Glendale approves North Shore Library funding agreement, adopts resolution to cap future capital until reimbursed

The Glendale Common Council voted to authorize a new North Shore Library funding agreement and to adopt a separate resolution that would prevent Glendale from approving future capital expenditures for the library until the city is reimbursed for a set amount.

The council approved the funding agreement in a 4-2 roll call vote after a public hearing and detailed staff presentation on the project’s financing. The council then adopted a resolution, 5-1, that the city will vote no on additional capital improvements for the new library until Glendale has been reimbursed as specified in the resolution.

The new funding agreement sets maximum municipal contributions for the North Shore Library project. City Administrator Carl told the council there is a roughly $2,400,000 funding gap for the new Bayside site; under the agreement Glendale’s maximum contribution to the Bayside option would be $1,200,000. Carl said that if Glendale sought to remain at a Glendale location the total project cost estimate for that option would be about $8,000,000 and Glendale’s share would be about $4,000,000.

Carl said the agreement ties any additional project scope to fundraising: "the project scope or any additional improvements to the library cannot be made until all the municipalities’…