City schedules July 15 workshop, plans open house for library site options

City staff told the Liberty Lake Community Engagement Commission on June 18 that consultants will present library siting options and survey results at a July 15 workshop and that city staff plan an open house afterward rather than a formal town-hall format.

That timeline matters because many residents and library advocates have been asking the commission whether a separate town-hall-style event will be held to review options and next steps.

Summer, a city staffer monitoring the library planning process, told the commission: “So, my suggestion at this point based on hearing all of the, suggestions that that you all have made is to wait until the July 15 workshop where, Turner and Townsend and BCRA are going to present the options to the city council at which time they will be sharing the survey result information and then talking about next steps, which include an open house.”

Summer said Turner & Townsend and BCRA will present the option sets, hand the Council the survey results, and then staff will organize public open-house sessions to gather further feedback on the most promising options. The consulting team is preparing costing for the options and staff said the Council will narrow the options at the workshop before the open house is hosted for public input.

Commissioners agreed to signal to City Council that the commission is “ready, willing and able” to help with public engagement. At the meeting members decided to include that offer in the commission’s next update to the council (the commission’s July 1 update) so council is aware the commission can assist with outreach for any open-house events or follow-up engagement.

Outlook: City staff estimated the consultant report and the July 15 workshop will define the next outreach steps; the commission will await the consultant presentation and then coordinate with staff and BCRA on volunteer roles for any open house or public engagement.