On the Delegates list, it seems that the FRPL and RPL presentations will be on Monday the 15th in the afternoon, likely towards the end of the afternoon. (Since there are 21 presentations ahead of the library issues.)
Delegate List has the list of delegates, followed by their submissions.
You are invited to the FRPL Annual General Meeting on Sat Nov 29 from 1 to 3 pm. Location: Cathedral Neighbourhood Centre, 2900 13th Ave in the Craft Room, second floor, wheelchair accessible. Bring your own treats and drinks.
AGENDA Brief AGM votes Discussion – Central Library building planning – overall status of other branches – RPL programs – RPL budget approval at City Council Dec. 17th – libraries in other cities – other topics
The Regina Public Library is seeking to pre-qualify professional facility developer teams to participate in the next stage of the Competitive Selection Process to engage a firm to successfully complete the development and partial finance (if/as required), design, construction, and maintenance (“Development”)of the Shell (as defined in the RFQ) for the Regina Public Library’s Central Library Renewal Partnership (“Project”) in Regina, Saskatchewan as further defined and described in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) document.
This RFQ aims to shortlist experienced and capable teams with demonstrated success delivering complex public or institutional developments of similar scale and scope. Only shortlisted proponents resulting from this RFQ process will be invited to participate in the subsequent Request for Proposals (RFP) stage.
The RPL Budget will be discussed at the City’s Executive Committee on Wed. Oct. 15. The meeting starts at 9 am but the RPL is last on the agenda. These meetings often contain more detailed discussion than occurs at the City Council meetings. It is a chance to put in ideas and get the Councillors thinking.
“If you wish to appear as a delegation, either in person or via teleconference, you must register by 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 by completing this form on the City’s website.” “A written brief in advance is not required to present to a Committee.”
The City Council will vote on the RPL’s mill rate increase request on Dec. 17, 2025. There will be an opportunity to submit written presentations in advance of the meeting. Usually “The deadline to register to address Council is no later than 12 p.m. on Monday prior to the scheduled meeting …” BUT the timing may change this year as part of new City budget processes. Check the City website for changes. https://reginask.iqm2.com//Citizens/default.aspx?
From the RPL budget document
“The 2026 mill rate increase for regular operations is 3.85% (equivalent to approximately a 0.35% civic mill rate increase) and the 2027 projected mill rate increase is 4.33% (equivalent to approximately a 0.39% civic mill rate increase). After years of low mill rate increases, RPL has had to increase its annual mill rate request to offset the risks created by these low requests and to address mounting inflation and other challenges, such as facilities renewal and other capital. The requested increase for 2026 and 2027 is primarily related to typical increased business costs, such as salaries and benefits, infrastructure upgrades, and additional costs for new technology. RPL will continue to work hard to decrease the impact of its mill rate on Regina taxpayers, while ensuring that we evolve to meet customer and community expectations. 1 Calculated based on the City’s average residential assessed value of $315,000”
“On July 9, 2024, City Council agreed to support the Central Library Renewal project by approving:
Debt funding of approximately $92M to $119M, which could be borrowed in portions as needed from 2026 to 2029; and
A dedicated Central Library mill rate increase, in principle, of 5.5% each year over five years, starting in 2025. Council agreed the special mill rate would fund some capital costs and pay back debt resulting from the project. In 2026 and 2027, this increase will cost the average homeowner a total of about 96 cents more per month on their property tax bill.”
We are particularly concerned about the Request for Qualifications for Central Library planning, to be discussed on the 23rd.
We refer you to our presentation to City Council in March 2025 with our comments value of the Central Library and costs, and on the architectural heritage significance of Central Library, further reinforced by the City of Regina’s own Statement of Significance for Central Library (Appendix 1), and reiterated again in a letter from the National Trust of Canada to the City of Regina, which underlines their firm understanding of the national heritage significance of Regina’s Central Library to the history of Canada.
Submissions made to the City Council on March 17, 2025 letters from citizens with important and inspiring information and photos. (See March 17, 2025 Delegates List – Presentations under RPL heading and also letters listed under Communications https://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/Calendar.aspx ) This record has been updated to include the letter from the National Trust for Canada.
Although the building has never had a major renovation in its lifetime, and “RPL has resisted investing significant sums of money to improve or perform maintenance on the current library unless it is absolutely necessary” (https://central.reginalibrary.ca/assets/2017051.pdf , Central Library Business Case 2017/02, p.19.), it remains in fine structural condition, according to all assessments.
The RPL Board has a moral and legal duty to follow the spirit of the VPHCD bylaw and the Heritage Property Act, and that any proposals for renewal on the current library property ought to be in keeping with the guidelines and purposes of this legislation.
Renovation of the current heritage building would cost much less than demolition and replacement. Even with putting on additional storeys, the cost would be less. See the Deloitte report Central Library Business Case https://central.reginalibrary.ca/assets/2017051.pdf, pages 1-2, 26-27. Previous studies for the RPL have indicated the possibilities of renovation and expansion, rather than a new building. A plan was actually made in 1993 for an expansion of the building, available from the Saskatchewan Archives. (Arnott Kelley O’Connor & Associates Ltd., Architects, Engineers, Planners. This was the successor firm of Izumi Arnott and Sugiyama, who were the original architects and repository of knowledge about the building.)
Rehabilitation and expansion would be the most environmentally sensitive action, rather than having the current building go to the landfill.
In conclusion, the Request for Qualifications, being discussed in today’s agenda, should require the applicants to have a commitment to the history of Regina, the vision for a sensitive expansion, and knowledge of processes for rehabilitating the current Central Library building to create a renewed improved building for library purposes in its current ideal location.
The RPL’s 2025 budget with a request for a 5.5% mill rate increase each year over 5 years to save money for Central “renewal” design expenses will be voted on at City Council the week of March 17.
The RPL is also asking for a 4.85% increase in its operating budget.
Feb. 2, 2025 : The Regina Public Library budget for 2025 has been released
It will be discussed at the City Council Executive Committee meeting on Wednesday, February 5th at 9 am
Register Monday Feb. 3rd by12 noon to speak. Also send in written presentation / letters by then to have them included in the meeting notes, even if you do not wish to speak.
For Library Budget see pages 48 to 75 of Agenda Packet for Executive Committee meeting on Feb 5.
To present to City Council/Committee regarding an agenda item, you must submit a request by completing the online form or calling 306-777-7262 for assistance with your registration request. See details at https://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/Calendar.aspx
Written submissions helpful but not required at Executive Committee.
Final Library Budget Approval in March
Other presentations can be made at Council in March. But saying something now influences the decisions.
Budget discussions in March will be held between the 17th and 19th, date for Library budget discussion to be confirmed. Advance notice with a written submission will be required to make a presentation.
Library budget is very informative, mostly a discussion of goals, recent achievements, and hopes for the year ahead. Plus some budget information tables. But needs to be read to see what they are hoping to do, what they are leaving out, what you agree with. Contains a discussion of “Central Renewal”. RPL is asking for an increase in its mill rate of 4.58 %, PLUS an addition 5.5 % each year over 5 years to add to funds for “Central Renewal”.
City Council cannot change details of the budget. BUT Council has control in that it can approve or disapprove the increase in the mill rate, or any part thereof, requested by the Library. Council can ask to have the mill rate reduced, or have it increased if Council feels it is not adequate to meet needed expenses. (This is what happened in 2004 when the RPL was asked to increase its budget request to avoid library branch closures.) But Council can ask questions at the meetings and have discussions behind the scenes with the RPL.
Your diversity of ideas, praises and criticisms are helpful. Pass them on to FRPL, or send directly into the Executive Committee meeting or City Council Budget meetings AND your City Councillor.
Note that the City Council motion to support a loan to RPL for up to $119 Million, passed on July 9, 2024, will not be a part of the mill rate vote. Any changes to that motion must come through a Motion to Reconsider by City Councillors. The funds will not be disbursed to the RPL until requested at a later date.
The motion to reconsider City taking on $119 M debt for Central Library “renewal” was on the City Council on Wed. Sept. 25, but they ran out of time. THE MOTION WILL NOW BE DISCUSSED AT A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON TUES. OCT. 1 IN A MEETING STARTING AT 11 AM. The agenda is not yet available but can be accessed here https://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/default.aspx MN24-15 Reconsideration of Motion adopted on July 9, 2024 Respecting the Renewal of the Central Library CR24-74 Central Library Renewal Project Debt Financing Report FRPL’s submission FRPL to City re RPL Central Debt Financing Sept 23, 2024- final
The motion to reconsider City taking on $119 M debt for Central Library “renewal” will be at City Council on Wed. Sept. 25. Agenda is here https://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/default.aspx MN24-15 Reconsideration of Motion adopted on July 9, 2024 Respecting the Renewal of the Central Library CR24-74 Central Library Renewal Project Debt Financing Report FRPL’s submission is attached.
Friends of the Regina Public Library invite you to join Architectural Critic Adele Weder, Architectural Modernist Advocate Cheryl Cooper, and artist Jeannie Mah on a walking tour of Kiyoshi Izumi’s Modernist Central Library, to celebrate its beauty and significance for Regina’s heritage, and to understand its status within the Victoria Park Heritage Conservation District.
Sunday September 29th, 2 pm
Meet at front steps of Central Library: Lorne St + 12th Ave.
During the Ordinary Amazing Symposium at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in 2007, Cheryl Cooper and Trevor Boddy co-drafted The Regina Declaration, signed by national and local architects, and Regina citizens.
Regina’s Central Library is a building of national, historical, cultural and architectural merit, and we urge City Council and the Library Board to find a way to keep and maintain and enhance the heritage value of this fine building consistent with the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada; as well as explore creative possibilities for a building enlargement that would complement the 1962 building, so it can continue to serve the changing needs of Regina’s people, and enhance its key public spaces.
Adele Weder is a Vancouver-based architectural writer, critic, curator, and contributing editor to Canadian Architect magazine. Adele completed her Master of Advanced Studies in Architecture at the University of British Columbia School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, where she is currently a member of the advisory committee. She is the founding director of the West Coast Modern League design advocacy group, the author and co-author of several books on architecture, and the recipient of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) President’s Award for Architectural Journalism, among other honours. Her most recent book, Ron Thom Architect: The Life of a Creative Modernist, was published by Greystone Books last fall.
Cheryl Cooper is an advocate for the conservation of the modern period, most notably saving Arthur Erickson’s Evergreen Building in Vancouver (City of Vancouver Heritage Award of Honour 2009). She was instrumental in installing the reflecting pond at the Museum of Anthropology (2010), completing the vision of Arthur Erickson and landscape architect Cornelia Hahn Oberlander. In 2011, she worked with a team to nominate the Museum of Anthropology, Robson Square, and Wiens’ Heating and Cooling Plant for the University of Regina for the RAIC Prix du XXe Siecle. All three won. RAIC recognized Cheryl’s long contribution with the 2011 Architecture Canada Award of Excellence as an Advocate of Architecture. Cheryl grew up in Regina and lives in Vancouver.
Jeannie Mah, a Regina ceramic artist whose work explores self-identity within the intricacies of geography, race, and local history, is included in many books on contemporary ceramics. She is co-editor of Regina’s Secret Spaces: Love and Lore of Local Geography (2006), and Biblio Files: A History of the Regina Public Library (2016).
Friends of the Regina Public Library 