Tag Archives: politics

Last chance for Central- deadline Jan 20

RPL Board mtg (submissions due January 20th at noon)

The RPL has some new Board members
https://www.reginalibrary.ca/about/leadership

The Agendas for the AGM and regular board meeting  
Draft agendas https://www.reginalibrary.ca/about/leadership/board-meetings-2026
These were not posted Friday at noon, as outlined on the RPL website, but only posted Saturday at 7 pm after a prompting email from FRPL.

The regular meeting agenda includes
7. a) iii) Strategic Plan (2026-28) – Three Year Deliverables
and
8. Contracts (a hidden way to list the discussion of Central Library building plans)

The RPL had a Request for Qualification this fall but was only available  to those who could access SaskTenders. This is a violation of accountability.

The RFQ contained a lot of detail. leading to a demand for much more building space.

The RPL will pick 3 or 4 developers from the applicants to go ahead with developing a design. This essentially chooses the nature of the design. This was to be done in January, so probably before the Jan 27th meeting.

Supposedly all options are open but the RPL is leaving it up to the developers suggestions. NOT saying we definitely want the building preserved.

Please send in a letter or ask to address the Board 
– Whether a written submission only, or a delegation request, the request and supporting documentation are due by NOON on the Tuesday before the meeting – that is Jan 20th . Your written submission may be in the form of an email or a PDF document attached to an email. If you wish to submit your document in another format, please contact the CEO’s Office.  https://www.reginalibrary.ca/about/leadership/presenting-to-the-board Written submissions must be sent to therplboard@reginalibrary.ca

People can attend the 2nd floor boardroom in person, attend by teleconference, or online through Microsoft Teams (must get link from RPL admin by the morning before the meeting – email librarydirectorsoffice@reginalibrary.ca ). By telephone, Dial-in: 1 (647) 749-9317, passcode 179 860 995#

City approves $119 debt for Central “renewal”

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