Youth commission members sworn in

There was an end-of-the-year atmosphere to Liberty Lake’s Tuesday night City Council meeting, in which Mayor Steve Peterson gave thanks to nearly every city agency that made presentations throughout the evening.

Peterson said he was appreciative of all the employees who work together to make the city run, from police officers to finance workers and library board members.

The city also took care of some business Tuesday night, including the swearing in of 26 new members of the Liberty Lake Youth Commission to various boards and committees.

The high school-aged students formed the commission to give youth a chance to participate in city government in Liberty Lake. The fledgling organization already has community service, public relations, activity, new resident and finance committees.

Following months of work in the Planning Commission, the City Council unanimously passed a series of amendments to the city’s comprehensive plan and development code.

The amendments included some zoning changes, as well as some better language concerning street improvements. The city also wrote into its code the previously passed big-box retailer standards.

Looking ahead to February, the council heard about plans for the meeting of the Association of Washington Cities in Olympia Feb. 14 and 15.

Also Tuesday evening, the local Kiwanis organization gave a check for $2,000 to the Friends of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library, and a $1,250 check to the Friends of Pavillion Park.