Spokane7
42°
November 18, 2009 in City
Science center plan falters
City officials balk as Mobius backers pursue changes in contract
A plan to build a science center and children’s museum on the north bank of Riverfront Park appears to be in jeopardy.
Concerns have arisen over how to handle private development alongside the proposed complex, and the protracted negotiations have left some Spokane Park Board members feeling frustrated.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s done,” said City Councilman Bob Apple, the council’s liaison to the Park Board. “The thing is dead on arrival at this point.”
The Park Board voted over the summer to approve a contract for the science center with Mobius Spokane, the nonprofit group working on the project.
This month, however, Mobius officials asked the Park Board to approve a revised contract. That’s angered some on the Park Board, who say their earlier vote represented their final offer.
“We either take it as it is or forget it,” Park Board member Jim Quigley said Tuesday at a meeting of a park committee focused on the Mobius project.
Park Board member Larry Stanley added: “That was a non-negotiable document.”
But Mobius backers said Tuesday the new proposal is mostly about putting final touches on the earlier agreement. They said the new proposal was worked on with some Park Board members and a city attorney. “It’s our interest in this whole process that we get an agreement that both sides are comfortable with,” said Anne Marie Axworthy, a Mobius board member.
Mobius hopes to build a $29.5 million complex that includes a science center, a children’s museum and an IMAX theater. The lease approved by the Park Board in the summer requires Mobius to pay the city $12,500 a year in earned parking revenue and 15 percent of any money earned on commercial property that may be developed on other parts of the site. Those stipulations also are part of the proposed new agreement.
Neil Worrall, president of Mobius Spokane, said most of the proposed changes are in spirit with the contract agreed to over the summer. A larger change, he said, was made so that the project organizers can apply for federal tax credits similar to ones used on the redevelopment of the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox.
“A close-the-door attitude to a nonprofit that’s trying to bring a science center and all its educational benefits to the people of Spokane is a little hard to work with,” Worrall said.
The 17-member Mobius board includes Anne Cowles, wife of The Spokesman-Review’s publisher, Stacey Cowles.
Mobius’ current and original plans for the site suggest it may commercially develop some of the land to earn money for the science center.
Park Board member Randy Cameron said he favors continued negotiations with Mobius but added that park leaders must ensure the final project fits the long-stated goal of the site.
“If it gets to be where it’s a development and it happens to have a science center in it, that’s not the spirit of what the Park Board was looking for or agreed to,” Cameron said.
Mobius’ idea to have commercial development on the property was one of the reasons it was selected by the Park Board for consideration in the first place, Worrall said. That’s because officials at the time recognized that science museums often struggle if they depend entirely on admission fees and donors, Worrall said.
“The commercial development of the land is a way of generating income to offset some of the operating cost,” Worrall said.
In 1999, Spokane voters approved a $15 million park bond. At the time of the vote, park leaders said they would use about $4 million of the money to buy land on the north bank of the Spokane River to expand Riverfront Park. They said their long-term goal for the property was to use the site for a science museum and to relocate attractions that are currently in the center of the park – an ice rink and the IMAX theater.
After the park department’s land purchase was complete, the board entered into a lease agreement in 2003 with the Inland Northwest Science and Technology Center, a group that later merged with the Children’s Museum of Spokane to become Mobius Spokane. The deal fell apart last year after Mobius missed fundraising deadlines it had agreed to with the city. Mobius raised less than $11 million of the $14 million it had pledged to raise by May 1, 2008.
Mobius board member John Becker said Mobius’ recent decision to hire an executive director is a sign of confidence in the project. The group has grant applications in to several foundations, and several businesses have expressed interest in donating to the project, he said.
“There will be some bumps in the road, you bet,” Becker said. “But we will prevail.”
Snow rules will be considered 
WSU Text-to-Win Contest 
Enter to win tickets to see Adam Carolla at the Knitting Factory 
EWU Text-to-Win Contest 
Rifleman__Dodd on November 18 at 12:53 a.m.
This was Dead On Arrival and another River Park Square debacle that would have cost the tax payers MILLIONS of dollars.
Glad the park board got their head together.
Mobius is a sponge for tax dollars.
Ron_the_Cop on November 18 at 2:34 a.m.
Rifleman,
This is one thing we can agree on.
liarsinnews on November 18 at 7:54 a.m.
Keep it civil? Better talk to a few park board members with a few comments they made regarding a few citizens opposed to building this money loser. Plug the children`s ears. Sorry, Mr. Doug Floyd for my comment regarding the set of rules you posted recently.
MrNatural on November 18 at 9:35 a.m.
Well I sit and ponder about Spokane’s civic pride, about positive development, creating good natured activities and about creating a city with stimulating opportunities for its citizenry (in this case children). Now I wonder what barriers exist that keeps us from accomplishing this goal and somehow it always winds up being our ability (or lack thereof) to come together for the common good and this is always rationalized by protest about a few personal tax dollars. So how does our lack of investment toward our community leave our community? Well let’s just say our community will accord with how we as citizens invest in it.
Or maybe it’s because some have divested themselves from our community to save a few dollars and that seems very sad.
liarsinnews on November 18 at 10:22 a.m.
Don`t ponder too long Mr. Natural. Its obvious you have not done your home work and haven`t the slightest idea of the “actual costs” to operate.
Megan_B on November 18 at 10:27 a.m.
Why spend money on a science center when children can turn to drugs and alcohol for their entertainment? That seems to be the nature of Spokane’s extent of recreational activities nowadays. Money first, children second (or third or fourth…)
MrNatural on November 18 at 10:51 a.m.
…Frankly “d a” the cost cannot be calculated when you factor in human edification and enrichment. Tell me do you recall aspects of your childhood that influenced and inspired you?…Were any of these related to community events or community provided services? …if not…you see I recall the wonderful urban renewals that created parks and water fountains. That provided places with activities that influenced positive development and change in a person…that’s what a children’s science center legacy provides and that to me is priceless…
shanusmaximus on November 18 at 11:00 a.m.
@MeganB
Nowadays??? It always has been that. Sorry, but a science center is not going to stop that kind of thing.
From article….
“The 17-member Mobius board includes Anne Cowles, wife of The Spokesman-Review’s publisher, Stacey Cowles.”
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
What aren’t these cattle barons NOT part of? I will dare to say that this family’s hegemony is a huge part of the problem with this city. I wouldn’t touch any plan that this family is a part of with a ten foot clown pole!!
@Ron the Cop
I miss your calls to the Fuhrman show……
Ron_the_Cop on November 18 at 1:35 p.m.
Shanusmaximus,
Thanks for your confidence. I will post something later in this thread with another perspective on this story that Mr. Brunt wasn’t able to cover. The question is whether it will be killed though.
You can hear me from time to time on Mike Fitzsimmons’ Radio Show “Newscope” on KXLY 920AM M thr Fri from 3 to 6 p.m.
zelda on November 18 at 3:02 p.m.
The Science Center project is a subterfuge – a ruse that would allow developers to build commercial properties. The bigger, the better, given the revenue obligations placed on the Science Center deal. In the foreground we have a group of organizers operating with Junior League earnestness. “Gosh, what’s not to like about science + children + learning?” Maybe they really are that naïve about the machinations behind this effort, but it’s the usual cadre of Spokane Mandarins that is collaborating on this enterprise. They alone know what’s best for the city. You find them perched on the boards of museums, parks, zoos and libraries in most cities. It’s just that in Spokane, the self-interest is ultra-concentrated.
Even with revenue from commercial development, the rationale is flawed. Spokane needs several big league technology/engineering companies with large, local employee presences to underwrite and provide continued support for a science center; otherwise, it’s a “if we build it they will come” pipe dream. Given the dearth of science-based industry here, Spokane would be better off with a Medical Records Billing Museum. That, at least, would be based in reality.
shanusmaximus on November 18 at 3:46 p.m.
@Zeldas
Your comment is so full of WIN it is simply overflowing with it! Mandarins…..very fitting.
Ron_the_Cop on November 18 at 6:22 p.m.
Zelda,
We have disagreed in the past but with what I know on this subject you nailed it!
zelda on November 18 at 9:22 p.m.
Thank you kindly, Ron. I’d like to think I nailed it, but the larger question is, “Why are these park deals falling apart and are they related?” There was a long S-R story on Oct. 11, 2009, about the unraveling of the deal with Fairmount Memorial Park http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/oct/11/park-deals-failure-rankles/ and now there’s this. It seems that Spokane’s citizens vote on grand (and grandiose) visions for the acquisition of future park land and then, for reasons insufficiently explained, the deals go sour. The taxing, nonetheless, goes on.
I tried to find out who the owners of Fairmount Memorial Park are online, but the people standing behind the graves are almost as silent as the tombstones. At least they are on the Web.
While I applaud the S-R for covering these fiascos, the murky doings of the Park Board and landholders plus the lack of transparency on why all these glorious plans and visions are disintegrating demand a full explanation. Half-answers do not count on this exam. Not in this economy. Is it any wonder that people play connect the dots? I’m trying to rein-in my imagination, but with hardly any facts at hand, already I’m thinking of Mulholland, Owens Valley and the California Aqueduct.
Ron_the_Cop on November 18 at 9:35 p.m.
Zelda,
LOL - I’ve made the comparison to the genre movie, Chinatown, however around here it has more to do with Sewer Wars e.g., the landholders vs the taxpayers and who is going to pay for the sewer infrastructure as now required by the EPA.
My blog is down right now. When it comes up I will post the additional perspective on MOBUIS Project that Mr. Brunt didn’t or couldn’t cover.
Also I was just reading Section 48 of the City Charter re Park Board authority. This may cause some heartburn for the Park Board and MOBIUS if the Barbieri property was presented as an addition to River Front Park when it was purchased with 1999 Park Bond money. Read it for yourself at:
http://www.spokanecity.org/services/documents/charter/#Sec48
… to grant concessions, leases, and privileges under such restrictions and for such compensation as it shall prescribe, the revenue of which shall go into the park fund; provided that, no concession or privilege shall ever be granted for the sale of any intoxicating liquors in any public park, square, play or recreation ground, park drive, parkway or park boulevard of the City; and that no concession, lease, or privilege shall be granted for a period of more than three years unless approved by ordinance. Nor shall either the park board or the city council, after January 1, 1982, have the power to allow the use of any part of Riverfront Park then or thereafter dedicated to park purposes by sale, lease, rent, permit, license, or other assignment for permanent commercial purposes without the prior approval of the City voters given by a majority vote in a regular municipal election. Permanent commercial purposes shall not include commercial activities existing prior to January 1, 1982, nor any activities operated directly by the City of Spokane or the park board for fee, nor any activity not having a fixed location, nor shall it include any activities approved by the park board not to exceed thirty days and renewable for periods not exceeding thirty days.
zelda on November 18 at 9:57 p.m.
Thanks, Ron. Enlightening, to say the least. I’m sure that Rocky T. can explain it all away for us. “Move along, folks. Move along. Show’s over.”
Ron_the_Cop on November 18 at 11:00 p.m.
Zelda,
I just sent an email to Park & Rec Director Leroy Eadie recommending that he seek a review by the City Attorney’s Office ASAP. This is Mr. Dalton’s turf as he advises the Park Board but I have no confidence in the City Attorney’s Office after the RPS Bond Fraud.
Anyway here’s a portion of my email:
Dear Mr. Eadie,
I haven’t read thoroughly the lease agreement as approved by the Park Board nor the new counter from the MOBIUS Board. From my research of the S-R articles on the 1999 Park Bond, the Barbieri property was purchased with the intent of expanding Riverfront Park:
BONDS FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT, PARKS PASS; [SPOKANE Edition]
Kristina Johnson Staff writer. Spokesman Review. Spokane, Wash.: Sep 15, 1999. pg. B.1
… Parks supporters said the proposal’s win was proof Spokane is a city dedicated to its park system.
“There was a lot of support out there,” said John Allison, a campaign co-chairman. “This was the last hope we had to expand Riverfront Park.”
Both issues needed at least 60 percent approval to pass.
Nearly half the $15 million parks bond will be used to update parks and playground equipment, add restrooms and drinking fountains, and build a North Side skate park.
Two new neighborhood parks will be built in Ben Burr and Albion Heights, and a bigger community park will be built on the Five Mile Prairie.
The only controversial aspect of the bond involved spending $4 million on 5.7 acres near Riverfront Park in downtown Spokane. The city has an option to buy the land between Howard and Washington streets, on the north side of the river near the Broadview Dairy.
Long-term plans for the north bank include indoor and outdoor ice skating rinks, a science center and a new IMAX theater.
PROPONENTS SAY PARK BOND LONG OVERDUE ALMOST 90 YEARS SINCE RESIDENTS ASKED FOR MONEY TO BUY PROPERTY; [SPOKANE Edition]
Kathy Mulady Staff writer. Spokesman Review. Spokane, Wash.: Sep 11, 1999. pg. A.1
… It’s been almost 90 years since Spokane residents have been asked for money to buy park property.
On Tuesday, voters will decide on a $15 million park bond that would improve neighborhood parks throughout the city, repair pools and tennis courts, and purchase land on the north bank of the Spokane River for expansion of Riverfront Park.
SOUTH SIDE PARKS WOULD BENEFIT VOTERS ON TUESDAY WILL DECIDE FATE OF $15 MILLION BOND PROPOSAL; [SPOKANE Edition]
Mike Prager Staff writer. Spokesman Review. Spokane, Wash.: Sep 9, 1999. pg. S.12
… When voters go to the polls on Tuesday, they will get a chance to vote on $15 million in citywide park improvements.
Parks officials carved out nearly $2.7 million to benefit neighborhood parks on the South Side.
The bond issue also involves purchase of land on the north bank of the Spokane River to expand Riverfront Park, improvements at Riverfront Park, and development of a park maintenance facility in the Garry Park neighborhood
If this is true and unless I’m missing something then this provision of City Charter Section 48 may control . . .
I would strongly recommend that the City Attorney’s Office review this and render an opinion ASAP.
Rifleman__Dodd on November 18 at 11:50 p.m.
Anyone looking at this “science center” plans would realize they haven’t got a parking lot worth a hill of beans and being at the s.e. corner of the Vets Stadium, there wont be.
Now of course no one is figuring the Science Center being planned in Rathdrum or the current one in Pullman @WSU.
Seattle is a lot bigger than Spokane and the Pacific Science Center is struggling, and I mean struggling to survive even with the millions of dollars that Allen/Gates have been pouring into it.
With as financially strapped the City, County and State are and the increased burden on just basic social services, do we really need a Pig In A Poke, money trap to ingraciate a few egotistic public officials? There’s barely enough money to keep our schools open. Building it for $27 Million is one thing, what about operating costs, taxes, utilities, maintenance, payroll and a hundred other nickels and dimes, and just where would its income come from? Selling popcorn to feed the ducks and geese?
Recall that a Mobius Strip is its own dead end, a two dimensional pathway to nowhere. They should have named it Tessaract.
Ron_the_Cop on November 19 at 2:44 a.m.
Good for you, Rifleman, a sane post for once:-)
Ron_the_Cop on November 19 at 8:12 a.m.
THIS IS A MUST READ -
I was going to do my own feeble attempt but national award winning investigative reporter Tim Connor has written the definitive story of the ill-fated MOBIUS Project. Tim Connor of the Center for Justice who attended the hastily called Park Board subcommittee’s meeting in HDR Engineering’s conference room has written the rest of the story that Mr. Brunt couldn’t or wouldn’t write.
Reversal of Fortune
Published on November 19, 2009
Amid charges of back-door deals and Cowles family influence, the Mobius Science Center project hits a snag at the Spokane Park Board.
By Tim Connor
On Tuesday of this week, the long-running serial that Spokane historian Bill Stimson casts as the battle between Spokane’s “Insiders and Naysayers,” made a trail to a brand new, fortress-like office building on East Trent Avenue. There, around what was literally a back room conference table at the Spokane offices of HDR Engineering Inc., a subcommittee of the Spokane Parks Board gathered. The atmosphere was tense, though not without nervous laughter. . .
http://cforjustice.org/2009/11/19/reversal-of-fortune/
Rifleman__Dodd on November 19 at 8:42 a.m.
If I didn’t know better, I would swear Tim Connor plagiarized my previous posting. No biggie, looks like he just expanded each talking point into one damn good article.
Now how can I get a position on the Pork Bored? oops I meant Park Board…
Now lets unmask each Pork Bored member and the crew of 19 of the Mobius consortium that want to squander more of this City’s future for their own personal fame and gain. Please cue the sunshine.
Ron_the_Cop on November 19 at 9:29 a.m.
LOL Rifleman,
Here’s a start. You and others can research the MOBIUS Project Board at:
http://www.mobiusspokane.org/2008-2009_board_of_directors/
OK here’s a test re the transparency and objectivity of the S-R:
… S-R Reporter Jim Camden did not consider it relevant in his previous article on this in August to mention Anne Cowles and Wanda Cowles were on the MOBIUS Board. See the current MOBIUS Project Board of Directors. I should note that Mr. Goeble based on the explosive deposition of Rex Franklin in the Jo Savage civil case could have been charged with manslaughter in her death.
There’s nothing secret about Franklin’s depo in fact it’s on the S-R server. After all the S-R blog community is encouraged to link to S-R material:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/feb/05/garage-manager-said-he-marked-wall-for-replacing/
zelda on November 19 at 11:29 a.m.
The Stimson article is good. I can’t help but conclude that having the supposed Science Center in the deal means that somebody has been paid off. Substitute “cute little LOL kitties & laughing babies” for Science Center and you get the picture. Anyone who objects to it is met by raised eyebrows and a scolding, “Does that mean you’re opposed to children?”
Its failure is pre-ordained so that commericial development of the entire property can take place.
Interesting how nebulous the plan is for the Science Center itself. What’s going to be in it? What’s the overall vision for exhibits and themes? Will it focus on biology, earth science, astronomy, agronomy, entomology? What? How? You can’t just throw up a building, slap a Science Center sign on it and call it good. Um, well, you *can* do this, except in those situations it’s called a Trojan Horse.
Ron_the_Cop on November 19 at 11:34 a.m.
Zelda,
I’m ROTFLMAO! You do have a way with words. I just sent an email to Mayor Verner to reign in the City Atty’s Office on this sham. I will post a link in the near future.
shanusmaximus on November 19 at 3:30 p.m.
@Ron Da Cops
Hey Ron. What is your blog address? I would like to keep up with that.
You know it is a sad state of affairs when the most information you can glean about what goes on in this town is in the comments section in the local news.
Ron_the_Cop on November 19 at 7:29 p.m.
Shanusmaximus,
OK here it is:
http://friendsofmarkfuhrman.org/blog/
Ron_the_Cop on November 19 at 8:09 p.m.
Here’s my email to Mayor Verner re the actions of the City Attorney’s Office:
http://friendsofmarkfuhrman.org/blog/?p=185
spokelooneh on November 20 at 2:01 a.m.
“http://cforjustice.org/2009/11/19/rev…”
Good piece by Tim, Ron.
For the record, I’m all in favor of a science center especially for kids, lord knows we need more interest in, and subsequent science students in a country where maybe a bare majority accepts the “theory” of evolution, which has no conflict whatsoever with religion.
But such a center must have true grassroots as well as broad institutional support, not just existing as a “give-away” to the ahem, connected, property owners in DT Spokane subsidized by the taxpayers.
Wouldn’t be so much an issue were it not for the history out there regarding the RPS fiasco.
Ron_the_Cop on November 20 at 9:02 a.m.
Spokelooneh,
For the record I’m being a pain in the butt to the Park Board regarding its penchant for meeting in executive sessions at out of the way places to force compliance with WA Open Meeting and Public Records Law (OPM).
The Secret Dahlia Society, the MOBIUS Project, and the Cowles family connection
http://friendsofmarkfuhrman.org/blog/?p=154
My interest in the Park Board activities stems from the ill-fated Northside Landfill Little League Project that was the direct result of backroom deals known by the Park Board, the Council, and the special citizens park bond committee that was formed by the Council to monitor the last park bond. I put the Park Board on notice that it should watch its “p’s” and “q’s” carefully so it didn’t violate OPM law. See my email to Mayor Verner in the link above.
The Park Board suddenly pulled the MOBIUS discussion from its public meeting last week. I was noticed of this special subcommittee meeting on Monday. Unfortunately I had a prior commitment and couldn’t attend. In part Erik Looney (KXLY), Brunt, and Connor attended because of my information and prodding.
I spoke with Brunt on Monday and expressed my concerns. I also sent him an email with my thoughts and a list of S-R archive stories regarding the Pacific Science Center that was voted down in 1995 that was heavily touted by the Park Board. As you may note my concerns did not appear in Brunt’s story nor did the sticking point of City Charter Section 48 but did in Connor’s story. The science center concept was a footnote in the purchased of the Northbank property in the 2000 Park Bond Campaign. As I told Brunt in my email:
http://friendsofmarkfuhrman.org/blog/?p=185
“Look I don’t have any heartburn about land banking prime river front property for the benefit of the public but I don’t like carpetbaggers hanging on and individually benefiting at taxpayer expense. I would enjoy river front trails, paths etc with other commercial development set back leaving a green corridor. But the current MOBIUS Project is going to benefit only a few select developers at taxpayer expense again. If it tanks will the taxpayers be left holding the bag again as Swanstrom suggests? Mind you the already signed lease agreement with the MOBIUS Project is beyond the pale and was some what reigned in with the 2006 amendment. Further restrictions are what are being negotiated now with the new lease agreement. This mess is in need of strong sunlight so the public understands just what is at work here.”
And while I don’t always agree with Zelda Krup as I said above she’s spot on when she said:
“I can’t help but conclude that having the supposed Science Center in the deal means that somebody has been paid off. Substitute “cute little LOL kitties & laughing babies” for Science Center”
From an earlier email to Mr. Swanstrom I said:
http://friendsofmarkfuhrman.org/blog/?p=185
“I have nothing against a science center and would tend to support such a project but all the cards must be clearly put on the table. All the risks must be clearly understood and that there is equity on how these risks are shared and borne. Too many times these mom and apple pie projects in Downtown are cons run by small group of Spokane’s elite that directly benefit at taxpayer expense. . .”
Ron_the_Cop on November 23 at 9:20 a.m.
Another comment thread has started under Mr. Worrall’s, president MOBIUS Project Board of Directors, special to the S-R OP/ED in Sunday’s paper.
No derailing science center
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/nov/22/no-derailing-science-center/#comments