Boise City officials and the Boise Public Library board met in a joint work session and asked staff to return with specific capital-improvement options, staffing estimates and lease-market analyses after a wide-ranging discussion of the library facilities plan, maintenance backlog and funding constraints.

The discussion focused on three staff recommendations presented by Jessica Doerr, the library director: prioritize upkeep of existing library buildings, explore innovative and partnered ways to expand reach (including teen-focused space and non‑staffed kiosks), and plan to increase overall library square footage. Doerr also recommended revisiting the facilities plan every five years rather than once every two decades.

Why it matters: Library planning would require both one-time capital funding and ongoing operating dollars. Council finance staff said the city’s capital fund is resource-constrained, and a voter-approved limit (referred to in the meeting as “Proposition 1”) requires voter approval for library projects that exceed $25,000,000 — a threshold that staff and consultants said quickly becomes relevant for new, adequately sized branch buildings.

Most important facts

- Library director Jessica Doerr told the group the system currently has space for “about 325,000 physical books” while participation in the LINCS library consortium gives users access to more than a million titles across member libraries.

- Doerr recommended pursuing scheduled replacement cycles for major building systems, renewing the leases for Hillcrest (lease expires July 2027) and Callister (lease expires February 2028), and piloting innovations such as non‑staffed kiosks and co‑located service points.

- Doerr stated a recommended minimum size for a new branch is 25,000 square feet; she said a standalone library at that scale would likely exceed $25,000,000 under current cost forecasts.

- Consultants and public‑works staff gave order‑of‑magnitude cost guidance: the presentation cited a range of roughly $800–$1,000 per square foot for new construction, while lease fit‑outs were presented in the board materials at approximately $425 per square foot (figures include fixtures, furniture and collections in the consultant analysis). The consultant’s board slideshow estimated a 25,000–30,000 sq. ft. branch at about $20–$25 million in total project cost depending on assumptions.

- Staffing implications: Doerr said Hillcrest currently employs about 11 full‑time staff; the group discussed that a new branch would likely require roughly 8–15 full‑time staff depending on size and service model. Council and finance staff stressed that operating costs must be identified and budgeted in the general fund long before a building opens.

Discussion highlights and points of tension

- Proposition 1: Doerr and council members noted that the voter requirement for projects over $25 million constrains options for new, fully staffed branches. Doerr said the measure has “unintended consequences” for the city’s previous land‑acquisition strategy and must be factored into planning.

- Scale vs. affordability: Several council members said they support additional library space but questioned whether an industry‑standard 25,000 sq. ft. branch is affordable without a major change in funding. Councilmember Jimmy Halliburton said a $30 million branch is unlikely in the near term and suggested $10–$15 million projects are more realistic.

- Leased vs. owned: Consultants and public‑works staff noted tradeoffs. Leased spaces can be less expensive up front but often limit design features (daylight, parking, shelving layout) and may still require substantial tenant improvements. Public Works confirmed the city is open to leased solutions where appropriate but prefers owning facilities when feasible.

- Maintenance backlog and CIP: Finance Director Eric Vilamoria described a structural imbalance in the capital fund and noted the city has increased its general‑fund transfer to capital in recent years but still faces rapid cost escalation and a backlog of repair needs. Council and trustees asked that major repairs and maintenance for existing library facilities be explicitly included in the CIP.

- Innovation and partnerships: Doerr recommended piloting teen resource space at an existing site (Downtown or Hillcrest), exploring non‑staffed pickup solutions, and expanding joint programs (for example, the “Thousand Books Before Kindergarten” program shared with Meridian and Ada Community libraries).

Next steps directed by council and trustees

- Staff direction: Staff were asked to return with costed scenarios (good/better/best) for: maintenance/replacement cycles; several capital scenarios for additional square footage including leased and owned options; staffing plans and operating‑cost estimates for each scenario; and options for colocation and innovation (kiosks, teen hubs, shared sites).

- Timing and process: Council requested that library facilities planning be brought into the CIP process so options can be considered during the FY2027 budget cycle. Doerr and Public Works were asked to work with planning and finance to identify timing and a realistic multiyear runway for capital and operating costs.

- Board engagement: Council leadership and staff agreed to gather formal feedback from the full library board before finalizing direction for council; the board will also discuss the consultant report at its November meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to accept the meeting agenda as posted (removing an executive session item from the library board agenda): passed by roll call.

- Motion to adjourn the Boise Public Library Board meeting (to allow council executive session): passed.

- Motion to accept a special Boise City Council agenda including an executive session, and a subsequent motion to enter executive session under Idaho law for legal counsel on pending litigation (Idaho Code §74‑206(1)(f)): both motions passed by roll call.

Ending note

Council and trustees described the meeting as the start of a sustained planning effort. Doerr emphasized the community’s high engagement and asked for guidance on priorities; council members repeatedly returned the conversation to how to pair capital investments with sustainable operating budgets. Staff will return with detailed options that include capital costs, operating estimates and recommended timelines so the council can evaluate how library projects fit alongside other city priorities.