Pierce County took its first real step Tuesday toward public financing and construction of a proposed world-class golf course on waterfront land it owns in University Place.
The County Council voted 5-2 to spend as much as $ 1.3 million in sewer fees to hire renowned architect Robert Trent Jones II to design a 27-hole Scottish links-style course at Chambers Creek Properties.
The decision began a series of steps the council must approve before construction begins. It handed management of the project, including the execution of design and construction contracts, to County Executive John Ladenburg and members of his administration.
Ladenburg said he expects to sign a contract with the Jones firm within the next few weeks. The Palo Alto, Calif.-based company is expected to produce several designs to choose from. Those designs will incorporate walking trails and the county's wastewater treatment system, Ladenburg said, and the public will get to comment on the alternative designs before one is approved.
There has been talk of opening the course in 2007, but Ladenburg declined to predict when the project would break ground.
"We'll wait for the experts to tell us it's ready to go," he said.
Backers of the 275-acre golf course say it would help restore a former gravel mine, allow expansion of the county's wastewater treatment plant and generate enough revenue to pay for other public improvements at the 930-acre Chambers Creek Properties.
The entire project is estimated to cost between $ 12.7 million and $ 16.95 million.
Joe Scorcio, the county project manager for Chambers Creek Properties, said the county will know the actual cost of the golf course once a Jones design is produced and selected.
Scorcio said county officials hope to receive design alternatives in about six months, enabling them to incorporate the cost of the golf course into the county's 2005 budget. Ladenburg will submit his proposed 2005 budget to the council in October. The council usually adopts the budget in late November.
The county plans to cover the construction and start-up costs of the golf course by selling bonds, and then using revenue from the course to pay off the debt.
The project won design money Tuesday after about three months of council meetings during which residents and city and business officials offered conflicting testimony.
As Tuesday's vote drew closer, the debate focused on the best way to finance and manage the project. Last week, council members heard from two representatives of a national real estate firm that specializes in golf course transactions. Those representatives recommended the county take the golf course to private investors to see if a lease could be signed to build and manage the project.
Council members Kevin Wimsett (D-Spanaway) and Dick Muri (R-Steilacoom) sought to cancel Ladenburg's proposal to publicly finance the project and instead seek a private company to build, operate and maintain the golf course. Wimsett said the public should not have to pay for a golf course.
"It is a huge risk," he said.
The council voted 5-2 to reject the Wimsett and Muri proposal. Still, Muri urged the council to consider a private lease even after it receives design alternatives from the Jones company.
Council Chairman Harold Moss (D-Tacoma) said he could envision future generations benefiting from the county's stewardship and the public improvements to Chambers Creek Properties 100 years from now.
"They'll be there because of what we did today," he said. "And I'll be damned if I'm going to leave them a gravel pit to save a few dollars."
Ladenburg's proposal won approval with conditions, including that the council approve the final design, finance and construction plans for what's expected to be a destination golf course. The council also intends to add rental lodging to the project, which would require approval by the cities of Lakewood and University Place. Additionally, the council said the county must not dip into its general fund, which pays for core services such as sheriff's deputies, to cover any of the costs of the golf course.
Greens fees are expected to top $ 100, although the council included a provision saying fees for county residents would always be "substantially" lower.
The county already operates public golf courses at Lake Spanaway and Fort Steilacoom.
Source: The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.)
