The Washington State Convention Center made a move for its slice of the non-general fund revenue pie that proponents of the KeyArena remodel are also interested in utilizing. On February 5th Washington State Senator Ed Murray sponsored bill 5875 AN ACT Relating to the convention place station expansion of the state convention and trade center. This proposal is intended to allow the the Washington State Convention & Trade Center to spend 766 million dollars to expand its facility by building a second building across the street from the current location in downtown Seattle, essentially doubling its capacity.
The revenue to support this big build comes from an existing 7% sales tax added on top of the existing state sales tax on hotels just in Seattle. The hotels must have 60 or more rooms, so, larger downtown hotels are effected. This tax is currently paying off the first big building. the debt against the original facility. Senator Ed Murray was quoted during the 5pm KING News broadcast tonight as saying the convention center currently turned away 1.7 billion dollars in business over the past 4 years, motivating the convention center to request the expantion.
This revenue is not part of the state's general fund, so taking for spreading around the rest of the state is to be avoided. This actually happened last year to plug some state budget holes and that made the Seattle hoteliers very angry. It is very likely that if the fund were to be taken again that the hoteliers would take legal action. It may not be popular to promote this project, but the alternative use for this fund may be legally problematic. But as Senator Murray was quoted on television tonight he said the expantion would employ 300 contruction workers, and 3,500 employees once it is built.
What is important about this bill is that there has been an agreement of some kind between the convention center folks and the City of Seattle to share that 7% sales tax when it becomes available, 6% for the convention center and 1% for Seattle Center. The city is planning on requesting that last 1% to fund the remodel of Seattle Center's KeyArena (that is one word, KeyArena).
Senator Murray said tonight on KING 5 News that nobody has approched him about a Seattle Center KeyArena bill. I had sent Mr. Murray an email on February 5th concerning both the his convention center bill, and requesting that he sponsor or supports a similar bill for KeyArena. I also sent a similar email to one of the bill co-sponsors Senator Ken Jacobsen who is my representitive, as well as an email to Representitive Ross Hunter. Murray and Hunter both served on a task force that was supposed to recommend projects using this local funding source. The convention center and Seattle Center presentations were made back to back to Mr. Hunter and Mr. Murray's task force on December 2nd, 2008. If Ed Murray has the ability to write a bill for the convention center then what, other than personal desire, is stopping him from writing a bill for Seattle Center.
Who has to contact Ed Murray in order for him to write another bill that is almost the same bill as he had written for the convention center. Is this supposed to be the city asking, another legislator?
Brian Robinson at Sonics Central has mentioned that there is a bill that has been drafted and had a fed revisions. Does Rd Murray know about this, or is what he said what he did to force that bill out?
Have a great day,
Mr Baker
Sent from my iPhone
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Curiouser and curiouser. It'd be great if Ed Murray got out in front of this but he's already got his neck out politically on the CC expansion. The option on the CC and arena plan is being brought up on SC. Where have I heard that one before? That project almost makes too much sense. I know you agree.
I brought it up to David Brewster over at Crosscut last year, you brought it up here, Tim Ceis and the convention center folks, SC people are bringing it up, because it is the better answer.
The question is if that is possible.
It is kind of strange, in a way, to lurk in on that conversation at SC. That conversation is 8 months too late, Brian is right (I have said the same thing) getting both bills written and passed and maybe that is possible, if we get there.
Let's get there.
I think Senator Murray is not being quiet and getting a bill out there, on tv. Ross Hunter says that most poeople will not understand this, if you never explain something then how do you expect people to learn?
Maybe this could be done quietly, late in the session, and if nothing happens then it quietly goes away.
Friday was the 26th day of the 105 day state session, what day is a good day?
I think putting the bills out there now to be resolved at the end is better, Murray is forcing the issue, and I completely support it.
He said in the KING tv story that the husky stadium deal is "on hold". So, I think that revenue stream is on hold. We all know the convention center and Seattle Center are drawing on a different fund, that needs to be put in front of people now to educate in order to get support.
Murray can not say no to husky stadium and yes to the convention center and then turn around and say no to the Seattle Center.
He needs a bill.
Frank Chopp on King 5 getting softballs tossed at him by Jean Enerson tonight. I'm going to be ill.
Have you heard anything back from Murray or Jacobson? Murray mentioned that the Husky Stadium renovation push "was on hold". I'm speculating that they're (as all of are) waiting to see what funds are coming from the Fed so the state can take care of those issues Chopp was talking about on "Up Front".
I sent a letter to the mayor, that was routed to the Intergovernmemtal Relations department (pr).
I asked who I needed to contact in order to get a bill written before Murray took the entire revenue stream.
Chopp did not say no, he will go in order of priorities, I respect that. Does not mean somebody can not write and sponsor the bill.
Jean Enerson often sat courtside at Sonics games, she asked the question and put it in front of him. The qwern of tv news asked about it, it matters to her, now maybe it matters more to him, and maybe after the priority bills are passed we have a tiny bit better shot at this.
King 5 news regularly asks, I am glad to have them keep showing an interest, it helps a great deal.
You're right about Jean Enerson. She has brought up Key Arena before numerous times. I'll cut her some well deserved slack.
Chris Daniels reported the Murray story, was the guy Stern cut off at the press conference almost a year ago. Kiro and KOMO are a distant second and third at paying any attention.
Daniels asked Murray, Enerson asked Chopp, it mattered to them to ask.
I an not going to write Chopp untill a bill shows up or it gets late in the session and his priorities have been addressed. I have written almost everybody else though.
I'll send Ms. Emerson a thank you note, because that is the right thing to do.
Encourage people to do the right thing.
I will too. Why the hell not?
Btw, it is Enersen, not Emerson.
As a citizen, and not an insider, all I can really do is communicate at every point. Don't leave anybody out, thank them for their time.
Over at Sound Politics Jim Miller said Ross Hunter has a some revenue he could allow King County to have more control over, possibly short term with a sunset provision. I am guessing that this is the money husky stadium asked for passed to King County as they wanted but maybe husky stadium does not actually gets to be first in line for it. Anyway, Sound Politics said his proposal might be out later this week.
Query google news for "Ross Hunter" and the story should be near the top, though not much else was in it, other than the usual partisan talk.
I signed up for a Com major's lunch for students like me to meet big time media people like ESPN's Jim Caple, on Feb 24.
I'll ask the usual career questions, and slip in a Sonics question.
Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles
Democrat Representative Reuven Carlyle
Position 1, Democrat Representative Mary Lou Dickerson
Position 2, Democrat
These individuals represent Queen Anne. Kohl-Welles is co-sponsoring the convention center bill. What gives?
Woodward predicts funding success for stadium
http://dailyuw.com/2009/2/12/woodward-predicts-funding-success-stadium/
Mr. Baker
So if I were reading between the lines (and I am), it looks like the taxing authority for the car rentals and restaurants will be delegated to King County. Most likely with extension to retire the bonds which will be determined either by the state legislature or the County? Sounds good to me.
The guy writing the bill and floating the idea is saying he has higher priorities right now, but yes, you have the idea.
The governor says it looks like the state will get 2 billion, that is twice her estimate last december, but the state deficite will grow by 50%, so, it will be close.
We still do not have a bill.
Mr. baker
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