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DECISION PACKAGE TITLE:  Planning for Campus Expansion to Bellingham Waterfront

Agency Recommendation Summary Text

Move forward with coordinated and intensive planning efforts with the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County and the Port of Bellingham to ensure a permanent presence on the Bellingham Waterfront for Western Washington University.

Fiscal Detail

Package Description:

With the departure of Georgia Pacific from Bellingham, an unprecedented and critical window of opportunity exists to allow land-locked Western to grow beyond its geographical boundaries and expand its learning environment and its economic impact in the region.

Since the spring 2004, extensive internal planning efforts related to the Bellingham Waterfront have been underway at Western, including five public forums and the formulation of twenty-three proposals for waterfront participation.

In order to move forward with development of these proposals, it has been determined that an immediate presence in Bellingham Harbor is required to solidify Western’s commitment to this historical enterprise.  

One-time funds will be devoted to extensive planning processes which will require professional contracts related to site development, structural and environmental engineering, coordination of master planning, transportation, sustainability, business planning, and in depth evaluation of the feasibility of campus proposals involving teaching and/or community outreach on the waterfront.  All planning efforts will be coordinated with the City of Bellingham, Whatcom County, and the Port of Bellingham. 

Recurring funding will be used for the immediate lease of office facilities at the waterfront and the hiring of staff, to develop projects and coordinate the growth of Western’s expansion to the Bellingham Waterfront location.  Tremendous economic opportunity exists for all ground-floor participants in these efforts; Western’s number one goal will be to use this opportunity to develop solutions for the long-term educational goals of the state.

The Reason for the Supplemental:

City and port officials are involved in extensive planning efforts and predict that detailed plans for the redevelopment of the waterfront will be nearing completion in the next year.   Western must keep pace with the city-port planning process and move quickly to define its role and solidify its plans. The waterfront development of Bellingham is an extraordinary opportunity for the state of Washington and for Western.  The immediate funding sought will ensure that Western is positioned successfully in what is anticipated to be a multi-year planning process.

How the Supplemental contributes to the Western’s Strategic Plan:

The primary goals of Western’s Strategic Plan are quality, diversity and community service.  This supplemental request will touch on each one of these goals; however, community service will be the primary focus.  Western’s Strategic Plan calls for student and faculty involvement with our local and statewide business communities.  The partnerships that develop as a result of a possible and permanent expansion to the waterfront will provide opportunities in this area for decades to come.

Measurement of Objectives and Performance Measures:

Outcome measures will track faculty, staff and student participation in planning efforts, as well as the new university-community relationships fostered through these efforts.  Objectives will also be measured in the area of university planning efforts that result in additional opportunities for Western’s faculty and students.

The Impact on Students and Services:

Depending on the size, scope and purpose of programs selected for possible relocation to the waterfront, and whether these programs are academic or non-academic, the outcomes for students and faculty are varied and positive.  To name just a few, educational opportunities based on collaboration with the city, port, and county, could involve students in helping to propose solutions to city, county, regional and state planning, budgeting and policy issues; city and university collaboration in the fine arts might be developed; enhancing the role of Western’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) could involve the leadership of the University in important discussions regarding the organizational structure and efforts of area economic development groups and the future of downtown Bellingham.  The addition of office and/or classroom space at the waterfront, above all, will help Western meet the state’s higher educational needs.

The Impact on Other State Programs or Other Units of Government:

Western’s planning efforts and participation in the Bellingham waterfront will have a significant and positive impact on local government entities.

The relationship, if any, to the state’s capital budget:

None at this time, though as planning efforts are developed it is highly likely that a companion capital request will be developed for the 2007-2009 biennial budget.

Revisions required in an existing statute, Washington Administrative Code (WAC), contract, or state plan in order to implement the change:

None.

Alternatives Explored by the University:

Western has worked diligently to maximize the efficiency of existing financial, staffing and technology resources as actual enrollment levels continue to exceed budgeted enrollment targets.  Consequently, there is no room in our current operating budget to redirect resources to this major initiative.

Budget Impacts in Future Biennia:

The amounts requested for staffing and office operations at the waterfront are recurring.

A distinction Between One-Time and Ongoing Functions and Costs:

The chart below shows recurring and non-recurring components of the request:

                                    FY2005-06                              FY 2006-07

Ongoing                     $  66,000                                 $   524,000

One-Time                   $200,000                                 $   800,000

Total                           $266,000                                 $1,324,000

Ongoing support will be used for the immediate lease of office facilities at the waterfront, all other operating costs, and the hire of staff to continue developing  projects and coordinating the growth of Western’s expansion to the Bellingham waterfront location.  One-time funds will be devoted to extensive planning processes which will require professional contracts related to site development, structural and environmental engineering, coordination of master planning, transportation, sustainability, business planning, and in depth evaluation of the feasibility of campus proposals involving teaching and/or community outreach on the waterfront.

Effects of Non-Funding:

Western would continue to participate in planning efforts on a much smaller scale and would be hindered from professionally serving the best interests of the campus and the state.