Rather that deferring the decision until all City possible loan requests could be balanced out as City Administration had suggested, on July 9th City Council voted to immediately approve the RPL’s request for a loan guarantee of $92 to $119 million for the “renewal” of Central Library.
The agenda with Administration’s recommendation. https://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=14&ID=5085&Inline=True
Minutes with motion actually passed. https://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=12&ID=3282&Inline=True :
Councillor Bob Hawkins moved, seconded by Councillor John Findura, that City Council1. Commit $92 million to $119 million in debt financing for the Central Library Renewal Project (CLRP); and
2. Approve, in principle, a dedicated Library mill rate increase of 5.5 per cent each year for five years starting in 2025 to allow RPL to accumulate funds in a reserve account until such time as they can be used for the CLRP. (Councillors Bresciani, Nelson and Stadnichuk voted against the motion.)
CBC article https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/regina-city-council-preview-central-library-financing-1.7258447 Global https://globalnews.ca/news/10613693/regina-city-council-approves-central-library-debt-financing/ CTV https://regina.ctvnews.ca/our-city-deserves-this-council-approves-funding-for-regina-central-library-renewal-1.6957227 Leader Post https://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/city-hall/city-council-grants-at-least-92m-in-debt-guarantee-for-central-library-renewal
RPL media release https://central.reginalibrary.ca/city-council-approves-debt-financing
RPL claimed that there couldn’t be additional storeys or a western tower structure because of the need for pillars or an outside superstructure, but has never released a report by engineers or architects to prove their claim.
RPL is going ahead with debt-inducing plans for Central without having an overall plan for other branches or for library services for underserved or expanding areas of the city.
The knowledge of the RPL and City Councillors about what protecting the heritage of Central Library would mean seemed to be very limited compared to current standards of architectural preservation.
Thanks to the public delegates with their valuable and passionate presentations. https://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=15&ID=3282&Inline=True
Friends of the Regina Public Library 