Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Capital Facilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
After hours of debate, council renames PF‑20 and sets $10M placeholder for a new library
Summary
Council extensively debated the capital facilities project PF‑20 (library/community center). In a series of amendments and roll‑call votes the council changed the project name to “New Library” and set a $10,000,000 project total; several motions to alter timing or remove the project were proposed and split the council.
A protracted debate over PF‑20 — the capital facilities entry for a proposed library/community center — dominated Tuesday’s Liberty Lake City Council meeting and produced a compromise amendment changing the project’s label and budget placeholder.
After public and council arguments on both sides, the council approved a motion to change PF‑20’s description to “New Library,” set the project total at $10,000,000 and leave the details of phasing and location to future consideration. The motion was adopted by roll call after multiple amendments and procedural votes.
Council member Spencer, who argued the current PF‑20 language reflected a plan the public recently voted against, told colleagues: “If we leave this line item, 20, as it is, we did ask the public and they did give us an answer. They voted, and they told us no.” His remarks framed the principal opposition to keeping the previously advertised Town Square library/community center plan in the capital facilities plan as‑is.
Other council members urged a compromise. Mayor Pro Tem Cargill said changing the name and reducing the scope preserves the city’s ability to seek grants and to let a future council refine details without reintroducing the rejected Town Square concept in its prior form.
The discussion featured several procedural motions — attempts to reallocate funding across years, to change the project total to $6 million, and to move PF‑20 to the potential future projects list — many of which failed or were amended. A motion to adopt a $6 million project total failed; ultimately the council set a $10 million placeholder for a ‘New Library’ and left timing and specific allocations unspecified.
What this means: The capital facilities plan will now carry a line item named “New Library” at $10,000,000; council members and staff said future councils will refine location, scope and the funding plan. Some council members asked that future engagement with voters and staff planning precede any firm commitments.
Next step: The revised capital facilities plan language and the dollar placeholder will be reflected in the packet for the upcoming ordinance vote and discussed further in future workshops.
