Seattle Among Other Cities Using Pfds For Projects

The most visible public facilities district operating in Washington is in charge of the $517 million Seattle Mariners baseball stadium.

Now mired in a dispute over cost overruns at Safeco Field, the King County district looked to Spokane for advice when it formed in 1995.

The Spokane Public Facilities District has been operating smoothly in Spokane for a decade.

“It’s significant in light of what is going on in Seattle to see what a quiet success this was,” said Kris Mote, executive director of the Spokane Public Facilities District.

The seven-member King County PFD board overseeing the baseball stadium was appointed by Gov. Gary Locke and King County commissioners. Like the Spokane PFD, it has a single mission.

“Our sole responsibility is to site, design and construct the ballpark,” said spokeswoman Kathy Johnson.

Funding comes from Mariners license plate sales, a sports-themed lottery ticket, and taxes on car rentals and food and drink sales.

Because of state legislation approved this year, other Washington cities and counties are considering forming public facilities districts.

The Tacoma City Council recently authorized spending up to $5 million to design a $51 million convention center in the heart of the city. The city plans to form the PFD in August 2000.

Vancouver has finished the conceptual design for a publicly funded convention center-arena complex that will include a privately funded, 175-room hotel, shops and dining.

Clark County hotel-motel taxes were increased last year to help pay for the $50 million project. The city plans to create a public facilities district in the fall.

SPOKANE PUBLIC FACILITIES BOARD MEMBERS Here is information about members of the Spokane Public Facilities Board: Carl Lind, chairman Age: 66 On PFD board: 10 years Appointed by: Spokane County Occupation: retired, formerly minority owner of Acme Concrete Associations: Salvation Army Board of Advisors, former member of Fairground Advisory Board.

Bill Williams Age: 60 On PFD board: three years Appointed by: Spokane County Occupation: founder and chairman of Telect. Associations: board member of National Association of Manufacturing, former trustee of Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council.

Rick LaFleur Age: 41 On PFD board: one year Appointed by: Spokane Hotel-Motel Association Occupation: general manager of Airport Ramada Associations: President of Washington state Hotel-Motel Association, trustee of Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce, former president, Spokane Hotel-Motel Association.

Ed Clark Age: 52 On PFD board: since March Appointed by: city of Spokane Occupation: owner of the Clark Company, public relations and marketing; has worked in advertising since 1969. Associations: served on Sports, Entertainment, Arts, and Conventions Advisory Board for nine years, chairman for three; volunteers for wide range of community activities, including Big Brothers, Meals on Wheels and Chamber of Commerce.

Trish McFarland Age: 52 On PFD board: for four years Appointed by: city of Spokane Occupation: Gonzaga Prep campaign manager, raising money to renovate school. Associations: media coordinator for Expo ‘74, former executive director of Ronald McDonald House, past president of Junior League.