Published: Thursday, November 15, 2007
UW report will be key, but won't end debate
Panel's preferred site to be announced today
Those competing to bring a new University of Washington campus to their Snohomish County community will learn today where a consultant thinks it best to build.
But don't expect backers of the finalist sites in Everett, Marysville and Lake Stevens to collectively embrace the recommended location.
Instead, they will simply retool their arguments as they focus on winning the support of state lawmakers and the governor; they will ultimately make the decision.
"It'll be exciting to be starting the next chapter of the game," said Caldie Rogers, president and chief executive officer of the Marysville-Tulalip Chamber of Commerce, a booster of the Marysville property off Smokey Point Boulevard.
History shows today's $1 million recommendation from NBBJ of Seattle may not wind up the home for the new four-year branch university.
The same consultant recommended the University of Washington's branch campus in Bothell be developed on the Wellington Hills golf course property owned by the university, higher education officials and lawmakers recalled.
Legislators were of a different mind and settled on the former Boone-Truly Ranch, they said.
On Wednesday, with that knowledge in hand, those engaged in the present competition said concession is not yet an option.
"If they say it is us then we move into the January legislative session working to echo what they say in the report," Rogers said. "If they say it is not us then we move into the session looking to help lawmakers understand they have the freedom to look beyond the site selection committee's recommendation."
Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson is confident one of his city's two locations -- Everett Station or Riverside Point -- will emerge atop the recommendation.
It is a process that may not conclude until the end of the legislative session in March.
"We've got many days and weeks to massage that recommendation and debate it and look at it from the right and look at it from the left," he said.
"I believe in my heart of hearts that once the preferred site is identified our collective community in Snohomish County needs to come around and get behind the preferred site," he said.
State Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, is one of those with a vote. He's backing the proposal for a college on mostly county-owned land at the corner Cavalero Road and 20th Street SE.
"We'll see what comes out then we'll go to work. It's just one piece of the puzzle," he said of the recommendation. "Ultimately, I'm not going to derail this process."
Not everyone is publicly aligned with one of the four sites.
State Sen. Jean Berkey, D-Everett, who pushed for an independently run university rather than a branch campus in the 2007 Legislature, is holding back.
"I'm excited. I think it's important that the University of Washington and (UW President) Mark Emmert support the recommendation, then the work begins to solidify the support," she said.
Rep. Chris Strow, R-Clinton, said: "This recommendation is going to shed a lot of perspective on the process and it will help us narrow down the final decision.
"If (supporters of the sites) all came to one decision at the same time I would be stunned," he said.
Former state Sen. Dave Schmidt of Mill Creek said unity must be achieved. Lawmakers from the rest of the state will steer clear of a decision if they see cities fighting and the area's legislators feuding.
"The last thing we want is one huge battle going on and it gets ugly," said Schmidt, who served on the community panel that in 2006 called for opening a four-year university in the region.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfieldheraldnet.com.
But don't expect backers of the finalist sites in Everett, Marysville and Lake Stevens to collectively embrace the recommended location.
Instead, they will simply retool their arguments as they focus on winning the support of state lawmakers and the governor; they will ultimately make the decision.
"It'll be exciting to be starting the next chapter of the game," said Caldie Rogers, president and chief executive officer of the Marysville-Tulalip Chamber of Commerce, a booster of the Marysville property off Smokey Point Boulevard.
History shows today's $1 million recommendation from NBBJ of Seattle may not wind up the home for the new four-year branch university.
The same consultant recommended the University of Washington's branch campus in Bothell be developed on the Wellington Hills golf course property owned by the university, higher education officials and lawmakers recalled.
Legislators were of a different mind and settled on the former Boone-Truly Ranch, they said.
On Wednesday, with that knowledge in hand, those engaged in the present competition said concession is not yet an option.
"If they say it is us then we move into the January legislative session working to echo what they say in the report," Rogers said. "If they say it is not us then we move into the session looking to help lawmakers understand they have the freedom to look beyond the site selection committee's recommendation."
Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson is confident one of his city's two locations -- Everett Station or Riverside Point -- will emerge atop the recommendation.
It is a process that may not conclude until the end of the legislative session in March.
"We've got many days and weeks to massage that recommendation and debate it and look at it from the right and look at it from the left," he said.
"I believe in my heart of hearts that once the preferred site is identified our collective community in Snohomish County needs to come around and get behind the preferred site," he said.
State Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, is one of those with a vote. He's backing the proposal for a college on mostly county-owned land at the corner Cavalero Road and 20th Street SE.
"We'll see what comes out then we'll go to work. It's just one piece of the puzzle," he said of the recommendation. "Ultimately, I'm not going to derail this process."
Not everyone is publicly aligned with one of the four sites.
State Sen. Jean Berkey, D-Everett, who pushed for an independently run university rather than a branch campus in the 2007 Legislature, is holding back.
"I'm excited. I think it's important that the University of Washington and (UW President) Mark Emmert support the recommendation, then the work begins to solidify the support," she said.
Rep. Chris Strow, R-Clinton, said: "This recommendation is going to shed a lot of perspective on the process and it will help us narrow down the final decision.
"If (supporters of the sites) all came to one decision at the same time I would be stunned," he said.
Former state Sen. Dave Schmidt of Mill Creek said unity must be achieved. Lawmakers from the rest of the state will steer clear of a decision if they see cities fighting and the area's legislators feuding.
"The last thing we want is one huge battle going on and it gets ugly," said Schmidt, who served on the community panel that in 2006 called for opening a four-year university in the region.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfieldheraldnet.com.
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