MUKILTEO – The City Council was expected to vote on the future of the beloved Rosehill Community Center on Monday night, but as of press time it was still arguing about a petition challenging where a new city hall would be built.
The citizens’ petition calling for the city to rescind its decision to build a new city hall in Old Town is not valid, City Attorney Jim Haney told the council.
However, if the council does not approve the petition or put it on the ballot for voters to decide, residents may appeal to Snohomish County Superior Court, Haney said.
“The power to decide how city property is used and improved is expressly delegated to the Mukilteo City Council by statute,” Haney said.
The petition also challenges the city’s comprehensive plan that calls for a city hall to be built on Lincoln Avenue in Old Town, Haney said.
Petitioner Kevin Stoltz said his group would appeal if the initiative is not approved by the council or sent to voters.
“The initiative attorney is fully prepared to defend this initiative, and he will,” Stoltz said. “This is just one of those things that it doesn’t hurt to put it on the ballot and let the citizens decide.”
The council has not voted on the petition issue.
Later, it was expected to vote on the future of Rosehill.
The 78-year-old former school at 304 Lincoln Ave., could be restored for $2.4 million less than the city projected, according to consultants hired by residents who want to save the building.
The work could be done for $6.8 million, compared with a $9.2 million figure based on studies done earlier this year for the city, consultants from RFA of Seattle and the Rafn Corp. of Bellevue told the City Council last month.
The figure also comes in $1 million below the $7.8 million estimate for building a new community center.
A group of current City Council members and some of those running unopposed for election recently toured the Cadillac Hotel in Seattle, being renovated by Rafn.
Regarding city hall, the City Council voted 5-2 in March to build city hall next to Rosehill on Third Avenue in Old Town. The Mukilteo Citizens Network, formed to address the city hall issue, last month submitted a petition with more than 2,000 signatures to the city, calling for the decision to be rescinded.
The petition also calls for the city to locate its new City Hall in the central portion of the city on 47th Place W. next to the new police station in Harbour Pointe.
“We will file recall petitions on everyone that votes no,” Stoltz said earlier in the day.
Stoltz is running unopposed for the seat occupied by council president Cathy Reese.
Petitioners say the Rosehill block at Third Street and Lincoln Avenue should be dedicated to recreational use.
For 13 years, the city has leased a former warehouse at 4480 Chennault Beach Road as City Hall. The city’s lease there expires in 2007, and officials hope to have a new building by then. The cost of a new city hall is estimated at $5.5 million.
Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnetcom.
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