Legislature Passed Bill HB2667

Recently the Legislature recently passed a bill (HB 2667) pertaining specifically to the Seminary that would do the following: - Extend the maximum lease term from 50 years to 62 years (which is essential for project financing) -Change the number of votes required by the Commission to approve a lease for the Seminary, immediately adjacent buildings and parking/property from a unanimous Commission vote to a super majority vote of the Commission -Direct the State Department of Commerce to do a study (due July 31, 2016) that uses existing reports and data to evaluate the feasibility of public or non-profit organization renovation and use of the Seminary. If the Parks Commission finds the study fails to identify an economically viable public or non profit use for the property that is consistent with the state parks commission mission and could proceed on a reasonable timeline, the Commission may approve a lease to a private party. The study will address existing estimates for renovation cost, maintenance cost, traffic implications of potential uses, and potential limitations on uses imposed by the National Park Service and land use codes. The Governor is set to sign or decline this bill and we need your support. Please contact him and reference Bill 2667 to let him know that this bill is a step in the right direction and we need him to sign it! They can be contacted at: http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/contact/contact-gov-inslee