PORT TOWNSEND — The Lifelong Learning Center Public Development Authority must agree to develop a business plan by November before the state Parks and Recreation Commission will consider supporting the group’s takeover of all or part of Fort Worden State Park.
The state commission will consider a resolution of support for the idea of a public development authority role in the park during its March 29 meeting in Fort Worden Commons. The meeting will begin at 9 a.m.
Approval of the resolution is contingent on the public development authority developing a business plan by Nov. 1, according to material presented at a PDA meeting Wednesday morning.
A copy of what is expected to be the final resolution was distributed at that meeting by State Parks Assistant Director Larry Fairleigh.
It states that his department “will consider the transfer of all or part of Fort Worden State Park to the [public development authority] as a means to achieve the goal of becoming a lifelong learning center.”
Fairleigh said Nov. 1 is the deadline for the material to be presented to the 2013 state Legislature, though the business plan could be submitted at any time before that date, and any transfer could be completed without legislative approval.
Before the state commission considers the resolution March 29, a meeting is set for 7 p.m. March 28 in the Wheeler Theater to hear public testimony about the issue.
This will be preceded by a meeting at 7 p.m. March 15 in the Fort Worden Commons where questions asked during a Feb. 17 public meeting will be addressed.
In January, the PDA presented three possible proposals for the administration of the park: a 50-50 co-management agreement, a split between the learning center and park functions, and complete control of the park by the public development authority.
“The decision around Fort Worden is not as simple as the people in Port Townsend would like it to be,” Fairleigh said.
“Fort Worden is an icon in the state park system and has an audience that reaches far beyond Port Townsend.”
Fairleigh said the commissioners’ ruling about the disposition of the park “is as significant a decision as it has made in a long time.”
The commission’s action cannot be assumed, he said.
“There are a lot of concerns among public employees and the unions,” he said.
“In order for the transfer to take place, the PDA will need to show that it can address all these issues and can prove to the commission that the transfer is a good idea and why.”
PDA board member Tim Caldwell said he was worried by the wording of the resolution, specifically the phrase “willingness to consider the transfer.”
“How far do we go with the development of a business plan to invest in something that isn’t even a maybe?” he said.
Fairleigh said the eventual agreement could be linked to accomplishments, that the parks department could agree in advance to transfer property if certain conditions were met.
“It’s easier for the board to say that it will do more in a situation than commit to something and then have to back away,” he said.
Fairleigh said that if the public development authority doesn’t come up with an acceptable business plan, Fort Worden “would continue to be an icon of the parks system, and we will continue our commitment to developing it as a lifelong learning center.”
Parks Commissioner Rodger Schmitt said the public development authority needs to develop a solid business plan before proceeding.
“If the PDA shows that it can operate the park in a financially viable way, we will make the transfer,” he said.
“If it doesn’t pencil out, it can back away.”
A new business plan isn’t needed. Instead, it will be a revision of one completed in 2008.
Former Fort Worden Park Director Kate Burke began a three-month $21,000 contract to help refine the business plan March 1, and up to $23,000 could be paid to an agreement with PROS Consulting for development of that plan.
PDA board Chairwoman Cindy Hill Finnie said after Wednesday’s meeting that the public development authority is raising funds now to cover the cost of Burke’s contract.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.