Feb 27, 2008
Council weighs into Children's Museum relocation
Jason Hagey; The News Tribune
Tacoma City Councilman Mike Lonergan isn't persuaded that a patch of vacant land at the head of the Foss Waterway is the best place for a new children's museum.
City Councilwoman Julie Anderson isn't sure that same piece of land is the best choice for so-called passive open space.
But one thing was clear from the City Council's discussion Tuesday about a controversial proposal to build a new Tacoma Children's Museum on the land: City council members are players in the political maelstrom, despite its lack of an official role in the process.
Councilman Jake Fey called upon the council to "step up" and discuss the issue, come to a conclusion and be clearly on the record about it. Fey – who said his "fingerprints" were on it because of discussions he had with then-Councilman Bill Evans – was troubled by the perception that the "fix is in" to relocate the museum from Broadway to the waterfront, despite questions about the legality of doing so.
“The credibility of the City Council is on the line,” Fey said. “We need to be open and above-board.”
Since the museum announced in September 2007 its desire to move to
the site, nonmotorized boaters, preservationists and some Dome District
property owners have strongly objected. They not only want the property
to remain open, but they also accuse the City of Tacoma, Pierce County,
Metro Parks and the Foss Waterway Development Authority of working
behind the scenes on the museum plan.
The Foss board has had public events on the matter. Two are
scheduled this month. The council will talk about the issue again at a
future study session, and could end up voting on a resolution taking an
official position on it.
The approximately 3-acre parcel was purchased with money set aside
for open space and is the future site of a park. Backers of the
museum’s plan want to swap another vacant parcel to allow for
construction of a building. The Foss board has asked the county
prosecutor for a legal opinion on the proposal and is awaiting a reply.
Depending on the legal opinion, the issue could come to a quick
conclusion – or continue to be a source of controversy. If Prosecutor
Gerry Horne concludes the property swap proposal is not legal, and
there is no other way to remove the covenants from the land, the museum
presumably would be forced to look elsewhere.
Several council members said they support the museum’s plan and hope a solution can be found that accommodates everyone.
Among the City Council members, Lonergan was the only one who
expressed reservations with the idea. He questioned City Manager Eric
Anderson about a May 11, 2007, letter from Anderson to Don Meyer, Foss
Waterway Development Authority executive director, asking the Foss
board to initiate a process to remove the restrictive covenants on the
waterway property to clear the way for the Children’s Museum.
Lonergan asked how that letter reconciled with a memo Anderson sent
to council members last week saying that no formal action was required
from the council and that a series of decisions will be made by the
Foss board and Pierce County.
“It seems like the city does have a role,” Lonergan said, adding
that Anderson instructed the Foss board to make certain things happen.
Anderson said he didn’t instruct Meyer to do anything and that his
letter was worded as a request. Anderson said he made the request based
on his understanding at the time that council members supported that
direction.
The Children’s Museum chose the waterway site after an extensive
search, said Tanya Andrews, executive director. At one point, museum
officials considered property near Cheney Stadium and in Fife, she
said. The waterway site was the only property with a perfect score on a
list of criteria that included parking, a feeling of safety and nearby
green space.
Council members, including former Councilman Bill Evans, supported
the location as the site for a new Children’s Museum because it will
help children learn about Tacoma’s tie to the water and attract more
people to the waterway.
Andrews blamed the controversy on a lack of communication.
“My dream is for the Children’s Museum to be a community-building
activity,” she said. “It’s disappointing it’s causing a community
divide.”
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
What: An open house on the Foss Waterway park
When: March 10 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Where: Phoenix Room at Freighthouse Square, 430 E. 25th St.
What: A public hearing on the park
When: 5 p.m. March 19
Where: Fabulich Business Center, 3600 Port of Tacoma Road
Jason Hagey: 253-597-8542
jason.hagey@thenewstribune.com
The News Tribune1950 South State Street, Tacoma, Washington 98405 253-597-8742
© Copyright 2007 Tacoma News, Inc. A subsidiary of The McClatchy Company
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