2009

The City of Port Townsend charters the Port Townsend Public Development Authority. In 2009, the city council, was comprised of David King, Laurie Medlicott, Kris Nelson, Catharine Robinson, George Randels, Michelle Sandoval and Mark Welch.

Source: City of Port Townsend archives

Sept. 19, 2011

The city reorganizes the Port Townsend Public Development Authority as the Fort Worden Lifelong Learning Public Development Authority with “the mission to manage, promote, develop, secure funding, and enhance Fort Worden State Park, including facilitating the implementation of a Lifelong Learning Center at the park as envisioned by its 2008 long-range plan.” The move created an independent legal entity (the PDA) to work in partnership with the state parks commission. State Parks and the PDA enter into a co-management agreement to carry out the lifelong learning mission. City council members at the time included David King, Laurie Medlicott, Kris Nelson, George Randels, Catharine Robinson, Michelle Sandoval and Mark Welch.

Source: City of Port Townsend, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

November 2013

The PDA signs a Master Lease with Washington State Parks for the PDA to operate and manage the properties located within the 90-acre main campus of Fort Worden State Park.

Source: State Parks Commission “Fort Worden Public Development Authority Update,”January 2024

November 2013

The PDA begins co-managing the 90-acre Upper Campus starting with 16 full-time employees.

Source: The Leader

May 1, 2014

Robison officially begins managing the PDA as executive director. Robison grows the organization from 14 employees with an operating budget of a little over $1 million to a 2019 operating budget of more than $7 million and 170 employees during the peak season. His arrival marks the beginning of PDA 1.0.

Source: Peninsula Daily News

March 29, 2018

Kitsap Bank and the PDA enter into a revenue bond agreement for $1.6 million to finance energy efficiency ad solar improvements at Fort Worden.

Source: Jefferson County Superior Court Filing dated Sept. 27, 2024

June 29, 2019

Kitsap Bank and the PDA enter into a revenue bond agreement for $2 million to finance glamping facilities at Fort Worden. The project was never completed.

Source: Jefferson County Superior Court Filing dated Sept. 27, 2024

Dec. 18, 2019

Kitsap Bank and the PDA enter into a revenue bond agreement for $1.5 million to finance the Makers Square project.

Source: Jefferson County Superior Court Filing dated Sept. 27, 2024

January 2020 to 2022

Pandemic closes Fort Worden operations

Source: Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

Nov. 15, 2020

Robison retires as the PDA’s first executive director.

Source: The Leader

November 2020

Former Port Townsend City Manager David Timmons comes out of retirement to become executive director of the PDA. Timmons arrival marks the start of PDA 2.0.

Source: The Leader

June 30, 2021

Kitsap Bank and the PDA enter into two revenue anticipation notes in aggregate principal amounts not to exceed $250,000 and $500,000 to evidence lines of credit.

Source: Jefferson County Superior Court Filing dated Sept. 27, 2024

Feb. 14, 2022

Fort Worden Hospitality, a newly-created separate, non-profit corporation takes over hospitality, venue/event services and catering and restaurant operations within the campus area. Up until Feb. 14, 2022, the PDA had managed and operated visitor and hospitality services. At the time Fort Worden Hospitality assumed operations, it also took on the responsibility of fulfilling nearly $1.2 million of advanced deposit liability from the PDA books. In other words, Fort Worden Hospitality delivered services to guests that the PDA had taken deposits for, but the PDA did not provide any of those advanced deposits for those bookings as that money had already been spent.

Source: Natalie Maitland, director of operations, Fort Worden Hospitality

Nov. 30, 2022

Kitsap Bank issues a $5.97 million revenue bond to PDA. The PDA labeled the bonds “special revenue obligations”specifically secured by the PDA’s revenue in the Revenue Fund, Bond Account and Reserve Account, hospitality management fees, hospitality management fees, glamping managment contract feet and Maker’s Square lease payments. The total amount owed, according to court documents, totals $6.23 million.

Source: Jefferson County Superior Court Filing dated Sept. 27, 2024

Sept. 28, 2023

Timmons steps down as the PDA’s executive director.

Source: City of Port Townsend document archives, City Council Resolution 23-048

Oct. 1, 2023

The Port Townsend City Council approves resolution 23-048, waiving certain requirements for PDA executive directors and names board member Celeste Tell, the PDA’s new interim executive director. Tell’s arrival marks the start of PDA 3.0.

Source: City of Port Townsend document archives, City Council Resolution 23-048

Aug. 1, 2024

PDA board votes to request that the city authorize its dissolution.

Source: Jefferson County Superior Court Finding dated Oct. 4, 2024

Aug. 2, 2024

Diane Moody, the PDA’s former chief financial officer who was accused of first-degree theft in September 2019, is sentenced Aug. 2 in Jefferson County Superior Court. According to sentencing documents, Moody was required to pay nearly $40,000 in restitution and faced 90 days of electronic home monitoring.

Source: The Leader, Jefferson County Superior Court documents

Sept. 20, 2024

Kitsap Bank sends a letter to the PDA, the City of Port Townsend and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission stating the banks desire to have a receiver appointed to oversee the wind-down of the PDA.

Source: Jefferson County Superior Court Finding dated Oct. 4, 2024

Sept. 27, 2024

Kitsap Bank files a “Complaint for Appointment of General Receiver” in Jefferson County Superior Court. The documents indicate the PDA owes Kitsap $6.2 million for unpaid, bank-issued revenue bonds.

Source: Jefferson County Superior Court Filing date Sept. 27, 2024.

Oct. 4, 2024

Jefferson County Superior Court Judge Brandon Mack appoints Elliott Bay Asset Solutions as the general receiver over all real and personal property assets of the PDA, including the bond amounts. Tell’s tenure as interim executive director ends.

Source: Jefferson County Superior Court Finding dated Oct. 4, 2024

Jan. 16, 2025

Fort Worden Hospitality collapses. Citing financial and legal reasons, the agency shuts down, lays off employees and cancels all bookings after Jan. 16, 2025.

Source: Fort Worden Hospitality press release