Going into February, the Sequim City Civic Center project remains on schedule for an April 25 completion of construction.
Sequim staff hopes to host an open house May 1, aligning with the first Friday Art Walk and the beginning of the Sequim Irrigation Festival.
City Manager Steve Burkett said city staff tentatively would move into the building in May with a ceremonial ribbon cutting in June.
The total cost of the civic center is estimated at $14.45 million, with about $7 million left to spend on the project through its completion.
“I’m confident it will come under budget,” Burkett said to Sequim City councilors at their Jan. 26 meeting.
City officials gained an additional $643,000 in revenue for the project following the sale of utility bonds, transfer of general funds and a Clallam transit easement payment, but project expenses increased by an estimated $657,000.
Furnishings will cost about $640,000 with $150,000 for technological infrastructure and $490,000 for office furnishings such as chairs, cubicles and desks.
Elray Konkel, administrative services director, said some of the $490,000 includes about $130,000 for cubicles, $90,000 for chairs, and $70,000 for high density shelving.
On Jan. 20, city staff and council member Ken Hays met with the design team to review the Sequim civic center’s community plaza design improvements estimated at $530,000, and concluded the plaza improvements likely won’t be complete until July.
Konkel said funding for the plaza will be divided from the general fund and Real Estate Excise Tax and from water and sewer funds.
City officials also have budgeted $50,000 for public art within the civic center, and although the artists won’t be compensated, the City Arts Advisory Commission is accepting applications from artists for a rotating wall art exhibit. The exhibit is intended to portray the theme of “What Sequim Means to Me.”
Deadline for applications is Sunday, March 1. The exhibit will run through the end of year following its opening along with the civic center in May.
For more information on the rotating art gallery, visit wa-sequim.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/5665.
City Manager’s pay increase
On Jan. 26, Sequim city councilors gave City Manager Steve Burkett another glowing review. Burkett who announced he plans to retire later this year after the completion of the civic center, was given a 1-percent pay increase ahead of his scheduled April annual review.
His annual salary goes from $131,081 to $132,392. On Jan. 1, all city staff received a 1-percent raise, which amounted to about $52,000 total.
