Money for Foss Waterway Park, APCC

On the agenda for the next City Council meeting on September 11 is a resolution that would help fund the overbudget Foss Waterway Park cleanup.

The resolution, which follows a conversation earlier this month would redirect $350,000 in reallocated bond funds to the soil remediation project on the Foss along with $250,000 for the brownfield clean-up on City-owned property at 21st and Jefferson.

The project went over budget when 1,100 tons of contaminated soil had to be removed (rather than the 350 tons originally anticipated), and the cap and fill had to be increased as well. Those increased costs, along with other unforeseen issues, like the breaking of a deteriorated sewer line, led to a project cost increase from $680,000 to $1.2 million.

The resolution in question would fund a part of the gap, but leave a significant chunk of funding still unaccounted for. Staff say how will depend on how successful they can be in fundraising

This still leaves $$$, and if Metro Parks is to take over responsibility for maintenance and operation of the new park, they’re asking that there be some sort of revenue fund included in the deal. One idea being floated (ha ha) is to lease the xxx as a boat rental and/or concessionaire space. That’s a possibility, but maybe we can think even bigger. What about

Tacoma has very little westward-facing waterfront;

Read more from the Tacoma Daily Index.

http://cms.cityoftacoma.org/cityclerk/Files/CityCouncil/CMOWeeklyReport/2011/WklyReport20111208.pdf