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HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM VIII-B-3 AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM A!!enda Subiect: Veterans Park Locomotive Removal and Restoration Date: March 7, 2006 Department: Parks, Arts and I Attachments: Resolution No. 3999 Budget Impact: Recreation Administrative Recommendation: City Council adopt Resolution No. 3999. Background Summary: The City of Auburn wishes to divest itself of Northern Pacific Locomotive, 2152. Since March 27, 1958, this 97-year-old engine has sat in Auburns Veterans Park. The engine has decayed due to exposure and age. A Request for Proposal was sent to regional rail museums and knowledgeable individuals who were interested in removing, obtaining or restoring the Locomotive. Applicants were asked to answer eight questions in which they were to detail their expertise and track record in handling such antiquities, what they intended to do with the locomotive, and their proposal for our locomotive. A panel of six people reviewed and evaluated the proposals: Museum Director Patricia Cosgrove, Parks and Recreation Director Daryl Faber, Parks Board Member Micky Marquez, Parks Planning and Development Manager Dan Scamporlina, Northern Pacific Railroad Historical Society President Gary Tarbox, and Auburn City Councilmember Rich Wagner. Applications were received from Northwest Railroad Museum in Snoqualmie, Washington; Northern Pacific Railway Museum of Toppenish, Washington; and Mr. Ross Hansen of Northwest Territorial Mint. Of the applicants, representatives of the Snoqualmie and Toppenish organizations spent significant time inspecting the locomotive. The applications from Snoqualmie and Toppenish provided complete answers to the eight questions asked in the RFP, with back-up material attached. The application from Mr. Hansen was in the form of a letter which briefly and generally described his interest and plans. After review of the proposals, the panelists concluded that of the three applicants, they felt confident that the Toppenish group had the organization to follow through with their plans to restore the locomotive. The panel recommends that the City of Auburn enter into a contract with Northern Pacific Railway Museum in Toppenish to remove and restore the locomotive. Following this directive, we request that Council adopt Resolution No. 3999 authorizes the Mayor to contract with The Northern Pacific Railway Museum for the locomotive removal and restoration. R-0320-2 05.1.2 Reviewed by Council & Committees: Reviewed by Departments & Divisions: D Arts Commission COUNCIL COMMITTEES: o Building o M&O DAirport o Finance o Cemetery o Mayor o Hearing Examiner t8:I Municipal Servo o Finance o Parks o Human Services t8:I Planning & CD o Fire o Planning t8:I Park Board OPublic Works o Legal o Police o Planning Comm. o Other o Public Works o Human Resources Action: Committee Approval: OVes DNa Council Approval: OVes DNa Call for Public Hearing --'--'- Referred to Until I I --- Tabled Until --'--'- Councilmember: Norman I Staff: Faber Meetin!! Date: April 3, 2006 T Item Number: VIII.B.3 AUBURN * MORE THAN YOU IMAGINED RESOLUTION NO.3 9 9 9 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY MUSEUM OF TOPPENISH, WASHINGTON, TO REMOVE THE NORTHERN PACIFIC LOCOMOTIVE #2152 FROM VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK AND TO MAKE IT AN OPERATIONAL DISPLAY WHEREAS, the 97-year old Northern Pacific Locomotive 2152 has been on display at Auburn Veterans' Park since March 27,1958; and WHEREAS, over the years the engine has decayed due to exposure and age; and WHEREAS, the City wishes to divest itself of the locomotive and offer it to a qualified organization who would ensure its care and restoration; and WHEREAS, of the three organizations who indicated an interest in obtaining the locomotive, the Northern Pacific Railway Museum of Toppenish, Washington, was selected as the recommended entity with which to contract for the locomotive's removal and restoration. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, IN A REGULAR MEETING DULY ASSEMBLED, HEREBY RESOLVES THAT: Section 1. The Mayor and City Clerk of the City of Auburn, Washington, are hereby authorized to execute an Agreement with Northern Pacific Railway Museum of Toppenish, Washington, for the removal of the locomotive from Veterans Memorial Park. The Northern Pacific Railway Museum intends to restore the locomotive to Resolution No. 3999 March 29, 2006 Page 1 of2 working order and use it for educational and demonstration purposes. A copy of said proposal is attached hereto, denominated as Exhibit "A", and made a part hereof as though set forth in full herein. Section 2. The Mayor is hereby authorized to implement such administrative procedures as may be necessary to carry out the directives of this legislation. Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect and be in full force and effect upon passage and signatures hereon. DATED AND SIGNED this _ day of April, 2006 CITY OF AUBURN PETER B. LEWIS MAYOR ATTEST: Danielle Daskam, City Clerk Resolution No. 3999 March 29, 2006 Page 2 of2 Resolution No. 3999, Exhibit "A" Northern PaCITlC Kallway Museum P.O. Box 889 Toppenish, W A 98948 The museum operated by the Yakima Valley Rail & Steam Museum Association A 501(c)(3) "notfor profit corporation" Fed ld #9/.14575/5 March 14. 2006 Daryl Faber Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation 910 Ninth St. S.E. Auburn, W A 98002 Dear Daryl, I was very pleased to hear that the 2152 locomotive removal project committee has recommended our group to receive stewardship of the 2152. As suggested, I am sending the following additional information regarding our proposal for the care and usage of the locomotive as well as information on the visitors who would see the locomotive. There is no problem is putting a clause in the sales contractfOfbidding the parting out of the locomotive. The Museum Association would concur completely that it would be wrong to destroy a significant historical asset. I am also including two letters supporting our stewardship of the 2152. I am sending these to you so that you can review and forward them on to appropriate parties. Thanks again for your consideration. Sincerely, L~~ Douglas Shearer, Vice President, Y akima Valley Rail & Steam Museum Association Enclosures (3) Northern Pacific Railway Museum P.O. Box 889 Toppenish, WA 98948 The museum operated by the Yakima Valley Rail & Steam Museum Association A 501(c)(3) "notlor profit corporation" Fedld #91-1457515 Clarification of issues related to the 2152 Locomotive Removal Project March 14, 2006 Where would we run the 2152? Locomotives such as the 2152 have a limited life expectancy and regular usage would hasten their eventual demise. Nonetheless, restoration to operation enables all areas to be inspected so problems can be found and repaired before further damage occurs. For these reasons we see full restoration with only occasional steamups for special events as the best option for the long-term survival of the 2152. · We believe the most educational portion of2152 operations would be steamups within our depot/museum rail yard. Combined with the turntable and eventual roundhouse we will be able to present a very authentic railroad "living history" display with a much greater educational benefits that that offered by excursion use. We are anticipating a lengthy restoration during which time the restoration becomes a "living history" display in itself. The NP 1364 should be operational in 2007 and the steamups can be done with the 1364 while the 2152 is under restoration. · The depot/museum yard is connected to the BNSF mainline that runs over Stampede Pass and through Auburn. We hope to have the occasional opportunity to see the 2152 on mainline track. The BNSF has a history of running large steam heritage events over Stampede Pass using the SP 4449 and SP&S 700 locomotives. There is no reason to believe they wouldn't run such an event with NP 2152 in the future. One destination for such an event could be Auburn and hopefully timed to go with an Auburn event such as the Good 01' Days Celebration. · We are open to taking the 1364 or 2152 for special events on another railroad. Our yard plan includes a railroad equipment ramp that enables easy loading of a locomotive onto a flat car. Once on a flat car the locomotive could be transported to other areas. The 2152 could not easily be taken into or out of the Northwest Rail Museum because it is landlocked on an isolated section of track that has no outside rail connection. · We have an operating agreement for the White Swan Branch line and could operate the locomotive there. To summarize we do not feel the least bit constrained by the loss of the freight operations on the White Swan Line. We believe the locomotives will be much better cared for by being used for short duration special events than used in regular excursion service. Who will see the 2152 in Toppenish? . Because the Northern Pacific Railroad Museum has focused on Northern Pacific history, it is much more able to tell the story of the first northern transcontinental railroad and its impact on the Northwest. Our acquisition policy for equipment was designed to tell this story. To do this we need a freight train and a passenger train. The main components of the freight train have been acquired and are well on the way to restoration. Each of the major freight car types will help our visitors understand that significant inland development could not have taken place without the railroad transportation system. The 2152 is a necessary addition as we build the complementary passenger train. It was the railroad that brought far more immigrants than the Oregon Trail. We believe the proper telling of the story will result in a greatly expanded school program and a national attraction that brings visitors from all over the country. . The locomotive would be available for events such as the Auburn "Good 01' Days", the "Maritime Festival" in Tacoma, the "History in Motion" event in Morton or even out of state events such as the once every 1 0 year "Railfair" at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, California. Through such events the locomotive could be seen by far more people than would ever travel to any individual museum. . The Yakima Valley is expanding as a tourist destination. The Yakama Indian Nation, four lower valley cities, the regional vintners and local museums have recently formed the Rattlesnake Hills Tourism Trail. The Yakima Nation operates a casino and large R V park. They plan to begin construction soon on a large hotel at the casino site. These all cater to the tourism market and will help to keep the tourist in the area. The Toppenish Mural Society has the largest collection of professionally done outdoor murals in the nation. The American Hop Museum in Topperush is the only museum in the country telling the history of hop farming and its development in the United States over the past 200 years. The local Rattlesnake Hills wineries have recently been recognized as a distinct viticulture region. Expanding tourism in the Yakima Valley will provide more visitors to see the 2152. Comments regarding a "professional" vs. a paid staff: . We do not have a paid staff; however our museum is functioning well due to its very skilled volunteer staff We have a retired school principal who is running our educational program. We have a group of retired educators who are active in the museum and are developing our educational program and building displays. Meanwhile our resources are better spent using skilled volunteers and using the saved money for restoration projects. 2 · Our operations department includes museum members who are professional engineers for the BNSF and the Union Pacific. These professional engineers are steam certified through the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad and will be the leaders in our steam program when the 1364 becomes operational in late 2007. Doyle McCormick of the Southern Pacific 4449 operation is a consultant to our group. With the help of these professional railroaders we anticipate access to operation on other railroads for special events. · The success of our mechanical department demonstrates a very successful Chief Mechanical Officer. He retired when he sold his machine shop. He has spent time in England and Poland learning locomotive rebuilding. He believes in our mission and has opted to work without a salary so that more money would be available for restoration. He has been working with us for the past 7 years and fortunately he has the financial means to continue to do so. Our success in rebuilding the 1364 far exceeds the restoration of steam locomotives by other groups submitting proposals for the 2152. We successfully retubed and converted Great Western 51 from coal to oil firing. We have nearly completed the rebuilding ofNP1364. Our ~volunteers" are deserving of paid positions. Several are working nearly full time, others are working as their other employment allows. The 2152 is the most logical project for them in 2007 as it will not displace other locomotives in our restoration shop when it enters. · When we have felt the need for paid staff we have hired them. We successfully operated the Toppenish, Simcoe & Western Railway as a commercial railway for 7 years with all volunteers. As it grew we recognized the need for paid staff and hired them. · We have adopted the ~Recommended Practices for Railway Museums" published by the Association of Railway Museums (ARM). We recognize our stewardship of valuable historic resources and will see that they are properly cared for. Storage of the 2152: We have a securely fenced and locked railroad yard. The 2152 will be placed inside the fenced yard as soon as it arrives in Toppenish. We have had no problems with unauthorized entry. The locomotive will be outside in our dry climate until it can go into the restoration shop when the 1364 is completed in 2007. In our dry climate this exposure will have negligible effect. 3 .~ METRaPARKSN T A. ( 0 M A March 7, 2006 Darryl Faber Director of Parks, Arts and Recreation City of Auburn Auburn, Washington Dear Mr. Faber, In 1993 Metro Parks Tacoma (MPT) entered into a lease agreement with the Yakima Valley Rail and Steam Museum, now the Northern Pacific Railway Museum (NPRM), to restore Locomotive 1364 - a 1902 locomotive owned by MPT. Locomotive 1364 was donated to MPT in 1954 by the Northern Pacific Railroad. It was on display in Point Defiance Park until 1975 when it was placed in storage because it had fallen into disrepair. Two different organizations tried to raise the money to restore the locomotive but it was not until the NPRM became interested that any significant funding was secured. MPT decided to lease locomotive 1364 to NPRM based on several points. They were able to secure funding for the project. They were willing and able to provide the technical expertise necessary to restore the locomotive correctly and their commitment to having the locomotive open to the public. During the course of their lease with MPT, the NPRM has done a good job keeping MPT informed about their progress and plans for the locomotive. Locomotive 1364' s restoration is nearing completion - something that most likely would not have been accomplished without the drive, energy, and expertise of the many volunteers associated with the NPRM. Sincerely, /J,,~xI /J1 (~ Melissa S. McGinnis __~ Historic Assets Manager place to be March 6, 2006 Mayor Lewis and City Council City of Auburn 25 West Main Auburn, W A 98001-4998 RE: NP 2152 locomotive disposition We are writing this letter in support of the attempt by the Yakima Valley Rail & Steam Museum Association and its Northern Pacific Railway Museum to acquire your park locomotive, NP 2152. The association has been very successful in its efforts to build a historical railroad museum here in our community. Sixteen years ago the City provided support by leasing the abandoned Northern Pacific depot in Toppenish. The museum association was able to restore the depot and then raised the funds to meet an ISTEA matching grant to purchase the depot for the benefit of the City. Their collection of North em Pacific Railway artifacts has grown to be the largest one in the Northwest. They have now assembled a Northern Pacific freight train that might have visited our community in the 1920's. The locomotive that leads the freight train was a derelict Northern Pacific steam engine and is now nearly ready for operation. It has amply demonstrated their resolve and ability to complete such a project. Their present goal of acquiring and restoring a 1920's vintage passenger train seems quite attainable with the acquisition of the 2152. The museum's vision is unique in that it is not just collecting more artifacts, but is collecting artifacts to tell the story of the Northern Pacific and its relationship to the development ofthe Northwest. NP 2152 is critical as it will help tell the passenger side of that story. As a result of its collection policies, the museum has become a significant educational asset for the entire Northwest. The City stands squarely behind them in their endeavors. It is our hope that you will award the locomotive to them. Their stewardship will ensure that the locomotive will have a bright future. Thank you for your consideration. J4 Ilzv -- ~..../ fi.l ;;!~ MlIi7~ C ncd mber i o nel member cJiii ~ ~~ Ail member ~ilm::e; ClTYCOUNCIL CITY MANAGER CITY ATTCRNEV (509) 865-6319 FAX (509) 865-1950