.
“Now that we are no longer a city of less than 5,000, we’ve lost those [state transportation] grants too,” he said.
“So this discussion is how to get a revenue stream to fix those streets.
“We’re asking for firms to recommend what to do and what plan we should follow,” said City Manager Bill Elliott.
“We’ll give them a scope of work, and then they will present a proposal with a cost,” he said.
After a firm’s proposal is authorized, it will recommend a plan, including impacts and structure and how it looks and impacts community.
“It will be months before there’s any identified impact on residents,” Elliott said.
The issue will come before the public at least twice before any decision is made to proceed, Elliott said.
“Let’s say we get four firms to respond. Then the council will select one,” he said.
“When the firm gives us a number [for how much these districts might cost], that’s the second time it will be before the public.
“That number could scare us off,” he said.
