Committee planned to study library services proposals

Some Spokane Valley citizens are wary of the City Council’s plans for the library.

The council opened up the library services contract to competition, and, by the Sept. 28 deadline, it expects to receive at least three proposals from library providers hoping to run the Valley branch next year.

To ensure that the public has a voice in the selection process, the council voted 5-2 Tuesday to create a committee that will study the proposals. The committee will be comprised of five citizens and two council members who will recommend to the council which provider — the Spokane County Library District or a private company — should win the contract.

Concurrently, the city’s staff also will study the proposals and make its own recommendation to the council. Ultimately, it’s up to the elected officials to choose the contractor.

“There is a feeling that we have made a decision on the library. That is not true. I would like to make sure that there is no question that we get good public input,” Councilman Richard Munson said, explaining his reasons for setting up a committee.

Citizens interested in joining the committee must fill out an application form, available at www.spokanevalley.org under “Volunteer Opportunities” or at City Hall, 11707 E. Sprague Ave. The mayor will nominate the committee members, and the council must approve his recommendation. Applications are due Sept. 28.

On Tuesday, the council debated the makeup of the committee. Some wanted it to include two council members and three citizens. Others didn’t think elected officials should be involved at all.

“I think this should be citizens analyzing this. I think all seven of us are going to analyze this (eventually),” Mayor Mike DeVleming said. “You’re going to get folks that say the council ran that committee. I’d rather get a larger cross section of citizens.”

Councilman Gary Schimmels agreed, and both he and the mayor voted against forming the committee.

During the last few weeks, more than 250 people have been receiving e-mails from citizens concerned about library services. Some of the messages accuse the council of already making a decision on the contract, outside of the public eye. On a few occasions, council members have responded to the messages, defending their effort to get the best library services at the best price and denying reports that they’ve made up their minds.

John Snediker, an outspoken critic of the council’s handling of the situation, said the anger would diffuse if the city sought to annex to the district, which requires a vote of the people, rather than asking providers to compete for the contract.

“Annexation takes this political hot potato out of their hands and gives it to the people,” he said.

Snediker said he and others plan to set up information booths about the issue throughout the city and picket at major intersections soon.

Council members were aware of the sensitivity of the situation Tuesday.

“We have to do it right,” Munson said. “If we don’t do it right, we’re going to have an awfully hard time selling this thing, whether it’s to go with the library district or not. We need to have public support on as many things as we can.”

The staff and the ad hoc committee are scheduled to make their recommendations at the Oct. 26 council meeting. The city staff has said it expects a contract with either the district or a new provider to be inked by Dec. 31.