PORT TOWNSEND — By a 2-1 vote, Jefferson County commissioners on Monday authorized the county administrator to work with Port Townsend’s city manager on a community opinion poll of future funding and options for parks and recreation services.
With Brinnon Republican Rodgers supporting countywide recreation services but not a poll, Democratic Commissioners David Sullivan of Cape George and Phil Johnson of Port Townsend voted for the city-county survey.
As approved, the county could authorize between $15,000 and $20,000 for its half of a poll.
The action is the next step in elected city and county leaders coming together on a proposed municipal park district, which could centralize some such facilities for equal access.
The proposal could include a city-county swimming pool.
Rodgers explained his no-vote on the poll, saying a “good study” by parks and recreation consultant Lee Springate, former Bellevue parks director, was conducted for the county about a year ago.
He said at this point a study was “like shopping doctors.”
“I think what we’re looking for is how to sell a program rather than whether it’s feasible or not,” Rodgers said.
Conducted by nonprofit
Finding what the community wants will require an community opinion poll that, as proposed, would be conducted through the Trust for Public Lands, a national nonprofit organization that promotes parks and recreation and has an office in Seattle.
The organization conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, natural areas and open space.