Dumas Bay Center staff warn of aging systems; council asks for costed options and quarterly reporting

Federal Way — Dumas Bay Center staff told the City Council on Saturday that the waterfront retreat facility is operational and generating record rental revenue, but that the building’s age has created recurring maintenance work and several items that will require major spending if left unaddressed.

Dumas Bay Manager David Clemens said the property posted its highest rental revenue in 2024 and that the center was “full” the day of the retreat with overnight guests, events in its conference rooms and a theater production. But he outlined frequent maintenance needs tied to the site’s age: flat roofs with standing water and clogged drainage, failing mini‑split heat pumps, pipework and distribution problems tied to an old central boiler system for guest rooms, and a patchwork of heating units across the property.

“Sections of the ceiling need repair and have fallen in,” Clemens said, adding the mini‑split unit in the retreat room was out of service and replacement costs for a single outdoor condenser were roughly $6,500–$7,000.

Why it matters: Councilors and staff said Dumas Bay is a valuable city asset — 2024 rentals and catering generated nearly $540,000 and additional food-and-beverage receipts — but repeated maintenance delays increase the risk of a catastrophic failure that would force a shutdown. Park and facility leaders said replacing plumbing and pipes to avoid recurring failures would be invasive and could require months of work.

What council asked staff to do: City Administrator Brian Davis and Parks Director John Hutton captured a staff follow‑up list while commissioners voiced support for preserving the facility and exploring long‑term options. Council directed staff to: provide quarterly operational and attendance reports for Dumas Bay and the Knudson Family Theatre; assess current ADA parking with a likely minimum increase from two to four accessible spaces; provide cost estimates for an envelope study or full repairs, including a cost‑benefit comparison of major renovation versus phased repairs; reach out to utility providers (for example, Puget Sound Energy) about energy efficiency incentives; and investigate peer facilities (e.g., the Lodge at St. Edward’s) and public‑private partnership options.

Staff cautioned that an envelope or structural study would itself cost a sizable sum — staff estimated a minimum of roughly $200,000 for a comprehensive envelope assessment — and that major plumbing or heating replacements would be invasive and require shutdowns. Hutton said the building is 75 years old and that galvanized piping traditionally lasts about 50 years, a fact that creates urgency for planning.

Bottom line: Councilors exchanged views about whether to commit to phased repairs, hold for a larger rebuilding project, or pursue public‑private partnership options; staff and council agreed to gather the cost estimates and bring a recommendation back through the parks committee.

Selected quote: “We are on borrowed time in this building,” Parks Director John Hutton said. “At some point a system will fail.”