Voters to decide on bonds for second time
Special election comes after lack of turnout, city, county impasse
February 12, 2018
Pullman voters face a decision Tuesday on two bonds aimed at relocating city hall and improving parks.
Proposition No. 1 would procure funds through the sale of bonds to purchase a building currently occupied by Encounter Ministries. It would be renovated into a new city hall and recreation center. The bond would also fund the building of an event center at Lawson Gardens and a new fire station.
The second bond, Proposition No. 2, would fund the creation of new city paths as well as improvements to current paths and parks. Also known as the “Parks and Paths” bond, money would be made available to upgrade current park facilities to be more accessible for people with disabilities.
Both bonds appeared on the ballot last November, when they failed due to Washington voting rules regarding the percentage of voters needed to pass a bond. The rule requires bonds be voted on by 40 percent of the last election turnout, which voters did not meet.
Although the city originally tried to get the bonds passed using a secondary rule, City Attorney Laura McAloon advised the city to wait until February to clear up any possible questions regarding the validity of the bonds’ passage.
City Supervisor Adam Lincoln said they are confident the bonds will pass this time around.
“I haven’t seen any worrying things,” Lincoln said. “I think that the turnout requirement is significantly lower, and there was greater than 60 percent approval last time, so I don’t see any problems.”