By Dennis Box, The Courier-Herald
The Bonney Lake City Council has decided to run two municipal bonds on the general election ballot in November, seeking money for parks and a community/recreation center.
After an extended discussion at the City Council workshop on April 6, Council members agreed that a bond resolution would be drafted by city staff and presented to the Council for a vote.
The parks bond would be used principally to buy land. The council is currently considering a $5 million bond, but the final numbers are not in yet.
The bond for the community/recreation center is less certain, but the figure of $5 million is also being considered.
"This is definitely the best way," Mayor Bob Young said. "We didn't want to put them together. We need to go to the people and decide what they want."
The issue of purchasing land for parks is a high priority for the Council. Land is quickly disappearing in the area and the price continues to rises.
The design, specifics and the working parts of a community/recreation center is less certain.
"That's the big question," Young said. "We're not sure what we want to put in it. That has to be decided."
For the city to place the two bonds on the ballot the Council must first pass a bond resolution. The resolution is submitted to the Elections Office of the Pierce County Auditor and is placed on the election ballot.
There must be a minimum turnout to validate the election and a 60 percent "yes" vote for passage.
A municipal bond will not be put before the voter for the new city hall.
According to Deputy Mayor Dan Swatman, a council bond could be voted on by the Council to raise a portion of the funds needed to build city hall.
"A councilmatic bond could be run," Swatman said. "But there are some questions about building City Hall we need to figure out first. We have a ways to go."
The 13 acres of land for City Hall has been purchased for $1.13 million.
It is estimated building a new City Hall would cost aproximately $8 million.
According to Young, money for the building could be raised from the general fund, a council bond and utility funds.
Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@courierherald.com
