Athletic club asks city for fiscal spot

Published 6:00 pm Saturday, August 11, 2007

POULSBO — Despite the many hot-button issues the city currently faces, more than half of Wednesday night’s 20 city council meeting attendees showed up for one and only one purpose: Armstrong Fitness University.

Six citizens spoke on behalf of the athletic club, including owner Ann Armstrong, one of her employees, and four of her clients, calling on the city council for assistance after AFU was forced to move from its Viking Avenue location. A nearby gas leak threatened the health of both staff and customers, and the Washington State Department of Health agreed with Armstrong’s decision to close after several in the building became sick due to overexposure to gasoline fumes.

The underground gasoline tank at Poulsbo Junction Grocery was removed July 20 after leaking a large plume of gasoline into the ground, which then spread to the east side of Viking Avenue near Armstrong’s business. The tank, along with all others in the gasoline industry, was supposed to be updated by 1998 according to a national standard. Enforcement for the update was under state jurisdiction. The owners during that time, along with a third party that is now out of business, sent the state documentation showing the updates had been completed. The Department of Ecology determined last month that the tank was not updated, and is currently conducting an investigation.

Armstrong has now moved her facility to a downtown building, but struggled to provide the city with the necessary fees for operation. She and others complained about the city’s treatment through the ordeal, and asked for assistance from the council and mayor.

“What I found at Armstrong Fitness was hope,” said two-year AFU member Neil Janis. “I hope that each and everyone of you turn to Armstrong gym and lend a hand… my concern is that we are all turning away from assisting a local business.”

AFU aerobics instructor Ellen Dougherty said jumping through legal hoops made Armstrong’s already stressful situation more difficult.

“I’m very impressed by her professionalism and the opportunities she creates,” she said. “I often wonder why the city put someone in such a dire need through the obstacles that she went through.”

Armstrong said she worried about providing for her family after her business underwent a 20-day shutdown. AFU lost $2,000 per day during the closure, resulting in a $40,000 loss, she said.

Armstrong said she was first quoted a $1,500 fee for a conditional use permit application by the city, and that number gradually rose to several different amounts, finally ending at $3,250 including hearing examiner fees and consultant fees, which she paid Monday after borrowing the funds.

“It’s pretty tough to do when you’re 45,” she said of the loan.

Armstrong said she offered the city $1,500 and asked to create a payment plan for the rest, but was denied.

“We tried very graciously and in good faith to offer that and they wouldn’t accept it,” she said. “I’m not asking for anything to be waived. I’m just asking for reasonableness concerning the circumstances… all I’m asking for is a little bit of time.”

Poulsbo Mayor Kathryn Quade said the city did make a mistake in its initial fee assessment, but was doing its best to rectify the situation under the applicable public safety codes.

“I will say an employee did make a mistake in the original estimate of what the fees would be,” she said. “Right now, we are doing the best we can within our legal limitations.”

City planning director Barry Berezowsky said the city tried to communicate the necessary requirements, and thought there might have been a disconnect between Armstrong and her attorney, with whom the city had been speaking.

“My understanding is the fees were changed only once,” he said. “We’ve never processed this type of application before… but her attorney was aware of what needed to be done.”

Councilman Jim Henry said the true problem was the gasoline leakage, for which Armstrong was not responsible.

“It is not her job to make sure the gas tanks are removed,” he said. “Somewhere, somebody dropped the ball big time. Here is a citizen with a perfectly operating business, satisfied with her business, customers are satisfied. You don’t just jump up and move.”

Henry said he wished the issue had been brought to the council as an emergency action item.

Councilman Dale Rudolph said the city did what it could to accommodate Armstrong’s situation, and had allowed her to move the gym equipment into the new building before her application fees were paid, which normally isn’t done.

“It’s a little bit betrayed like the city’s done nothing and that’s not the case,” he said. “We’re bending over backward. All we asked for was the application and fees be paid.”

Councilwoman Connie Lord expressed sympathy for Armstrong, and brought up the idea of a possible early refund for some of the paid fees.

“As a council member I’d like to express my dismay that you’ve had to go through this,” she said.

Councilman Mike Regis agreed.

“We all want to go to sleep tonight knowing we did the best thing,” he said.

AFU will offer its customers an automatic 20-day extension on their membership to compensate for lost time. Armstrong said she will look for a permanent place of business outside the city limits. AFU is now open in the old Nielsen’s Appliance building on Front Street in Poulsbo.