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Wasilla library director outlines 35%/65% design timeline; Friends pledge $10,000 toward expansion
Summary
Library Director Zain Trish told the council the city has received a fee proposal from ECI for schematic and design work and that foundations want additional design milestones before committing funds.
Zain Trish, library director, updated the council on progress toward a planned library expansion and on community fundraising.
“My name is Zain Trish. I'm the library director for the public library,” Trish began, then described outreach to the Rasmussen Foundation and Massoud Health Foundation. He said both foundations want more design completed before committing funds and noted the city received a formal fee proposal from ECI, the original building architect, to prepare 35% schematic design, 65% design development, and complete construction documents.
Trish said ECI indicated the schedule could allow the project to stay on an aggressive timeline and that, if financing and design fall into place, the new facility could open in 2027. He said council consideration of enabling legislation (an ordinance) is expected in February.
Library usage and community support: Trish told the council the library continues high demand: one recent week produced 676 new library cards and story times averaged more than 50 participants. He said study rooms are used by 35–45 groups each week.
Friends of the Library: Jeanne Trishinski, president of the Friends of the Wasilla Library, told the council the group voted to write a $10,000 check for the expansion and aims to raise an additional $15,000 through fundraising this year. The Friends are also working on a multi-community “book of stories” project collecting library-use stories from around the Valley.
Why it matters: The expansion is positioned as an investment in community services and programming; staff and community groups said they want design progress before major philanthropic commitments. Trish said ECI's fee proposal appears reasonable and that a formal ordinance and supporting information will be presented to the council in February.
What’s next: Staff will continue design negotiations with ECI and follow up with foundation partners; the council can expect an ordinance to seek design- and contract-approval authority in early 2026.
