Powell River Library Board trustees want a referendum question regarding a new library on November’s civic election ballot.
Wendy Cocksedge, a spokesperson for the trustees, urged City of Powell River mayor and council to continue along the route they have been travelling. At the Thursday, July 3, council meeting, she said money has been spent on developing architectural plans for two sites and an open house has been held.
“The public now reasonably expects the city will respond to the information gathered at the open house and hold a referendum in conjunction with this fall’s city election,” Cocksedge said.
“We believe the Willingdon South site is a better choice and that was clear from the public participation at the open house. However, we will work happily to develop the library at either site as long as each site can provide quality space that will serve Powell River well into the future.”
Cocksedge said for the trustees, the most important thing is to get out of the substandard space the library is currently in and into space that provides more progressive library service for Powell River.
She said if council wants to further investigate other sites, it should be informed with initial site analysis, such as the analysis that was developed by the library board that rates sites on a matrix of criteria. She added that in the case of Powell River Recreation Complex, renovating existing space is not always less expensive.
The library board is recommending that council move forward developing a binding referendum question that asks voters about borrowing money for a new library at a specific site.
