I don’t understand how the city of Poulsbo can afford to build an estimated $16.9 million Taj Mahal city hall when we can’t even afford to keep our North Kitsap community pool open beyond Dec. 31, 2008. Many other cities share a funding partnership with local school districts to operate their community pools.

Why was ground broken on the new city hall before the final construction price was confirmed and funding secured? And why was the space needs program given to the architects so large in scope? For a town of 7,560, do we really need a 30,000 square foot city hall at a cost of $2,000 per taxpayer? How does Bainbridge “make do” with its 24,000 square foot city hall that serves a population base of 23,180, which is three times the size of Poulsbo’s population?

As someone who has worked as a business manager in a couple of architectural firms, it would be irresponsible to urge a client to begin site excavation and foundation work before final bids are received, which can’t be done until the final construction documents are completed — unless the client has a limitless pocketbook. If the final bids come in significantly over the estimate, then the client may likely choose a redesign that could affect the footprint of the building. Does city hall have a limitless pocketbook? What if the construction cost comes back as $20 million or more? Would Poulsbo Mayor Kathryn Quade then say, “Oops, too bad, we’ve already laid the foundation?” By authorizing site excavation and foundation work before the final construction price is known makes me wonder if this strategy was the initial intention of the mayor to get exactly what she wanted? Also, it’s not uncommon to reserve 10 percent on top of the final construction price for cost overruns and contingencies. Has 10 percent been added to the estimated $16.9 million price for the new city hall? I’d like to see the $16.9 million cost estimate online so I can study it.

The planning and execution of the downtown Poulsbo city hall scheme was rushed and reckless. As citizens, we heard that we had to build the city hall right away because city employees should no longer work in converted closets. While that’s not ideal for them, the pool benefits many more people in our community than the few who must make do with cramped working conditions. To quickly solve the city’s working space deficiencies, there was office space available right next door in the former Coldwell Banker space that is now rented by a mortgage company.

Living on Noll Road in Poulsbo, I also wondered how money was found to provide lighting on a brand new soccer field at the corner of Hostmark and Noll (Strawberry Field) and yet right down the street, the community pool still struggles to find funding sources to stay open? The city of Poulsbo’s 2008 budget-in-brief provides the answer: “It is anticipated there will be remaining funds which could be put toward lighting Strawberry Field.” I also learned on the city’s Web site that its 2008 budget includes the development of Olhava Ball Fields to include four to eight multi-use (baseball, softball, soccer) fields on eight acres located in the Olhava development. The project would be phased over several years. Could we do with a few less ball fields and fund the pool instead? Teaching a child to swim is a vital life skill that should come before that child is old enough to use a recreational ball field. Mayor Quade states that the design of the city hall’s luxurious atrium is a signature statement. Wouldn’t it be a more important signature statement to fund the community pool so that all Poulsbo families would have the means to teach their children to swim?

Mayor Quade states she wants to proceed as planned on this costly city hall structure because “things are not doom and gloom here.” Has she talked with people who have received their drastically reduced savings and investment statements? Since 16 percent of the city’s income comes from property taxes, which would be used to build our city hall, wouldn’t most of us prefer some tax relief right now? Mayor Quade cites historic examples, such as the Hoover Dam, that make a good point for proceeding with city hall during these uncertain times. If she wants to cite history, shouldn’t we include the Iraq war as an example of a rushed and reckless plan?

It’s prudent to make sure the economy has recovered, that the space needs of the new Poulsbo city hall are carefully examined and compared to Bainbridge Island’s city hall, and the community pool is fully funded before digging that hole any deeper.

June Cotner Graves

Poulsbo