CAMANO ISLAND — Quilts on each bed at historic cabins at Cama Beach State Park were handmade by local seamstresses. It’s a sweet touch to the former 1930s-era fishing resort that opened three years ago as state-owned rental waterfront cabins and bungalows.
Now, many of the state workers who have helped bring the Island jewel to life may be laid off.
Blame $10 million in cuts to the Washington State Parks department in Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proposed budget, said Mike Sternback, operations director for the department.
“The deck is being reshuffled,” Sternback said.
In 2010, Cama Beach State Park brought in $459,000 in revenue, he said. Expenditures were $1.07 million. On the books, the state is also paying back a 20-year bond used for cabin upgrades that costs about $200,000 per year, Sternback said.
Six of 16 workers at Cama Beach received “at risk” letters this week that they could be laid off in June. The equivalent of 2.1 full-time positions will be cut. To save money, he said, the Cama Beach reservation system, now person to person, may go online. How the park will be staffed is under review.
“Those details are continuing to be worked out,” Sternback said.
Conference coordinator Melanie Ford, 45, could see her career with State Parks end.
“This isn’t the first wave of letters,” Ford said. “It’s likely I will lose my job.”
She has worked for the department for 14 years, including the past 10 helping restore Cama Beach. She could be leaving about the same time a new 200-seat center for group events opens on the park’s 433 acres.
“I am on site,” Ford said. “Who will give tours, help set up events and make sure everything is running smoothly?”
The Center for Wooden Boats has a workshop at Cama Beach where they offer sailing lessons, classes and rent boats. Andrew Washburn said they are deeply concerned about the effect of potential layoffs.
“Almost any outcome of layoffs will mean less service to visitors and complicate the scheduling and coordination of programs CWB offers at Cama,” Washburn said. “In the next few years, visitors to Washington State Parks should expect to pay more and receive less service.”
Billy Davis, who lives on Camano Island, said staff and service reductions could have boomerang effects, including less crowds meaning slimmer traffic for Island businesses.
Christine Longdon, a Stanwood diving enthusiast who organized World Oceans Day at the resort last year, said layoffs at the park would be a very sad thing.
Her family has stayed in the cabins several times and they have enjoyed every minute of it, she said. She said it’s obvious how much the park means to people who have volunteered so many hours at the site.
“The staff there are all wonderful,” Longdon said. “They work hard to bring great programs to a beautiful park and bring enthusiasm to ‘going back in time’ where things are much simpler, enjoying nature, and getting back to family.”
Kim Shelman, who owns Utopia Alapacas about five minutes from the park, said the cabins are almost always full at Cama Beach.
“We are very disappointed at the apparent target of Cama Beach for layoffs,” Shelman said. “It doesn’t make sense.”
If the reservation system goes online, Ford said they won’t be able to chat with renters about where to buy a sleeping bag, who sells ice on the island and if there are nearby restaurants. Ford said she isn’t sure the welcome center will remain open or how staffing will be handled.
“We know and all appreciate there is hurting everywhere,” Ford said. “This isn’t the only place.”
Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451; oharran@heraldnet.com.
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