SEQUIM — The Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center will cut its hours of operations Oct. 5 to delay closure.
The facility at 610 N. Fifth Ave. has just six months of projected funding available, according to its board.
The plan to cut hours of operation “will delay SARC’s closure hopefully until Sept. 30” next year, said Frank Pickering, SARC board president.
“The whole point is to extend the time in which existing money is available and to seek solutions.”
A measure to create a metropolitan park district that would solely fund SARC, which includes Sequim’s only public pool, was defeated in the Aug. 4 primary election, leaving the facility without new tax revenue.
The SARC board elected during a special meeting Tuesday to reduce SARC’s hours.
New hours
New hours will be:
■ Mondays through Fridays — 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
■ Saturdays — 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
■ Sundays — Closed.
Present summer hours are 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.
While the cost-saving measure will give the facility more time to remain open, “without an active levy or white knight, SARC will be forced to close,” Pickering said.
“If the pool air handler breaks down, SARC may be forced to close the pool, and possibly the facility, earlier,” he added.
In April, the SARC board began seeking $386,100 in Clallam County Opportunity Funds to replace the outdated heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, and the City Council endorsed the request.
The HVAC system, which circulates fresh air into the indoor pool room known as a natatorium, was installed 18 years ago and is on its last legs, Pickering has said.
The request for county funding has been placed on hold because SARC is not financially viable at present.
“It is on the back burner,” Pickering said.
“You can’t give money to a failing organization that doesn’t have a future assured.”
Closure of the pool would require the Sequim High School swim team, which uses the facility for training and events, to seek another venue.
High school officials don’t have a contingency plan at this time and will look into other options should the need arise, Dave Ditlefsen, Sequim School District athletic director, has said.
SARC was formed as Clallam County Parks and Recreation District 1, a junior taxing district, in 1988.
The district ceased to collect taxes in early 2003 after voters did not approve several proposed levies, which needed a 60 percent supermajority.
Since then, SARC has relied on dwindling reserve money collected through the first 14 years of its existence.
SARC board members had previously said the facility would run out of funds by December 2016, but Tuesday, they said the date funding would expire under SARC’s current level of operations would actually be March 31.
The primary election measure would have allowed a metropolitan park district board to set levies without a public vote.
The August measure had “recommended” a property tax levy of 12 cents or less per $1,000 of assessed property valuation to fund the facility — the same amount voters failed to approve in a SARC levy election in February.
It was soundly rejected by 58.26 percent of voters.
Ad hoc groups
The SARC board has established three ad hoc groups to seek solutions.
Melinda Griffin will work with volunteers to form a nonprofit SARC Foundation to solicit gifts and donations to help fund SARC.
“SARC will . . . start taking donations to hopefully extend the life of the organization and has sponsorship opportunities to help SARC stay open on Saturday and Sunday afternoons,” Pickering said.
“All donations to SARC are tax-deductible from personal federal taxes.”
Sherry Nagle will work with Clallam County Family YMCA volunteers to investigate how the two organizations could benefit each other through a possible partnership.
“YMCA is very interested in working with SARC, and we have active discussions going on there,” Pickering said.
Gill Goodman will work with officials with the city and Clallam County as they consider options to help SARC.
The city is considering asking voters to approve a citywide metropolitan park district, perhaps as soon as February, that would provide funding for SARC and other facilities, City Attorney Craig Ritchie, who was then interim city manager, has said.
For more information about the ad hoc groups, call SARC at 360-683-3344.
SARC invites ideas and suggestions from the public on how best to keep the facility open, Pickering said.
“All practical suggestions will be welcomed,” he said.
Written suggestions can be submitted in the suggestion box at SARC and should include the name and address of the submitter.
Suggestions also can be emailed to Leslee Francis at sarc5@olypen.com.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or at cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
