Editor’s note: The Federal Way City Council did not cast a formal vote on the arts center’s construction. The council discussed the topic at its annual retreat Actual voting must take place in a legal forum, such as a city council meeting.
On Jan. 31, the Federal Way City Council decided 6-to-1 that it will consider building a performing arts and cultural center only if it is located downtown and has a dual-use.
The performance facility was the hot topic at the council’s annual retreat. With a moderator leading discussions — as is typical for city retreats — the council made some concrete decisions on a performance facility.
There is a reluctance to jump head-first into spending $35 million to $55 million on the arts center. This includes a possible land donation, grants, city, state and private money. An ongoing discussion of what type of building, if anything, should be built has kept the council from making significant progress on the project since early 2008.
City council member Dini Duclos told her fellow council members she was under the impression the item was placed on the retreat agenda so steadfast decisions would be made now.
“We can’t explore anything until we make some basic decisions,” city council member Linda Kochmar said.
Mayor Jack Dovey said the city council is playing catch-up on a project that was initiated by city staff and has yet to be fully embraced by all the council members.
“I don’t think the council is leading this effort,” Dovey said. “We’re on a track.”
Eager for growth
The group is hesitant to build a multi-million dollar project during hard economic times, but eager to see downtown growth and revenue from a performance facility.
With Dovey dissenting, it was agreed that if the project moves forward, it will be placed in the downtown core and will be used as a performance, cultural and conference center. A dual-use design and central location are more likely to generate sales tax and result in a diminished annual subsidy.
A roughly $250,000 annual operating subsidy would be needed to keep the center afloat, but roughly $123,000 would flow back to the city in the form of sales tax, according to information City Manager Neal Beets provided the council. Construction of the center could create a little more than 200 jobs, according to the same information.
“I would love for this community to have a performing arts center. The problem is how to get there,” city council member Jim Ferrell said.
Survey says
Last year’s Citizen Survey results showed 57 percent of the 934 residents who participated in the survey supported the use of city funds to help develop a performing arts center in the downtown core as a way to spur economic development.
Deputy Mayor Eric Faison said he supports the performance and cultural center only if it is placed downtown where it will stimulate economic development and growth.
“If it’s outside the downtown, I’m not interested either,” Duclos said.
The council accepted $500,000 from the state Legislature for pre-construction costs in 2008, but has yet to settle on a site. The money came accompanied by a June deadline to determine a location for the center. Without a site, pre-construction work cannot begin. The school district has offered land near Truman High School, 31455 28th Ave. S., for the center. The property would be donated in return for school district access to the facility.
“I think right now that’s the only site that makes sense,” Kochmar said.
All the council members said they need site specific information before they are ready to decide if the center will become a reality. They instructed city staff to research all possible downtown locations large enough to hold a performance, cultural and conference center. The results will be presented to city council before it decides the fine details of what will be built and where it will be located.
