Betsy Peabody Sent - City of Bainbridge Island

From: Val Tollefson
Sent: Thu 8/19/2010 9:34 AM
To: Wini Jones; Tami Allen; Stephen Streufert; Paul Ziakin; Kevin Dwyer; John Doerschuk; John Demeyer; Jim
Reilly; Janet Knox; Grant Dull; Eric Turloff; Deb Rudnick; Cindy Robinson; Chris Van Dyk; Betsy Peabody;
Debbi Lester; Council
Subject: WSF property disposition issue
Dear Council Members,
I understand that WSF has recently made an overture to settle the issue of its obligation to provide a portion of
the Winslow maintenance yard for public use, perhaps as a boat haul-out facility. I also understand that WSF
has offered COBI $2 million to be used for other undefined projects in Eagle Harbor if COBI will give up its
claim to WSF property.
In reaching a decision on this issue, please keep in mind two very important points. First, the proffered $2 million
will not solve your budget problems. It would be special use money, and apparently would need to be spent
in a relatively short time on projects in Eagle Harbor that may not even be on your current “to do” list.
More importantly, obtaining the real property to which COBI is entitled is a necessary next step toward providing
Bainbridge Island with a working, maritime waterfront such as has been part of our history, and which is
a key element of almost every other waterfront city and town in Puget Sound. The opportunity to get this real
property may not come around again. Failure to seize this opportunity would be a serious mistake.
As the current president of the Bainbridge Island Land Trust, I have come to appreciate the fact that opportunities
to preserve land do not necessarily present themselves at economically convenient times. But I have also
learned that if those opportunities are not acted on, the conservation value of the property is often lost forever. I
have also learned that Bainbridge Islanders understand the importance of preserving land for public use, and are
willing to support the capital cost involved. I think the same principal applies to your decision on this opportunity.
Please think about this issue with a very long-range perspective. Don’t let this property slip away.
Val Tollefson