WWU favors waterfront development authority

University, port would partner

JOHN STARK

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BELLINGHAM — Western Washington University is proposing creation of an independent development authority that would link the university with the Port of Bellingham and private developers to create new waterfront facilities.

University President Karen Morse told port commissioners Tuesday that her board of trustees has authorized her to take preliminary steps toward the creation of such an authority, which she dubbed “the Viking entity.”

As she described it, the entity could be the fastest way of getting new university waterfront facilities under way. University officials have suggested they might be able to use about 12 of the 220 waterfront acres that the port is attempting to redevelop.

Morse said the traditional state capital budget system for university buildings could take a decade or more to provide millions of dollars of funding for a new home for Huxley College of the Environment and other programs.

“We feel that the slower we go, the more cost escalation we’re going to have,” Morse said.

Morse said she and her staff envision an entity with a fivemember governing board, including the university president, a university board member, the port’s executive director and a port commissioner. Those four would then select a fifth member.

The entity would have the power to work in partnership with private lenders and developers to develop facilities for long-term lease to the university as well as other tenants, on land that would be either leased or purchased from the port. It could also receive public funding from the port, university or both.

Wendy Bohlke, an assistant Washington attorney general who advises the university, told commissioners that the entity would be fully accountable for any tax money it spends, and would be subject to state audit and state laws regarding competitive bidding.

Port commissioners were cautiously receptive to the concept.

Morse and Frank Chmelik, the port’s attorney, said they would have a formal description of the entity and its powers ready for port commission review and possible vote by the next scheduled commission meeting on May 6.

Commissioner Scott Walker said port and university officials should keep in mind that the waterfront is public property belonging to everyone in Whatcom County.

“There’s a lot of folks who want to see that the value is protected,” Walker said.