PORT TOWNSEND — Voters may see two city bond measures on the Feb. 10 special election ballot.
The council discussed Monday a bond issue to provide up to $4.3 million in general obligation bonds to finance capital improvements to the Mountain View Commons at 1925 Blaine St., as well as other city facilities, including the Port Townsend Library.
“I sense a unanimity among the council that the Mountain View repairs are needed, but it is less certain whether we combine it with other projects or run them separately,” said City Manager David Timmons.
“There is the sense that we need a little more work on the non-Mountain View proposal before presenting it to the voters.”
The total $4.3 million bond could be presented in one ballot resolution or split, with $3.6 million allocated to Mountain View and about $750,000 for improvements on the library annex and other city facilities.
Allocating $3.6 million to Mountain View Commons would keep the total bond measure cost down, Timmons said.
“We aren’t sure whether we want to run two measures on the same ballot or just run the Mountain View measure and finance the remainder through a councilmatic bond,” Timmons said.
The total cost of the Mountain View project is about $4.5 million, but $980,000 of that is being acquired through grant funding, Timmons said.
Emergency repairs at Mountain View include replacing the two boilers, the classroom roof and the air system.
Also planned are energy retrofit measures at Mountain View and the Port Townsend Library, as well as installing a master control system for energy management in all city facilities.
Previous figures pegged the proposed bond measure at $4.1 million, but other repairs to the library were identified that pushed the cost up.
Even with a larger bond issue on the ballot, the new costs for property taxpayers would not increase from that originally planned.
The property tax levy rate for Mountain View Commons repairs would be an increase of no more than 13 cents on $1,000 of valuation for 15 years.
The rest of the bond would be paid back through a combination of utility savings, grants and revenue from the Proposition 1 sales tax increase voters approved in 2010, Timmons said.
The full amount must be approved by voters to get a better bond rate, Timmons has said.
The tax increase, which would appear on property tax bills in 2017, would be $32 for a house valued at $250,000, Timmons said.
The bond measure would require a 60 percent majority and include a number equal or greater to 40 percent of those voting in the last general election,
At a meeting earlier this year, Councilwoman Michelle Sandoval estimated a possible 8,000 votes cast in the city in the November general election, requiring 4,800 voting in favor for the bond measure to pass.
In February, a voter turnout of 2,000 would be required, and the measure could be carried by 1,200 votes, according to her calculations.
The wording of the measure is under development by Foster Pepper law firm of Seattle.
Its first reading is scheduled for Oct. 6 during the City Council meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at historic City Hall, 540 Water St.
The second reading, and final approval, is set for Oct. 13.
To appear on the February ballot, the completed measure must be submitted to the Auditor’s Office in December.
If the bond is approved in February, then bonds can be sold in May, raising the money to finance the first phase of the operation, which includes the energy upgrades and roof repairs.
If it fails, the city would need to seek other financing for the needed repairs, Timmons has said.
Since the city leased Mountain View from the Port Townsend School District in 2009, it has grown to house the city police station, municipal pool, Port Townsend Food Bank, YMCA, Jefferson County office of the American Red Cross of the Olympic Peninsula, KPTZ-91.9 FM radio station, Working Image and the ReCyclery.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
