Ferndale council weighs buy-or-divest choices for Kulik community center ahead of FY2027 budget

A Ferndale strategic‑planning workshop on Saturday focused one hour on the fate of the Kulik community center, where council members pressed staff for clear cost scenarios and the information they’ll need to decide whether to pursue purchase, limited repairs or new construction when they set the FY2027 general fund budget.

Britney, the meeting facilitator, opened the session by reminding councilors that the workshop was intended to surface options, not to reach decisions. Steve Watson, a budget consultant, framed the fiscal constraints: the general fund is about $30 million and roughly half the revenues are property taxes.

Parks and recreation staff reviewed the Kulik Center’s history: built as Washington Elementary in the 1920s, leased by the city from the school district beginning in 2000 for recreation use, and closed after pandemic operations and storm damage revealed persistent roof and boiler‑room structural problems. Staff said an updated facilities‑condition assessment was completed recently and results were expected in the coming weeks.

A resident‑led facilities task force earlier recommended the city divest its interest in the Kulik Center and pursue alternative venues for recreation and office space, citing high capital estimates. The task force provided several cost scenarios: roughly $10.1 million to rehab the building, $8.3 million to expand, $18.3 million to build new, and $18.5 million to rehab plus expand. Parks staff noted there is disagreement about exact figures but said the ranges reflect different scopes.

Council members focused on three near‑term questions staff should bring back for the March budget workshop: 1) the minimum‑viable capital and operating cost to reopen Kulik safely for staff and programs, 2) the budget implications and mechanics of setting aside funds for a potential property purchase if the school district’s asking price is negotiated, and 3) what grant, philanthropic or public‑private partnership opportunities could offset local costs. Mayor Pro Tem Mikulski urged a small line item for a “basic plan” to address the boiler and roof issues so engineers can produce a legitimate structural solution.

Councilor Johnson urged strong public engagement to set realistic expectations about what a minimal reopening would deliver, and several councilors recommended establishing a modest grant‑application and grant‑management capacity so the city can pursue outside funding without overburdening department staff. Staff said they will provide updated minimum‑viable cost estimates, parallel estimates for new construction or purchase scenarios, and likely grant/partnership targets before the March budget session.

Next procedural step: staff will supply the updated facility assessment results, operating vs. capital cost breakdowns, and preliminary acquisition funding scenarios for discussion at the March budget workshop. No purchase decision or formal motion was made at this meeting.