Wish list for Olympia created

Thu., Jan. 19, 2006

Christopher Rodkey Staff writer

With state lawmakers convening in Olympia, Liberty Lake’s City Council narrowed its legislative wish list at its meeting Tuesday.

The council passed an agenda encouraging lawmakers to support STAR Bond Financing, a Liberty Lake Sports Commission, the construction of a new community center and library, an eight-point study for improvements to Exit 294 on Interstate 90 and also money for the construction on that exit.

“The council is really excited about going over to Olympia,” said Mayor Steve Peterson. “It’s good to be able to help our partners with their issues and to put a voice to ours.”

The council had considered endorsing the City of Spokane’s agenda as well as putting forth five points of its own, but later decided to stick to its own requests.

The council also approved new committee assignments and consolidated the Public Works and Parks and Recreation committees into the Community Development Committee.

The new assignments will allow a mix of council members with experience and others who are new to their committees, Peterson said.

Another committee was formed as the city passed the 5,000 population mark.

State law required Liberty Lake to create a Lodging Tax Committee to oversee the 2 percent lodging tax on Liberty Lake’s two hotels, the Peppertree Inn and the Comfort Inn.

The committee was formed automatically because state law requires it, but the membership is still up in the air, said Doug Smith, Director of Planning and Community Development.

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