The city of Kent is seeking applicants for one vacancy on the Kent Special Events Center Public Facilities District (PFD) Board of Directors that helps oversee ShoWare Center budgets and operations.
Formed by city ordinance in 2007, PFDs are municipal corporations with independent taxing authority and taxing districts under the state constitution. PFDs receive a share of the state’s sales tax revenue at no additional cost to taxpayers.
According to city economic development director Ben Wolters, PFDs are formed specifically for events or sports facilities.
“It is how we were able to construct ShoWare Center, similarly to both CenturyLink and Safeco fields,” Wolters said. “The funds coming from the State of Washington’s sales tax credit program are collected by the PFD, then transferred to the city and then used only to pay debt service on ShoWare Center’s bonds.”
The primary role of the PFD board is to ensure the funding generated by the sales tax credit program is used only for debt service. The board may also serve in an advisory capacity in the operations of ShoWare Center.
Appointed by the City Council, the volunteer board members are selected as follows: two members are appointed at discretion of the council; and three members are appointed based upon recommendations from local organizations such as the Kent Chamber of Commerce, Kent Downtown Partnership, service clubs or labor councils.
The current board vacancy will be filled at the discretion of the council. All members serve four-year terms.
Current board members include Mike Miller, chair; Lew Sellers, vice chair; Randall Smith and Cass Prindle. City Finance Director Robert Nachlinger serves as treasurer, while city clerk Ronald F. Moore serves as secretary.
The PFD Board meets at 4 p.m. on the last Thursday of each quarter in the Club Lounge at ShoWare Center.
Board members prepare for the meetings by reviewing budget summaries and other financial information. Financial activities of the PFD consist almost exclusively of the receipt of sales tax credit funds and the transfer of those funds to the city in support of ShoWare Center debt payments.
Interested parties may apply online or submit a letter of interest, describing why they wish to serve and the relevant skills and experience they bring to the work of the board, to Ronald F. Moore, Kent City Clerk, 220 4th Ave. S. Kent, WA 98032.
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