POULSBO — With time receding like low tide in Liberty Bay, efforts to reopen the Poulsbo Marine Science Center ebbed closer to reality Wednesday night.

At the Aug. 16 city council meeting Mayor Kathryn Quade announced her intent to have an agreement signed between the city and the Poulsbo Marine Science Foundation on Sept. 6.

“We’ve got to get started very quickly or we’re dead in the water,” said PMSF President Adm. Bruce Harlow, Ret. as the council’s public works committee got its first look at the agreement.

The agreement was a part of a collaborative effort between Bight of Poulsbo founder Bill Austin, Harlow, Mayor Quade and city staff and was brought before the public works committee because the center’s use could have substantial impacts on the public works department.

Under the agreement, the foundation would be responsible for the building’s utilities and Poulsbo would be responsible for the interior of the PMSC.

“If we assume responsibility for the utilities, the city would assume responsibility for the integral parts of the building beyond fixtures,” Harlow said.

Public Works Director Jeff Bauman said those responsibilities must be clearly defined, so that each group understands its obligations.

“There’s a saltwater pump and if something goes wrong with that, we don’t have an expert in that kind of equipment,” Bauman said. “That needs to be clear.”

Harlow said the foundation has no problems with the operations and maintenance of that system.

“We would take full responsibility for equipment to keep critters alive,” Harlow said. “That we would take care of.”

Councilman Jeff McGinty requested that all maintenance and other costs be quantified, so the committee can track how much financial support the city is actually assuming.

“The costs go beyond the bond payments, and we need to see all that before we go to the (council) finance committee,” McGinty said.

Councilman Ed Stern replied that while the city has enough reserves to pay the $48,000 bond payment in 2007, it will have to find another funding source in 2008.

“I would suggest a two-year program budget, because if we sign off on 2007, it really bumps up in 2008,” Stern said.

A two-year budget is also important with regard to the state Legislature, because city officials lobbied for two years of funding this year, but received only a one-year appropriation for $250,000, Stern said. A two-year plan would help in the upcoming Legislative session.

However, for that to happen, and in order to receive additional state funding, the foundation has to show demonstrative progress at the PMSC to the Legislature, Harlow said.

“We have to get started and prove our bona fides,” Harlow said.

Quade echoed Harlow’s call for an expedited approval of the agreement, so the foundation can begin work in the center.

“If we get council to sign the agreement Sept. 6, the foundation could begin painting walls,” Quade said.