Fred Chang’s Newsclips

By Jeff Donaldson
Sep 30 2006

Ignoring what appeared to be a majority of business and building owners’ calls for demolition of the marquee, the Port Orchard City Council on Monday voted instead to repair the city’s controversial walkway.

Council members Fred Chang, Tye Moore and Rita Dilenno voted to demolish the storied 30-year-old marquee, while council members Bob Geiger, Carolyn Powers, John Clauson and Rick Wyatt voted in favor of repairing the structure.

The cost could run as high as $500,000 to replace wood-rotted columns, strengthen concrete foundations and upgrade lighting and traffic signal connections, said Public Works Director Maher Abed.

After hearing from numerous downtown merchants, some on the council felt spending the same amount of money to destroy the covered overhang would leave the city with little to show for the cost.

“It’s not emotional, it’s logical,” said Geiger. “Based on citizen input made to me, over a long period of time and in great numbers, and in analyzing all the factors — repairing it seemed the most logical thing to do.”

Many area merchants have called for a covered overhang to protect shoppers during the rainy season, but most also have agreed that removal of the picket fences and rotted fascia boards has “opened up” the downtown.

Councilwoman Rita Dilenno said there never has been a dispute about having a covered walkway.

The issue has revolved around spending money to repair a marquee when so many buildings downtown need renovating, she said.

“The majority of the property owners don’t want it,” Dilenno said. “I find it incredible that we’re not giving credence to what the majority of people who actually have an investment in these properties wants.”

Abed said the city must first negotiate with TEC Construction, which took on the initial $112,000 contract to upgrade the marquee, to ensure they can finish as much of the current job as possible.

The contractor will likely finish building out columns, sealing gutters, repairing fascia and painting, he said.

A new contract will have to go out to bid for engineering of the repair of at least 15 of downtown’s 23 columns.

“The council has made it clear they want it as expedient as possible, but we have to make sure we put everything in place in an organized fashion,” Abed said, adding that current concerns are to ensure the structure is preserved from upcoming rains.

Chang said he was equally disappointed that senior members on the council did not weight the input of the Bay Street building owners.

“They argued about spending money and having ‘nothing’ to show for it,” he said. “I think that argument ignores the process where you need to have a blank canvass before you can create something new. In this regard, I think it shows a lack of imagination on the part of these council members.”

Delinno also was outspoken about her disappointment with the vote, saying that some on council are ignoring the advice of economic consultants who have charted a course for Port Orchard without the marquee.

“There are a whole contingent of new building owners who are asking us to get out of their way, but the senior (council) members decided not to listen to them,” Dilenno said.

One community member, Fred Olin, said he also planned to file an ethics complaint against Geiger, who owns the theater building on Bay Street. Olin contends Geiger should have not voted because the marquee’s renovation will affect him.

“My contention is that he has an obvious financial interest in the issue as a building owner, and he should recuse himself,” said Olin, adding he plans to ask the council not to sign any contracts right now.

But Geiger downplayed the significance of his interests or the “senior” vote.

“I wouldn’t concur with that,” Geiger said. “Considering the feedback, this seemed to be the best solution.”

Abed said he had no immediate timetable for completion of the marquee. A bid will have to be compiled after an engineering analysis and construction plan is completed.

© Copyright 2006 Port Orchard Independent