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Port-city liaison committee discusses event center interlocal terms, hotel catering and financial contingencies
Summary
Committee members reviewed draft interlocal agreements for a proposed Port City event center, raised concerns about hotel-linked catering requirements and discussed several alternatives for addressing potential operating losses without the city writing direct subsidies to the port.
Anacortes — The Port City Liaison Committee last week focused on draft interlocal agreements for a proposed Port City event center, and recommended changes to protect affordability for community groups and to define options if the facility operates at a loss.
Committee members discussed drafts for two interlocal agreements — one for construction and one for operations — and agreed to add a provision preventing the port from requiring use of a hotel-affiliated caterer for events that are not part of a hotel stay. Committee members said such a restriction could reduce affordability for local nonprofits and community groups.
The committee also discussed contingency options in case the venue’s operations lose money. Members said alternatives under consideration include the city taking over operations, outsourcing operations to a third party, or establishing a mechanism to reimburse the city for construction costs; none of the proposals would involve the city or port simply writing checks to cover operating losses, the committee reported.
Why this matters: Terms in interlocal and operational agreements determine who bears financial risk, whether local nonprofits can afford the venue and whether the city or port would be asked to provide ongoing subsidies.
Next steps: The port commission and city staff will review the committee’s suggested edits and return draft language for further consideration by both bodies.
