Camas mayor pressured on community aquatics center proposal

Camas leaders from the city, school district and port greeted a standing-room-only crowd at the 2019 Camas State of the Community address, held Sept. 19 at Lacamas Lake Lodge in Camas.

Camas School Board President Doug Quinn moderated the annual showcase of local government agencies’ most recent accomplishments and future ambitions.

Camas Mayor Shannon Turk delivered her first State of the Community speech since being appointed mayor in November 2018, and spoke about the city’s current Brady Road repair project, the construction of a $2 million water reservoir, the planned Lake Road-Everett Street traffic roundabout, growth in the North Shore area, acquisition of open space land and the city’s new plans for communicating with the general public.

Of all the issues Turk discussed at the State of the Community address, however, one topic — the city’s November ballot proposition asking Camas voters to approve a $78 million bond to build a community aquatics center and upgrade several Camas-area athletic fields — received the most pushback during the event’s question-and-answer session.

Reading from cards that community members had filled out before the State of the Community event got underway, Quinn asked Turk if the bond proposition would adversely impact other taxpayer-funded city services.

The second question of the night centered around costs for using the community center: If Camas taxpayers pay to build the center, would Camas residents also receive a membership discount?

“Absolutely,” Turk said, “your tax dollars are paying for that investment … you will get a discounted rate versus somebody who is coming to our community center from Vancouver.”

The third question asked Turk to speak to those in the room who support and oppose the community aquatics center.

To the center’s supporters, Turk said: “Thank you. You are probably one of the people that have filled out our community surveys and told us over the years that this is a high priority for you. And we have listened to you. We have pulled information together, and this is the best proposal we could put together.”

To those who oppose the $78 million community center bond proposal, Turk said: “I’m asking you to trust me.”

A community member shouted “No,” to that, but Turk kept going.

“This is a concept that we are putting together based on community surveys,” Turk said. “This is the best concept that we have at this point. There (is) $78 million for this facility and sports fields improvements. It’s a concept. The ballot measure is the absolute highest amount we can collect.”

Turk compared the $78 million “huge ask” to someone getting preapproved for a $500,000 home loan and finding a home for $400,000, so they only take out a loan for $400,000.

“If we don’t ask for ($78 million) then we might not get the center,” Turk said. “People have, quite frankly, they’ve told me that I’m stupid. They say, ‘You should not have asked for such a high amount. It’s never going to pass. You should have asked for $50 million and fundraised to get it up there.’ To that I say, ‘Yes, that’s one way we could have gone.’ … But I know of facilities in this area that have plans for competitive pools sitting in the drawer. They’ve never fundraised. They’re never getting that pool.”

Turk added that she realized asking for $78 million was “a risk” on the city’s part.

“But I’m hoping that you trust me, that we are going to put together the best plan we have on the best site,” Turk said. “I know there are questions about sites, about what will be done specifically at this center, but I’m asking you to trust the city. And if you don’t trust me, trust the city council. You have seven amazing people with diverse backgrounds, with diverse interests, that keep me in check. That’s their job. We have a system of checks and balances. We’re all working together. This is where we’re going. We can talk about different locations and about different things happening (at the center) after the ballot passes.”

Port, school district spotlight future developments, students’ emotional health

Other highlights from this year’s State of the Community address came from Ripp and Snell as they discussed the Port’s waterfront development and “Building 20” plans and the school district’s recent acquisition of the former United Laboratories (UL) building and land.

Ripp said the Port has had great success filling buildings in its industrial development park, and pointed to plans for “Building 20,” a 50,000-square-foot spec building the Port hopes to begin construction on in 2021.

Like Building 18, an industrial building the Port finished in May 2018 that is at 100-percent occupancy with six businesses, Ripp said Port leaders expect to have little trouble filling space in the planned Building 20 development.

The Port also is working to complete a long-awaited project at Parker’s Landing on waterfront land at the edge of Camas and Washougal.

“We asked, ‘What does the community want to see (on the waterfront)?'” Ripp said in his State of the Community address. “Last Monday we presented three concepts. And it’s not about what we want, it’s about what you want.”