Liberty Lake council orders advisory vote on proposed community center and library, appoints for-and-against committees

The Liberty Lake City Council voted 4-2 on Aug. 4 to place a nonbinding advisory proposition before voters asking whether the city should pursue funding and construction of a new community center and library.

The question will appear on the ballot with an explanatory statement prepared by the city attorney; the council also appointed three-member for and against committees to prepare 250-word statements and 75-word rebuttals for the voter pamphlet.

The advisory question asks, in full: "Should the city pursue the funding and construction of a new community center and library in the city of Liberty Lake?" City Attorney Sean explained the ballot materials and said the ballot title must remain neutral: "My job and my statutory obligation is to write it in a way that is neutral." He read the explanatory statement on the record: "The city council is considering the construction of a new community center and library near Townsquare Park, Signal and Mission, and the city of Liberty Lake and seeks citizen input concerning such funding and construction. Funding options may include grants, donations, a future property tax bond measure, and or other city general fund revenues. The proposition will advise the city council whether there is citizen support to pursue the various funding options and construction."

Council members debated whether the ballot materials should include dollar figures. Several council members and members of the public said the council has cost estimates and concept-level figures and cited a general ballpark range discussed in outreach materials — "12 to 15 and a half million dollars" — but the…