Gary Nelson
This is in response to the editorial in the Monday May 13 edition of The Herald, regarding the Snohomish County Council’s position on a proposed National Flight Interpretive Center (NFIC) at Paine Field ("Paine Field museum deserves county support"). The Herald has left out many significant facts related to the proposal.
First, it is necessary to understand the foundations of the Public Facilities District process and the intent of the legislation that enabled the county to retain the 0.033 percent of existing state sales tax for PFDs. County PFD formation legislation was targeted to construct, operate and finance "regional centers" that are used for conventions, conferences and special events.
A museum does not qualify under the enabling state legislation as an acceptable project. When this fact was first acknowledged, the National Flight Interpretive Center project immediately became a "convention space." If it is a convention space and the county airport is the lead entity, it places the county in the position of competing with other privately run facilities in the area and deviating from the charter of the airport. The charter for Paine Field mandates use of property and facilities for aviation-related activities.
Snohomish County would be a deep pocket under the National Flight Interpretive Center proposal, accountable for cost overruns and liability and responsible for permitting, traffic impacts, Federal Aviation Administration approval and ongoing operations. The county chose to remain at arm’s length with all of the PFDs to protect Snohomish County taxpayers from the liabilities of direct involvement.
South County, Everett and Edmonds public facility districts were formed to handle legal, construction and leasing issues, with the county PFD board acting in an oversight role. The process was not envisioned to include the county itself through one of its departments acting as an applicant for the funds.
National Flight Interpretive Center supporters seeking support from the Snohomish County Public Facilities District seem to have persuaded The Herald, but there remain unresolved questions. The Herald editorial’s attempt to introduce political affiliations into the debate is entertaining, but this question stands out regardless of the political party or residency of a councilmember: Should the county be the lead entity in the National Flight Interpretive Center construction, operations and liability?
The Museum of Flight is a fine idea. The Snohomish County Council will support Boeing and other partners seeking capital funding outside of PFD funding, and will make the necessary changes in the operation of the airport to help get it off the ground.
Gary Nelson of Edmonds is chair of the Snohomish County Council.
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