UPDATED City of Powell River council has initiated a new public consultation process concerning the location of Powell River Public Library.
This was the second of two announcements regarding the library at the council meeting on Thursday, February 20. The first was the official presentation of the 2013 Council of the Federation Literacy Award for BC, an award the library won in the fall. This is the first time in the award’s nine-year history that it has been won by a public library.
“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this recognition for the efforts of our staff and board,” said Charlie Kregel, chief librarian. “It’s quite amazing for our modest little operation to be recognized this way. It’s also a little surprising to be the first public library to win.”
Jon van Oostveen, library board chair, said that everyone connected with the library should be honoured by this award. “People in Powell River are beginning to take notice that, except for our sadly inadequate facility, this is not just the library their parents visited as kids, but one that is much more about social, cultural and economic development,” he said. “Literacy improvement is a big piece of that.”
Council has recently been discussing the location for a new library in-camera. This discussion was brought to the open council meeting on Thursday.
Cost estimates for three possible locations were discussed, including Willingdon South (the old arena site), the former Brick building on Alberni Street and the upper floor of Powell River Recreation Complex.
Council voted unanimously to recommend that an invitation be made to Powell River Regional District (PRRD) and the library board to participate in the consultation process to garner public understanding of two of the three site options—the recreation complex and the Willingdon South site—and to seek a community consensus on a single preferred location.
PRRD board chair Colin Palmer expressed appreciation for being included. “The possible construction of a new library is an important and costly decision that demands us, as elected officials, to present all relevant information to the public,” he said. “I am eager to discuss with our board the city’s invitation.”
The potential Brick site was eliminated due to cost considerations after preliminary estimates for renovations and additional operations identified a cost of $4,550,000. An estimated $2,200,000 would be needed for the upper level of the recreation complex, a location that borders the Elm Room and Evergreen Theatre to the left of the stage.
Kregel said he was optimistic that council did what the library board recommended. “They have narrowed the process down to two sites and they will let the public express a preference,” he said. “We started this process by looking at 18 sites.”
A report issued by the city stated that converting the upper level of the complex for the new library location might be a win-win situation. If chosen, it would serve to reduce the city recreation service and would avoid expansion of the building inventory. It may also provide an opportunity to partner with the PRRD to share in its costs of operation.
Councillor Maggie Hathaway said that a thorough, detailed evaluation is essential to provide a true comparison of the two recommended sites. “There is need for clarity on the process and timeline,” she said. “There are time constraints to move forward with a public consultation process and proceed with a referendum question during the local general election in November 2014.”
In a previous referendum during the fall 2003, city voters turned down a proposal to borrow $4.5 million to upgrade the complex and build on a new library.
Hathaway said she felt it was important to move forward with the issue at hand and strive for results. “I’m really pleased, and I hope that we can establish a site and move the library forward because it’s been a long time coming.”
Notes from the in-camera discussions have now been released to the public and can be found here:
January 16 In Camera Report - 1
January 16 In Camera Report - 2
City of Powell River council has initiated a new public consultation process concerning the location of Powell River Public Library.
At an in-camera committee of the whole meeting February 19, the committee agreed to refer the matter to an open meeting of council.
At council cost estimates for three possible locations were discussed, including Willingdon South (the old arena site), the former Brick building on Alberni Street and the upper floor of Powell River Recreation Complex.
Council voted unanimously to recommend that an invitation be made to Powell River Regional District and the library board to jointly participate in the consultation process to garner public understanding of two site options and to seek a community consensus on a preferred location.
In a press release issued by the city, council and the two boards met recently to select an additional site for consideration after the library board-commissioned fundraising consultant report in September 2013 identified public concerns about the Willingdon South site.
The upper floor of the recreation complex location corners the Elm Room and the Evergreen Theatre to the left of the stage.
Councillor Maggie Hathaway said that a thorough, detailed evaluation is essential to provide a true comparison of the two recommended sites. “There is need for clarity on the process and timeline,” she said. “There are time constraints to move forward with a public consultation process and proceed with a referendum question during the local general election in November 2014.”
In a previous referendum, that took place during the fall 2003, city voters turned down a proposal to borrow $4.5 million to upgrade the complex and build on a new library.
Hathaway said she felt it was important to move forward with the issue at hand and strive for results. “I’m really pleased, and I hope that we can establish a site and move the library forward because it’s been a long time coming.”
Mayor Dave Formosa said, "I think it is important to ensure the residents of Powell River have a full understanding of the siting options for a new library and the proposed consultative process will ensure this occurs."
Library board chair Jon van Oostveen remarked that the board was happy to see the city and regional district involved in the process. "I believe the final determination of where a new library should go is a critical component of the project that requires the engagement of the general public," he said.
Regional district chair Colin Palmer also expressed an appreciation for being included. "The possible construction of a new library is an important and costly decision that demands us as elected officials to present all relevant information to the public. I am eager to discuss with our board the city's invitation."
In a second motion presented to council by the committee, the notes from the in-camera meeting were released to the public.
