By a 2-1 vote, commissioners say the track should include financial guarantees.
Developers of a proposed NASCAR track in South Kitsap should pay for nearby road improvements and make other financial guarantees to the county, Kitsap County commissioners declared by resolution Monday.
The resolution, passed by a 2-1 vote, neither supported nor opposed the track itself. Rather, it outlined a series of benchmarks expected from any public financing bill presented to this year’s state Legislature.
“It pains me to be on opposing sides of many people I respect,” said North Kitsap Commissioner Chris Endresen, who joined Central Kitsap Commissioner Josh Brown in approving the resolution. “But we need to let legislators know about our concerns.”
South Kitsap Commissioner Jan Angel opposed the resolution, which prompted about 90 minutes of public testimony at Monday’s meeting. Comment was divided between those who thought it would protect the county’s interests, and those who felt the action was premature and restrictive.
“We need to make sure the Legislature knows there are some things we will not give away,” said Bremerton resident Jim Sommerhauser in favor of the resolution.
Countered Bremerton Chamber of Commerce Director Silvia Klatman, “If we make all these demands, it will set a bad precedent for other businesses who want to come into the area.”
The International Speedwday Corporation has said it would pay $166 million of the $345 million required to build the NASCAR facility, and is seeking public funding for the balance.
The resolution passed Monday will be sent to all members of the Legislature to clarify Kitsap County’s position on the track. Through the resolution, the county says the developers should pay for all infrastructure costs associated with the 83,000-seat race track, proposed on a 950-acre parcel near the Bremerton airport.
The county should also collect the full 5 percent admissions tax, as opposed to the 1 percent proposed previously. Other financial guarantees would also be imposed to protect the county.
Several speakers felt that the resolution’s terms were too rigid and said the county should be open to negotiation.
“I don’t see why we are doing this now,” Angel said. “We haven’t even seen what ISC is proposing. If we pass this, we’re sending the message loud and clear that Kitsap is closed for business.”
But Brown disagreed.
“The terms of this resolution are quite clear,” the newly elected commissioner said. “It protects Kitsap County and the local decision-making process. This is a clear and legitimate way to let legislators know what our standards are, and lets us hang on to our local control.
“I don’t want to hand this control over to legislators, especially those from outside our area.”
ISC failed to find sponsors for a public financing package among the Kitsap County legislative delegation. Instead, Rep. Geoff Simpson (D-Covington) has agreed to sponsor the funding legislation, which ISC consultant Tim Thompson said Monday would be made public within a week.
“With this resolution, the county has not only handcuffed themselves to a chair, they have handcuffed themselves to a building,” Thompson said. “In a negotiation, you should never draw lines in the sand. The county has taken some firm stands and will have to repeal the resolution if they want to do something different.”
Thompson said the resolution will not adversely impact the track, since he feels a majority of Kitsap residents favor its construction.
He also raised the possibility of the city of Bremerton’s annexing the track site, which would make it subject to a different set of development guidelines.
Chris Van Dyk, a Bainbridge Island resident speaking against the racetrack, said if the Legislature approved a racetrack bill, his group, Citizens For More Important Things, would file a voter initiative to repeal the measure.
