POULSBO — The Poulsbo Marine Science Center is now the Western Washington University SEA Discovery Center.
The change in operation, celebrated May 24, takes effect on June 1.
The Poulsbo Marine Science Center Foundation discontinues operations and terminates its lease with the city on May 31.
The Poulsbo City Council voted on May 18 to enter into an arrangement with Western Washington University, authorizing the university to take over operation of the marine science center on June 1 under a one-year lease. Once all of the legal and real estate issues have been satisfactorily resolved, the city expects to transfer title and ownership of the center to WWU.
The change does not come as a surprise to any of the parties. The city and WWU started the process by signing a memorandum of intent on Dec. 16, 2015.
When asked about the seemingly short time between signing the memorandum in December and turning over the keys in May, City Council member Ed Stern said Western President Dr. Bruce Shepard is retiring in June and has made it a goal to expand new campuses before he steps down. WWU currently provides undergraduate degree programs on the Olympic College campus in Poulsbo.
“This assures the foundation’s mission and the Science Center will continue in perpetuity,” Stern said.
According to city officials, a lot of the details that remain to be worked out are due to complexity of the land boundaries. Some date back to 1895 and they have to be resolved before the final contract can be signed.
Mayor Becky Erickson elaborated on property issues, pointing out that the city-owned property in the area is currently “all one piece” and includes parking for nearby businesses and the city pump station upland of the center, as well as the science center. What land will be included in the transfer of ownership has yet to be resolved.
While details may change, the broad strokes of the agreement are unlikely to change, city officials said.
A draft version of the agreement has WWU agreeing to continue operating the center for the benefit of the public, including keeping the marine science museum and aquarium open to the public, and offering a marine science education program for all education levels, including post-secondary, secondary, and primary education.
WWU also intends to use the Poulsbo Marine Science Center for general university-level classroom instruction.
According to Stern, the Marine Science Center Foundation — which had a lease from the city to operate the center as an educational site for the community — will dissolve and turn over all of its assets to WWU, including the sub-lease with Sealaska Corporation for use of second- and third-floor office space. Ownership of the building and property, and the foundation’s assets, will be turned over to WWU when the final contract is signed — lock, stock and octopus sculpture.
