Reconsider our current station site | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Published 9:54 am Tuesday, October 27, 2015

To the editor:

Re: Proposition 1: First, please no revisionist island history — never has the concept of a government “campus” been a community priority.

Why are we being asked to vote for a $15 million-plus-interest public safety facility bond?

Some history: During consideration of fire station upgrades, the fire district asked the city to explore collocating new fire and police stations, yielding $1 million in cost savings. With this option, the city’s cost would have been only $6.3 million.

The city refused the offer, instead wanting the police station adjacent to city hall. To sweeten this new offer to the community, the court was added. Next the emergency operations center (EOC) was deemed necessary to add, although the fire district is currently superbly providing EOC at Fire Station 21 with Fire Station 23 as backup.

The recent city manager’s Report foreshadows city hall expansion as their proposed mega-project continues to grow. City hall expansion is probably the real reason why the city wants to spend $4 million to purchase three commercial properties next to city hall.

What the community may support: Save money by building on the current (and larger) city-owned police station site.

Construct the new facility on the eastern portion of the property and on the western edge add another Waypoint-like garden-gateway-entrance with the Sound to Olympics Ped/Bike Trail.

If the community wishes to be truly visionary, add a floor of affordable/workforce housing on top of the new building.

Located on Highway 305, in close proximity to the ferry, bus transit, and walking distance to all things downtown, this addition would fit in perfectly to the community’s priorities of community-oriented policing, walkable community, and affordable transit-oriented housing.

Let’s do this right. Please join in voting “No” on Prop. 1 and send council back to the drawing board.

DEBBI LESTER

Bainbridge Island