Library, community center financing discussed

Thu., Jan. 17, 2008

By Nina Culver nculver47@gmail.com

The future of the library and community center in Liberty Lake is looking a little clearer after Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Now the council just has to decide how to pay for the project.

Draft plans submitted by Bernardo Wills Architects to the council include a 10,700-square-foot library and a 6,300-square-foot-community center separated by a commons area. The first floor will also include a large multipurpose room, and a daylight basement is planned underneath the half of the building that will house the library.

The council discussed trying to put a bond on the April 22 ballot to pay for the project, said Councilman Brian Sayrs. The working number being discussed is $9.8 million, which would work out to between 41 and 57 cents per $1,000 of assessed home value, Sayrs said. “It depends on how we structure the financing,” he said. “It depends on the length of the term and the precise amount of money we’re going to be asking for.”

The council also passed a resolution supporting affordable housing units for low-income families in the Liberty Village development. The developers are applying for federal assistance and they get additional points if they show the local government is supportive of their efforts, Sayrs said. “If we want to be a family-friendly community we have to support all kinds of families,” he said. “That housing stock is generally unavailable in Liberty Lake. That’s a problem, and we’re trying to fix it.”

Also Tuesday night the council elected Sayrs mayor pro tem. An executive session was held to discuss real estate action. No decision was made.

A special meeting is planned for 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall to discuss construction of the library and community center. The issue is also expected to be discussed during February’s City Council meetings before the bond is finalized.

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