Letters to the Editor
Leter to the Editor | DeMolay Sandspit amendment isn’t an overrun
In response to Fox Island resident Craig McLaughlin on his recent LTE (“Update on PenMet’s DeMolay Sandspit project,” Oct. 20). I appreciate when our constituents keep a close eye on district finances, it reflects a community that genuinely cares about how we manage public resources.
This contract amendment he speaks about is actually very positive news for our community. PenMet Parks recently received additional grant funding in the amount of $1.078 million from the state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO). Originally, we planned to build out the master plan in smaller phases over multiple years to manage limited budgets. This grant allows us to complete the full project build-out all at once.
Since PenMet will now be doing the complete master plan, the scope of the design and engineering work expanded to cover the entire site. In Washington state public works, architectural and engineering contracts are negotiated based on state fee guidelines that align design compensation with the overall scope, complexity, and estimated construction value of the project. A full build-out requires complete engineering drawings, environmental permitting, and construction oversight for the whole site upfront.
This amendment is far from an unexpected cost overrun, it reflects a deliberate, strategic decision to put outside of district grant dollars to work immediately.
Doing this all at once will save taxpayer money in the long run by eliminating multiple contractor mobilization fees, repeated bidding costs, and years of construction inflation. Most importantly, a single build-out means we minimize park closures and deliver the project’s full benefits years ahead of schedule, creating greater access to this beautiful Puget Sound site, upgrading park amenities, and ensuring it can be safely and easily enjoyed by visitors of all ages and abilities.
Billy Sehmel
President, Board of Park Commissioners
Peninsula Metropolitan Park District (PenMet Parks)