HomeMy WebLinkAboutClallam County Commissioners M OR NGELES
W A S H I N G T O N, U. S. A.
t �"_V
City Council
April 8, 2015
Clallam County Commissioners
223 E. 41h Street
Port Angeles, WA 98362
Dear Commissioners,
On behalf of the City Council of Port Angeles, I'd like to express our support for the County
Commissioners' designation of needed funding to carry out feasibility studies for rebuilding
and expanding Feiro Marine Life Center on City Pier.
The City of Port Angeles entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with Feiro Marine Life
Center and NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary on May 7, 2014, in an effort to
increase and sustain environmental stewardship, in part through a new natural resources sector
that fosters science and education. The entities further agreed to promote national and
international tourism and economic development opportunities in the City's downtown core to
coincide with the major waterfront improvement project.
Last year Feiro provided more than 22,000 visitors a unique and captivating marine science
experience on the Port Angeles waterfront and engaged 3,200 Peninsula school children in
experiential, inquiry-based education.
The expansion of this facility will not only enhance the educational opportunities available to
Clallam County students, but will likely draw thousands more out-of-town visitors to marvel
at the variety of marine life on display(including Ursula the Octopus), see-hundreds of
examples of inter-tidal creatures, listen to naturalists, and experience Feiro's well-loved touch
tanks where kids and adults alike can get up close and personal with our area's marine life.
Feasibility studies will assess the cost and nuances of site construction on the City Pier, as
well as the current fundraising climate and show how to best integrate additional educational
assets from NOAA into the expanded location. Without County funds, the timeline for
completing these feasibility studies is unknown. The City of Port Angeles believes the studies
to be a worthwhile use of County funds, and we appreciate your consideration in allocating a
portion to the Feiro Marine Life Center.
Sincerely,
Dan Di Guilio, Mayor
City of Port Angeles
Phone: 360-417-4500 / Fax: 360-417-4509 /TTY: 360-417-4645
Website: www.cityofpa.us/ Email: council @cityofpa.us
321 East Fifth Street - P.O. Box 1150 / Port Angeles, WA 98362-0217