Valley panel leans against privatizing services

While still a week away from a formal recommendation, a committee of Spokane Valley citizens and council members leaned strongly Wednesday night toward awarding next year’s library contract to the Spokane County Library District.

Six members of the seven-person group raised doubts about privatizing library services, an option the council is exploring as part of its effort to find the best services for the lowest price for taxpayers. The idea has proven unpopular with many library patrons.

About 25 citizens listened as the committee praised the district’s proposal to operate the Valley library branch, at 12004 E. Main Ave. The district is public and so its decisions and its finances can be scrutinized by taxpayers, the committee members said. It would charge the city about $2.27 million to run the library next year, which is only about $100,000 more than the private company’s bid for basic services. The company has promised bigger savings in subsequent years. Plus, patrons would have access to more books, magazines and other materials through the district because of agreements it has to share items with Spokane Public Library and other agencies.

“If anything other than leaving it the way it is would happen (after Wednesday’s discussion), I would have to say, ‘Whoa,’ ” resident John Miller said.

The city opened up the library contract to competition this year and received bids from two providers: Library Systems & Services LLC (LSSI) and the district. The City Council formed the committee to review the bids, and that group is expected to choose a contractor at a meeting next Wednesday.

The city’s staff will make a separate recommendation. Both groups will present their decisions to the council Nov. 2, and the council is expected to award the bid Nov. 9.

On Wednesday, committee members questioned whether LSSI would employ highly qualified people, pay them fairly and give them benefits. Most members said they researched the company – including one member who said she used the current library’s research tools to do so – and didn’t like what they read about LSSI’s performance in other cities.

“What I’m wondering is, why are we looking at any other system?” member Donna Connell asked.

To that, the audience cheered.

A few concerns were raised about the district’s proposal, however. Member Joni Driskell wanted to make sure the council knew that the city wouldn’t own the materials the district buys during the contract period. She also felt the tone of the proposal showed that the district wouldn’t be willing to hear suggestions from the city.

Councilman Mike Flanigan, a committee member, said the district cooperates with the city now, though.

Driskell, the wife of Spokane Valley’s deputy city attorney, also made positive comments about the district proposal and raised concerns about LSSI’s bid.

Most audience members supported contracting with the district again and none spoke out against it. Some said they want to allow citizens to later vote to annex to the district permanently. If that happened, tax money would go directly to the district and not to the city, just as it did before Spokane Valley incorporated.

The fate of the library has been an emotional issue in Spokane Valley during the last several months. At different times, citizens have announced that they would picket Sprague Avenue with signs that say “Save the library.” Each time, they canceled the protest.

Deputy Mayor Diana Wilhite defended the council’s decision to open the library contract up to competition Wednesday. It’s the council’s responsibility to study alternatives when spending tax money, she said.

“I think people automatically assumed that just because we were going to look at other options, it was a done deal,” Wilhite said.

The mood of the public was less tense and more optimistic than during past meetings.

“Democracy is slow and laborious, but it works,” Miller said.