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Council votes to endorse CVSD capital facilities bond
1/7/2015 11:13:21 AM

By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor 

Next month, the Central Valley School District will need a supermajority of at least 60 percent to pass a $121.9 million capital facilities bond.

At Tuesday night's Liberty Lake City Council meeting, the initiative earned an approval rate of 100 percent.

The governing board unanimously voted in support of a resolution that endorsed the funding proposal and encouraged voters to return their ballots by Feb. 10. 

"It's imperative that the public vote," said Mayor Steve Peterson. "You have no complaint if you don't vote." 

CVSD Superintendent Ben Small appeared at the Jan. 6 meeting, making it clear that he could not advocate for the council's stamp of endorsement, although Small did acknowledge that the upcoming vote "is very important for the city of Liberty Lake and the totality of the Central Valley community." 

Small said that up to 300 students in the Liberty Lake attendance area would be bused to outside schools if the vote fails. He added that he has met with city staff to discuss traffic patterns on the roads surrounding the proposed school.

"At least we have an understanding how traffic works around this site," he said.    

Prior to the vote, CVSD Board Member Amy Mason, a resident of Liberty Lake, thanked council for considering the endorsement while emphasizing that the district "has been working diligently to solve problems."

CVSD last passed a construction bond in 1998, when voters approved a $78 million request that built two new high schools and brought extensive upgrades to several other campuses. The last four bond votes have failed, although supporters of the latest initiative are calling attention to the fact that it will not include a tax increase since the 1998 bond will be retiring. 

Council Member Dan Dunne encouraged his fellow city colleagues "to advocate for our schools" by campaigning on behalf of the bond. Better schools, Dunne said, "are critical for the development of our community and our economy." 

Over the past decade, the district has reported an additional 1,700 students enrolling at its schools with no new buildings being built. If the funding is approved on the ballot next month, CVSD would add a K-2 elementary school in Liberty Lake and renovate seven other schools, including Greenacres Elementary. The bond would also include safety and security upgrades as well as preliminary designs for a third high school on land at Henry Road and 16th Avenue.

"When people decide where they are going to live, schools are an important part of that," Peterson said. 

Ballots for the Feb. 10 election will be mailed out Jan. 21. CVSD will host an open house to answer questions and discuss the funding strategy on from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Jan. 15 at Liberty Lake Elementary. 

In other city news:

• Council heard an update on the return of Liberty Lake Days, the community celebration that originated in 2010 but was discontinued after 2013. The festivities earned a $30,000 earmark in the 2015 budget. This year's event, renamed "Barefoot in the Park," is set for July 24-26 and will be combined with a popular barefoot soccer tournament that has been held the last two summers. The revised agenda will include a "Taste of Liberty Lake" culinary competition, vintage car show, historical display, kayak demonstrations, food, vendors and more.  

• City Administrator Katy Allen told council that the snowfall on Jan. 4 prompted clearing of every street in the city at a cost of $4,700. The city is also looking at acquiring a new tractor that would replace an aging rendition and address clearing in parking lots and on local trails.

• Council unanimously approved a $5,000 agreement with SPVV Landscape Architects to provide design drawings and cost estimates for upgrades to Pavillion Park, including a renovation of the women's restroom, additional storage space and the addition of a permanent concession stand. Allen confirmed that the final report would not feature an "all or nothing" option, but a cost breakdown of each improvement that council could evaluate.  

• Allen reported on the update to the city's comprehensive plan, a municipal blueprint for building and development. Council approved a scope of services and fee schedule for Greg Dorhn & Associates in an amount not to exceed $29,978 to address the work. Dorhn served as a consultant for the city of Spokane Valley on its comprehensive plan and comes "highly recommended," according to Allen. 

• Donna Blomberg spoke to council during citizen comments regarding a campaign to reverse the city of Spokane's ordinance prohibiting police to ask about a person's immigration status. Blomberg said Spokane's policy would have a ripple effect on cities like Liberty Lake. The movement needs to collect 14,000 signatures to place the repeal initiative on the November ballot.  

• Allen told council that deficient lighting issues - blinking beacons at the new pedestrian crossings and a power outage affecting the lights at Pavillion Park - would be addressed and covered by warranty.

• Greater Spokane Inc. is gathering information from area cities and businesses regarding "selling points of the region," Allen said. Representatives from GSI will be at Liberty Lake City Hall on Jan. 14 at 10 a.m. to hear a presentation from city staff on "what makes Liberty Lake special and unique."

• The city will have a copy of the Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Plan on its website - www.libertylakewa.gov - beginning Jan. 14. Citizens are encouraged to review the document and forward comments to municipal staff prior to final approval later this year.  

• The next City Council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 20. 

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