Gig Harbor council approves floating kayak dock in ‘two-pier’ solution at Ancich Park

After two years of debate, deliberation and drama, Gig Harbor is finally on track to get a floating kayak dock.

The City Council on Monday passed an ordinance authorizing the project at Ancich Park on the downtown waterfront.

It will cost about $1.2 million, of which $700,000 will come from the city and $500,000 from the Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Race Team.

“This is at long last a major step forward in achieving the community’s dream of a working waterfront park,” said Council member Robyn Denson, who sponsored the ordinance, during the Jan. 27 meeting.

The council adopted the so-called “two-pier solution,” which envisions a floating dock for human-powered craft on the southerly Jerkovich pier, and a float for commercial fishing vessels — to be built later — on the Ancich pier to the north.

Earlier proposals had called for both floats to be attached to the Ancich pier, an idea that proved unpopular with both the kayakers and the fishermen.

Floating docks ride up and down with the tide, as opposed to piers, which are built atop pilings, making access from small craft difficult at low tide.

A floating dock allowing easy access for kayaks and canoes has been a longtime goal of the racing club, whose young members packed the council chambers for the vote.

Kayakers thrilled

“This is pretty exciting, a momentous occasion,” said Aaron Huston, executive director and head coach of the race team. “We are ready to move forward immediately. We can start campaigning tomorrow” to raise the $500,000 needed, he said.

Of the city’s portion, $390,000 will come from the general fund, $210,000 from park impact fees paid by developers, and $100,000 from the lodging tax fund, which comes from hotels and motels.

The allocations will require amendments to the city budget.

“This is a significant project for us,” Denson said. ”As you know, it was not included in the 2020 budget, and so it was a significant challenge to find the funding to get this done this year.”

If permits pending with the state and the Army Corps of Engineers are approved as expected, construction could begin this year, she said.

The council passed the ordinance 6-1, with council member Jim Franich objecting.

Franich, speaking by phone, said using money from the general fund to benefit “a small, select group, a private club,” was “very irresponsible to the general public we’re supposed to be representing.”

‘Mysteriously found money’

Council member Bob Himes voted for the dock, but also expressed dismay at the process.

During a budget meeting last November, he said, “We drew lines through quite a few items to contain the budget. We thought the was a cap. From the mayor tonight, there wasn’t a cap. We mysteriously found this money. And now, whoah, now we’re going to do this thing. We’ve done a complete one-eighty right before our very eyes.”

City finance director Dave Rodenbach told the council, “I hate say that we’ve ‘found’ money,” but added that the city’s investment fund had produced about $800,000 more than budgeted, which should cover the expense.

Council member Jeni Woock moved an amendment directing staff to complete a “firm, written contract” with the kayak club for its $500,000 contribution before the city committed to its part of the project, rather than having the contract negotiated in parallel.

But mayor Kit Kuhn argued that would hurt the club’s ability to raise the money.

“How are they going to raise the money if donors don’t know the city is committed?” he asked.

Woock’s amendment was not accepted.

Denson, who worked on the park design as president of the park boards, said she thought the pier will help tourism and “become a real draw for our community.”

In a related matter, the council also voted to increase the temporary storage space used by the kayak club at Skansie Brothers Park from 650 square feet to 1,650. The club committed to landscaping the kayak rack area with rock and timbers.

In other business, the council:

▪ Elected Council member Jim Franich as mayor pro tempore. Mayor Kuhn will be in New Zealand during the month of February. Council member Spencer Abersold will serve as backup if Franich is unavailable.

▪ Repealed, by a vote of 5-2, a previous ordinance seeking to make the city’s negotiations with its employee unions open to the public. Council members Franich and Tracie Markley voted no. Several speakers said public negotiations would subject the parties to outside pressure and lessen their ability to speak frankly during negotiations.

▪ Approved a contract of $28,154 with Transportation Solutions, Inc. for the design of a roundabout at Harborview Drive and Stinson Ave. Council members Franich and Markley, who had favored a traffic light at that intersection, voted no.

This story was originally published January 28, 2020 at 2:08 PM.