SEQUIM — Shop at Costco, improve life for Sequim’s workers.
That’s part of the plan conceived by City Manager Bill Elliott.
Sequim has outgrown its City Hall, and even more urgently it needs more room for its Public Works and Planning departments.
So instead of asking voters to pass a general obligation bond, Elliott recommends tapping the giant store opening Aug. 17 just inside the city limit.
Three years of Costco Wholesale sales tax revenues — estimated at $500,000 per year — plus money from the city’s reserves, could pay for construction of bigger city administration facilities, Elliott said.
The City Council on Monday night gave Elliott approval to move ahead with that idea.
“This is a way we could do this [build a multimillion-dollar City Hall complex] without having to go to the people and ask them to pay higher taxes,” said Mayor Walt Schubert.
The city may have to forgo some street improvements and additions to its staff, Elliott said.
Councilman Don Hall hesitated, saying that sounded like the city would be cutting off its own nose.
But conditions inside the tiny West Cedar Street buildings are close to intolerable, Elliott said, and Councilwoman Patricia Kasovia-Schmitt agreed.
“We need more personnel,” she said, “but we have no place to put them.”
