LYNNWOOD
Buoyed on by a supportive packed audience, the City Council Monday, July 28 voted 6-1 to authorize the renovation and expansion of Lynnwood’s 30-year-old recreation center at a cost of $21 to $25 million.
“In terms of dollars, this is the biggest thing we’ve done in 50 years,” said Mayor Don Gough.
The plan, which adds 15,380 square feet to the recreation center, includes a new aquatics center, locker rooms, weight room and cardio area and roof. Construction would start in 2009, with the first phase completed by 2010 or early 2011. Construction and financing for a second expansion phase has not been decided.
In approving the plan, the council decided not to go with a less expensive option to simply renovate the recreation center at a projected cost of $9 million.
Funding for the first phase, renovation and partial expansion, will come from a variety of sources, none of which voters will weigh-in on.
Those sources include a large loan —-via general obligation bonds the city will have to pay off over 20 years –plus increases in utility taxes to service that debt.
Councilman Jim Smith cast the lone “no” vote, saying he realized his action would “go down in flames.”
“I am not opposed to renovating the recreation center,” he said. “I’ve been in this business too long to realize there are going to be some decisions people aren’t going to like. But a lot of times I do what I think is the right thing. I think it’s important for citizens to declare war on out of control taxes.”
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