PORT TOWNSEND — A community foundation, getting wide loads across the Hood Canal Bridge and the Quilcene water system were discussed Tuesday as elected representatives from the city, county, port and public utility district met at Point Hudson.
Port Townsend City Councilwoman Michelle Sandoval pitched the concept of forming a two-pronged community foundation: to handle charitable donations to nonprofit organizations while providing loans and grants to businesses.
City Councilman Geoff Masci said a foundation with $5 million would be able to realize $120,000 to $150,000 in interest annually that could be used to assist businesses.
“The money could be used to expand local businesses or help with start-up costs,” Masci said.
Masci agreed with the idea of separate funds within the foundation.
“I don’t want to see money go for studies, land trusts or farmers markets,” Masci said.
Despite wanting to set limits on how the money could be used, Masci heralded the community foundation idea as “fresh” and having “a lot of merit.”
Sandoval said the Food Co-op is a good example of a business could be started through a foundation.
Estate transfers
Katherine Baril, director of Washington State University Cooperative Extension, said experts are predicting that people dying in the next 5 to 15 years will transfer $41 trillion, which could help community foundations.
Port of Port Townsend Commissioner Herb Beck said he saw merit in a community foundation providing help to businesses.
But he added that he didn’t want to see it administered by a board that would restrict usage according to what it likes and doesn’t like.
In talking about the problem of getting wide loads across the Hood Canal Bridge now and during the 2007 closure, City Manager David Timmons said one government entity, in Jefferson County or Clallam County, needs to take the lead.
“Local companies — especially the marine trades — are at risk,” Timmons said.
The bridge, according to Port Executive Director Larry Crockett, has been narrowed to two 11-foot lanes, which makes it impossible for a load 13 feet to 14 feet wide to pass without closing the span to oncoming traffic.
Ferry lease?
Timmons said one possible solution would be leasing a large-enough ferry to accommodate several large trucks for a trip between Edmonds and Port Townsend.