Trustees OK $7 million for Cordova Center

JOY LANDALUCE

May 09, 2008 at 11:24AM AKST

A huge turnout of 250 residents '97 one-fourth of the entire adult population of Cordova '97 jammed the Mount Eccles auditorium on Thursday, May 1, to give testimony in support of the Cordova Center project.

After nearly six hours of listening to heartfelt pleas, around midnight the six members of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council unanimously granted the community’s request for support for $7 million.

The late-night announcement, arriving on Cordova’s official 100th birthday, came as a delightful surprise to the 60 or so residents still around, who had not expected a same-day decision on their request.

Public speakers also asked for funding to help restore the Prince William Sound herring fishery, but the trustees have not yet ruled on that request.

The Cordova Center would feature a 200-seat auditorium with a professional sound and lightning system, an expanded museum and library, an oil-spill response center and an oil-spill exhibit.

The center, with energy-efficient windows and heating system, also would house city hall.

The center is viewed as critical to a potential economic renaissance for Cordova, offering the city the capability to bring in lucrative convention business and jumpstarting its sluggish recovery from the 1989 spill.

The trustees journeyed to Cordova seeking direction for use of remaining funds in the oil-spill settlement. Cordova had requested $7 million from the fund, which reportedly has more than $120 million remaining.

The council is charged to spend these funds on human and environmental restoration activities linked to the spill.

Mayor Tim Joyce started off the testimony with a PowerPoint presentation on the Cordova Center.

Fisherman John Bocci told the trustees that Cordovans, like herring in the Sound, are a recovering species.

"Regardless of how it turns out in June, we could use some help," Bocci said, referring to the impending U.S. Supreme Court decision on punitive damages in the oil-spill litigation. "The Cordova Center could be one positive thing from this experience."

Jennifer Gibbins from the Prince William Soundkeeper stated that this center could be a legacy for the Prince William Sound.

Cordova Center Committee Chair Dan Logan said that the center would address human services injured by the oil spill.

"The Cordova Center combines a conference center with theatre/auditorium and meeting rooms, library, museum, Science Discovery Room, Oil Spill Response Center and visitors’ center, as well as some city offices," Logan said. "We need to make sure we have a strong community, and that takes a strong center.

"Investment in the people of the sound is a tangible restoration."

Sylvia Lange, co-owner of the Reluctant Fisherman Inn, stated that she was impressed by the fact that half of the seats were still filled at midnight.

"It felt so good to be part of this crowd," Lange said. "We have truly become a community united."

Cathy Sherman, the lead person for the city on the project, answered the questions posed by the trustees concerning the business plan, construction plans and operation and maintenance for the Center.

The questions centered on dedicated square footage for activities related to the Exxon Valdez oil spill, as well as what constituted, under the trustees’ charged duties, appropriate use of the funds.

The $7 million will be offered under three conditions: that the operations and maintenance of the building be born entirely by other sources; that the $7 million is available only until 2010 under a "use it or lose it" provision; and that funds are to be exclusively used for this project.

A few minutes past midnight, the motion passed unanimously.

Martin Moe, executive director of the Cordova Chamber of Commerce, agreed that it was an incredible night.

"Congratulations on the rousing success of this public meeting," Moe said. "Participation was awesome, and we convinced the trustees to throw their backing to the project.

"Now we move forward with acquiring the additional funding necessary to break ground and construct our community center," Moe said.

Organizers hope to acquire the remaining funds for $29 million project from other sources, including the Denali Commission and the Rasmuson Foundation.

Joy Landaluce can be reached at (907) 424-7181.