Decision on rental car center at airport delayed

The Port of Seattle Commission voted Tuesday to delay a decision on approving a $413 million rental-car center near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and maintain a moratorium on new construction until the Port enacts more reforms in response to a scathing state audit.

The delay might last several weeks. But commissioners decided unanimously to defer three projects on their Tuesday agenda, including the rental-car center, the biggest project they expect to consider this year.

Port staff members and rental-car companies had asked commissioners to approve the overall rental-car plan and release $5 million to prepare the project site, north of the airport near Highway 518 and International Boulevard.

"We will not make decisions here and there that circumvent the purpose of the moratorium. We will stop spending until we understand what we're spending on," said Commissioner Gael Tarleton.

Several commissioners said they expect to lift the moratorium soon, after better defining what it will take to do so.

In other action Tuesday, the commission decided to open up competition for future use of the money-losing Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center museum on Pier 66.

Commissioners voted to seek proposals for the museum space. The Odyssey center has never hit attendance targets since it opened in 1998 and owes the Port $1.5 million in rent.

"We want to invite any and all uses that could make sense in that space," said Port CEO Tay Yoshitani.

The museum will stay open the rest of this year, but with restricted hours to allow more time for moneymaking private events.

The Port's current contract with Columbia Hospitality to manage the museum and rent it for private events has been criticized by some commissioners as too generous to the company.

Representatives of the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society implored the Port to keep the museum operating. "For us, the highest and best use is for public education," said society President Chuck Fowler.

Bob Young: 206-464-2174