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County Administrator's Briefing Session
Commissioners Chambers
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO:
Board of County Commissioners
Philip Morley, County Administrator
FROM:
Leslie Locke, Deputy Clerk of the Board
DATE:
January 10, 2011
SUBJECT:
Letter of Support to Restore Funding to State Parks and Community Colleges for
the Restoration of Fort Worden State Park, Building 202; Senator Jim Hargrove
and Representative Steve Tharinger
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Letter of Support to Restore Funding to State Parks and Community Colleges for the Restoration of Fort
Worden State Park, Building 202; Senator Jim Hargrove and Representative Steve Tharinger
ANALYSIS:
Commissioner Johnson has drafted a letter of support for the Restoration of Fort Worden State Park,
Building 202 Funding.
RECOMMEND A nON:
Approve Letter of Support to Restore Funding to State Parks and Community Colleges for the Restoration of
Fort Worden State Park, Building 202; Senator Jim Hargrove and Representative Steve Tharinger.
REVIEWED BY:
Philip Morley, County Administrator
Date
January 10,2011
Representative Steve Tharinger
P.O. Box 834
Sequim, W A 98382
Senator Jim Hargrove
411 Legislative Building
P.O. Box 40424
Olympia, W A 98504-0424
Dear Senator Hargrove and Representative Tharinger,
We strongly urge the legislature to restore sufficient funds to the capital budgets for State Parks and Community
Colleges for the restoration of Building 202 in Fort Worden State Park to allow for the realization of a multi-
use, flexible, collaborative college center. Community Colleges had listed the renovation of Building 202 at the
top of their requests for the 2011-2013 biennium. The renovation was number two for State Parks. Each had
eannarked $2 million for this essential project. The City of Port Townsend has committed $500,000.
Jefferson County remains among Western Washington's most under served populations per capita in terms of
adult education (37% below the statewide average) due to its isolation from college facilities. A public-private
partnership is already in place to make efficient use ofthe college center. Peninsula College would provide
programs for AA degrees. Goddard College is bringing all of its four year BA programs and will also offer
Masters degrees.
The Fort Worden campus already has the infrastructure in place to support a renovated college center, including
eating facilities, transportation services and technology infrastructures. The proposal has the full support of Fort
Worden as it complies with the "lifelong learning center" strategy for the Fort.
This unique college center is a top economic development strategy for Jefferson County. Please restore the
funds to the capital budgets of community colleges and State Parks for the renovation of Building 202. We look
forward to your support for this project as well as the continued support for remote learning services in Jefferson
County.
Sincerely,
Jolm Austin, Chairman
Phil Jolmson, Member
David Sullivan, Member