Shoreline May Ask Voters For $88M Aquatics Center

SHORELINE, WA — Shoreline voters might be asked to approve a bond measure in November ballot to build an $88.1 million aquatics center along Midvale Avenue.

The City Council will review the proposal at the May 20 meeting. The proposed aquatic center would include an eight-lane lap pool, room for 500 spectators, and a 6,000 square-foot community space. The city would also ask the Shoreline School District to contribute to the project through either a direct capital contribution or a rental agreement.

The aquatic center would replace the Shoreline Pool, which was built in 1971 and is costing the city lots to maintain. Apart from significant renovations, the city wants to get rid of the pool's boiler because it accounts puts out 92 percent the city's greenhouse gas emissions.

City staff are recommending a 20-year bond measure that would cost the owner of a $480,000 home about $22 per month, according to preliminary estimates.

The sooner the measure goes to voters, the cheaper the cost of building the aquatics center will be, according to city documents. Delaying the bond measure until spring or fall 2020 would add an estimated $200,000 in inflated construction costs.

The Council may also choose to put a bigger bond measure on the ballot to build the aquatics center and upgrade four city parks (Brugger’s Bog Park, Richmond Highlands, Hillcrest, and Briarwood). The alternative $106 million measure would cost the owner of a $480,000 home an additional $5 per month, according to estimates.

City Council could vote on bond measure size and language as soon as the June 24 Council meeting. The measure has to be submitted to King County by Aug. 6 to get on the November ballot.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the Spartan Recreation Center has a pool.