Kennewick OKs $73.1M for capital projects

By John Trumbo, Herald staff writer

The Kennewick City Council decided Tuesday to spend $73.1 million to build a better community during the next five years by finishing dozens of projects throughout the city.

They would include improvements in the Southridge area, building a new fire station and extending Hildebrand Boulevard and Steptoe Street.

Some of the money will come from grants, partnerships and potential local contributions while $24 million will be from city-issued bonds.

The priority list of projects had been discussed and set during a council meeting in June based on recommendations from the council's budget committee.

"This is a leap of faith," said Mayor Tom Moak, who called the $73.1 million capital project priority list "a fiscally sound package of projects."

"This doesn't raise anybody's taxes. We're doing it within the budget. It's all about building a better community," said councilman Paul Parish.

But councilman Bob Parks wasn't convinced.

"Twenty-four million dollars in bonds is too much too soon," he said, casting the only "no" vote on the resolution to approve the capital improvement program.

Marie Mosley, Kennewick's director of support services, told the council last month the city has plenty of bonding capacity to handle the new debt, which will be paid from city revenues without the need for additional taxes.

Mosley said the council's approval will allow city staff to begin work on the recommended projects. Adjustments to the budget to pay for the projects will occur in the fall.

Jeff Kossow, Kennewick economic development director, thanked the council for approving the five-year $73.1 million capital improvement plan which he said opens the way for great opportunities for the city.

Parish was bullish on getting projects completed.

"Some of this has been 13 years coming. It's all about building a better community," he said.

Councilmen Jim Hempstead and Steve Young also commented about the need to complete major improvement projects for the benefit of the city.

Councilman Bob Olson and councilwoman Marge Price were silent on the subject, before and after the vote.

Earlier Tuesday during the workshop session, the council learned that a 14,000-square-foot covered parking structure to be built on the southeast side of the Dan Frost Municipal Services Complex could be a temporary test facility for the Three Rivers Carousel.

Bob Hammond, city manager, said the building would eventually become a parking facility for city equipment and vehicles. It would cost about $600,000 to build.

But before it could be used as a carousel barn, a portion of the building would need to be excavated deeper and enclosed so there would be a secure and sufficient working space to assemble the 99-year-old Charles Carmel carousel, which is 25 feet tall.

Hammond said the group that acquired the carousel needs a place to lay out the carousel's structural and mechanical parts and to assess what else is needed.

The covered parking and storage facility would serve as a test fitting facility for eight to 10 months, Hammond said.

"We can do this without committing city resources that we didn't intend to do anyway," Hammond said.

The carousel foundation also needs time to do public outreach and drum up public interest, he noted.

"The quicker we can give (the carousel) a home, the quicker they can get going on fundraising," Parish said.

Moak also endorsed the idea.

"If (the council) is going to move forward with the carousel, the foundation needs this," he said.

Councilman Parks had some doubt.

"I'm sure the public would love to see the carousel working. I'm not sure they want to pay for it, though," he said.

Hammond said it was too early for the council to commit on a final destination for the carousel even though "staff believes Vista Field is the right place."

-- John Trumbo: 582-1529; jtrumbo@tricityherald.com

tool name

Wednesday, Jul. 08, 2009

Kennewick OKs $73.1M for capital projects

By John Trumbo, Herald staff writer