POULSBO — After working with Sen. Betti Sheldon to ensure the $13 million in state grant money was safe for Olympic College, Mayor Donna Jean Bruce is now rolling up her sleeves with the hopes of setting the “cornerstone” on solid ground at Olhava.
Mayor Bruce, who met with city officials and representatives from Olympic College last Thursday, is already making good on her re-election promise to do everything in her power to bring the branch campus here. Following the Nov. 8 meeting, she drafted a letter to Olhava Associates and First Western developers not only expressing the city’s desire to move the project forward, but detailing exactly what needs to be done in order for the long-time dream to become a reality.
“As we all know, the Poulsbo branch of Olympic College is literally and figuratively the ‘cornerstone’ of the Olhava project from the community’s perspective,” Mayor Bruce explained. “In order for Olympic College to move ahead with the campus project, they must have assurances from both the city and the Olhava Associates.”
Four areas must be addressed in order for the project to continue, according to city engineer John Stephenson:
1) Domestic water supply
• Olhava Associates to dedicate to the city the property for a tank site located at the high spot in the multi-family site north of “H” Street.
• Olhava Associates to construct a tank (approximately 1 million gallons) at this site to be operational prior to combustible construction or Sept. 1, 2002, whichever comes first.
• City will complete the Big Valley well construction and secure easements from the county and state and construct a transmission line from the well to the intersection of Parnell Place and “H” Street.
• Olhava Associates to dedicate right of way for “H” Street to the city and a transmission line easement from “H” Street to the tank site by March 1, 2002.
• City to construct a transmission line from the well to the tank site and from the tank site to the college site to be operational prior to combustible construction or Sept. 1, 2002, whichever comes first.
2) Road access
• Olhava Associates to dedicate to the city that portion of “C” Street needed for Olympic College access from “H” Street by March 1, 2002.
3) Sanitary Sewer
• Olhava Associates to dedicate right of way and/or easements from the college site continuing southeasterly through the interchange to state right of way for sewer alignment.
• Olhava Associates to secure necessary approvals from the state to construct the sewer through the interchange area and along SR 305 to Bond Road.
• Olhava Associates to construct the sanitary sewer from the college site to Bond Road to be operational no later than March 1, 2003 and to provide a performance bond to cover this work.
4) College requirements and contingencies
• Olympic College needs release of as much mitigation money from Olhava Associates as necessary to pay the city of Poulsbo for work done by the city or for roadwork to be done by the college instead of Olhava Associates.
• Availability of college’s mitigation funds is contingent upon awardable construction bids in line with estimates.
• Extension of time in property deed for commencement/completion of college construction from 2006/2008 to 2016/2018.
“We met with the college on Thursday and developed this,” said Stephenson, explaining the session with vice president of administration Mike Connolly, interim president Dr. Diana Van der Ploeg and trustees. “What we did was we itemized things the college needs to proceed with the project.”
Whether First Western and Olhava Associates will stick to the proposed time line though has yet to be determined. The developers have yet to meet a single deadline since the project was approved by city council over a year and a half ago.
Despite the fact that the college’s state-granted $13 million has been placed in jeopardy time and time again — most recently when the Office of Financial Management put it on an indefinite hold that was later dissolved — the Edmonds-based developers have continued to drag their feet.
But after rescuing the money from the OFM, Mayor Bruce, Sen. Sheldon and other college supporters agree that the project must go forward soon or all will be lost for good.
“The city is prepared to commit to those items that are designated as our responsibility,” Bruce said. “At this time we are asking the Olhava Associates to step up to the plate by making a similar commitment.”
Stephenson shared the mayor’s outlook.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to get it together,” he remarked. “(The letter) sets the tone for what’s going on now and hopefully tomorrow night. If it works we’ll all be happy.”
Mayor Bruce’s letter continued, stating that the city would be prepared to formalize its agreement at tonight’s city council meeting (scheduled for 7 p.m. at city hall).
“It is my hope that the tone of Wednesday’s meeting will turn into a ‘celebration’ of progress and success,” she added.
