Pierce County Council member Terry Lee gave a de facto State of the County address last Thursday during a public affairs forum at Cottesmore of Life Care in Gig Harbor.
The Gig Harbor Peninsula Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored the forum.
From future road improvements to the ongoing metamorphosis of the Chambers Creek property in University Place, Lee touched on what’s going on at the county level.
Roads were a topic of discussion, especially how the economic downturn will impact upcoming projects.
As part of the county’s six-year road improvement program, Lee, R-Gig Harbor, said the county had budgeted $237 million last year for road projects that fall within the time frame. With budget cuts, Lee said the figure has dropped to $108 million, pushing many projects outside of the six-year period.
Improvements to Wollochet Drive, which would include making sections of the road up to five lanes, would cost $13 million and is on track for a fall 2010 start date, Lee said. Funding will come through bonds. He added that Wollochet is the only road on the Gig Harbor peninsula that failed its carrying capacity.
Lee said if nothing is done with the road, a moratorium on development permits for the area would eventually occur — an idea that Lee called unacceptable.
Lee also voiced his support of a Pierce Transit shuttle service around the city of Gig Harbor.
In addition, Lee said the county council would approve new members to the Tacoma Narrows Airport Advisory Commission this week. Their task includes making recommendations to the council on what should be done with open space that is part of the airport.
Lee foresees “passive recreation opportunities,” such as trails for pedestrians and horses and off-leash dog parks.
“Obviously, it’s a huge site that could accommodate it,” he said.
Since the FAA has ownership of the land, Lee said the federal agency would advise the county as to what it can ultimately do with the 644 acres.
Lee also discussed his opposition to centralizing the county’s road shops, saying it would make it harder for county maintenance and supply availability.
To keep services close to where they’re needed, Lee said a joint-use Public Works maintenance facility and Pierce County Sheriff’s precinct is planned near the Purdy Bridge.
The county also is working on consolidating its 1,600 pages of code down to 400 pages — a move Lee said will increase predictability and provide a more consistent, efficient process.
Lee also said crews have broken ground on a $2.4 million pedestrian bridge that will overpass the BNSF railway at the Chambers Creek property in University Place. The overpass will open two miles of saltwater beach access — something that is at a premium for Pierce County, he said.
The future extension of the project, a $5.5 million, 380-foot pier and moorage float, which has no start date or funding, will allow boats and cruise ships to access the Chambers Creek property, Lee said. Completion goals are set around the Chambers Bay Golf Course hosting the 2015 U.S. Open.
Where’s Gig Harbor in all of this? Lee said there is growing interest for a new fisherman’s pier and a float in Gig Harbor bay that could handle Argosy-style cruise ships.
Highlighting the economic impact, Lee said a new pier and float would “be an opportunity for folks to come from Chambers Bay to Gig Harbor.”
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