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Liberty Lake resident Joe Phipps has served as chair of the Community Facilities Task Force, a citizen-based committee that began meeting in June to discuss ideas surrounding construction of a community center, library and aquatic facility in Liberty Lake.

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A Cup of Joe: Fit for the task
9/28/2015 3:05:32 PM

By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor 

It is a tradition that goes back to the days before Liberty Lake could even call itself a city. 

A group of residents attach themselves to a cause for the betterment of the community, dedicating their time, talents and, occasionally, taxes to ensure that projects like a trail network and civic landmarks like Pavillion Park reach fruition. While the areas of emphasis and funding components may vary, the history of citizen involvement in Liberty Lake has helped mold the area's character like a river impacts the surrounding landscape.   

Enter citizens like Joe Phipps, who moved to Liberty Lake two years ago with his wife, Monica, and their daughter. The family had lived on Spokane's South Hill for a decade but transitioned to the Rocky Hill neighborhood despite Joe's job as assistant principal at Rogers High School in North Spokane. While the commute may be a little longer, Phipps said the greenspaces and family-friendly culture of Liberty Lake have made the move a positive one. 

"It's exactly the kind of community we hoped we would find when we made the decision to relocate," he said. 

Born and raised in Alaska, Phipps figured he would ultimately settle down in the 49th state. That changed in 2001, when his wife took a job at Sacred Heart Children's Hospital. Shortly after, Phipps enrolled in graduate school at Gonzaga University to pursue his master's in teaching. When not attending sporting events to support his daughter, Phipps spends his spare time creating furniture from salvaged materials and restoring his 1959 Ford Truck. 

Phipps latched on to one of Liberty Lake's most recent civic initiatives earlier this year when he volunteered to join the Community Facilities Task Force, a resident-led committee that was assigned to research the feasibility of large-scale projects like an aquatic facility, new library and community center. The group began meeting in June with the support of municipal staff and representatives of the City Council. 

While more participated over the life of the task force, Phipps was joined by a core group that included Mike Kennedy, Leslie Zilka, Kelsy McHenry, Kathy Whybrew, Lynn Diddens, Laura Hotchkiss, Lorissa Van Wolffradt and Jennifer Tomlinson. At one point in the process, Phipps was nominated by his fellow volunteers to be chair, a decision that panned out well, according to City Administrator Katy Allen. 

"Joe pulled the task force together with ideas, his educational experience and vision for the future of our community," Allen said. "I appreciated his inclusion of everyone's input." 

The task force researched site options for a community center/pool, evaluated potential costs, toured existing facilities and emerged with a thorough presentation for council that Phipps delivered on Sept. 1. At the following meeting, council voted to allot $50,000 for a project manager, signaling the most direct validation of the plan since it emerged on the municipal priority list.

Q: How did you first find out about the Community Facilities Task Force and why did you decide to participate?

A: I was asked to be a part of the Community Task Force by Councilman Shane Brickner. After having several discussions about the possibility of an aquatic facility in Liberty Lake, he told me about a task force being formed to look at possible sites to house an aquatic facility and community center.  I've obviously been involved in the educational community for a number of years, but have never had the opportunity to contribute at a civic level in my community.  I've always been a vocal proponent of bringing more recreational opportunities to Liberty Lake and see an aquatic center and community center as something that can provide activities for all demographics in Liberty Lake.

Q: Did you bring any particular opinion about community facilities to the table when you began volunteering with the task force?  

A: Despite having a reputation as a very clean, safe and beautiful community, at times I think Liberty Lake struggles to find an identity. You have a very unique mix of residential communities and a growing high-tech sector, along with a number of parks and golf courses, but there is not really a "main street" type of gathering place in the city.  Having lived very close to the Southside Aquatic Center on the South Hill, my family and I really missed having a swimming pool on the sweltering summer days here in the Spokane area.  My desire to participate on the task force was fueled by a desire to better the community we live in and play an active role in the thoughtful planning process. 

Q: How did the task force take shape and progress from the first meeting until your presentation to the City Council on Sept. 1?

A: One thing people should know about the task force is it is a broad representation of our community, including members from a variety of neighborhoods and backgrounds.  The core group of members who were present from the initial meeting until the final presentation to council was committed to honoring the work council had charged us to complete. Any time you are trying to facilitate a group with that many voices and opinions at the table, there will be times when not everyone is on the same page, but this group was always willing to listen to the ideas of others.  We consistently had members from the community in the audience at each of our meetings, contributing ideas and suggestions throughout the entire process.  By the time we presented to council, the group felt like they had done a nice job of researching and providing them with a great blueprint to bring to the community.

Q: It sounded like the group looked at five sites before deciding on Town Square Park for the future site of the community center/pool. Why did this location make the most sense?

A: Town Square made a lot of sense on a variety of levels. The task force landed on this theme of a "third gathering place," somewhere in the community that folks can congregate outside of home and work.  Out of the five sites, the Town Square was the most centrally located, already had a cemented following with the Farmer's Market on Saturdays, provided the opportunity to continue the work the city had started with the initial phase of Town Square Center and could accommodate all the space needs for both an aquatic facility and community center.

Q: When you looked at some of the more established facilities in different parts of the state, are there certain aspects they had in common?

A: Many of the aquatic facilities and community centers we looked at were in communities similar to size and population of Liberty Lake.  It was important to look ahead and find something that will not only fit the needs of our current community but be able to continue to support the needs of our community as it is projected to almost double in size over the next decade. Swimming facilities need to not only provide a hub for lap swimmers and lessons but include zero entry and play structures for children and families.

Q: Some people are wondering why there hasn't been more discussion of the library's role in this project. How do you think that will play out?

A: The library was included in the discussion from the beginning and had representatives at many of the task force meetings. The library plays a very vital role in our community and, in many ways, has been acting as both a library and a community center for the city.  Not only does the library provide books to the community but also computer access for residents who do not have either a computer or high-speed Internet.  It also sponsors many craft activities for the youth of our community and classes for adults.  The feedback from the parks and rec survey pointed towards the community's desire for an aquatic facility and a community center but also showed a lot of support for a quality library facility.  The task force struggled with the fact that we already have an existing library, despite the fact it does not have enough space to satisfy the demands of our community and it is located in a building that was really never meant to be the long-term location, including being located next to the police station.  

The task force landed on the idea of a community center but did not exclude the possibility of the library being housed in the community center and being able to share the large community spaces. The library is short on conference room space, not necessarily in need of more shelf space.  We actually see the potential of a nice partnership between the community center and library, even if they were to remain in separate locations.

Q: It appears the future of this project will hinge on the result of a capital facilities bond vote. How do you feel the community might respond to this request for funding? 

A: The council took a great first step approving funding to move forward with the selection of a project manager at their last council meeting.  This will allow the city to pursue the work of the task force in a more formal manner and continue to explore the potential of the project.  The task force knows it will be vital to the success of the vote to involve the community in the process, hoping to invite residents to provide feedback at both council meetings and possibly a booth at the Farmer's Market. Ultimately, the voters will decide the fate of the project, but I feel strongly that the project includes something for everyone in the community regardless of age or interests.  The Town Square has all the potential to become the third gathering place for the entire city of Liberty Lake.  In many ways, I think the community is starving for something like this project.

Q: Finally, what did you enjoy most about being part of the task force? 

A: It's always nice to have the opportunity to meet people in your community. I have gained a lot of insight into the history of Liberty Lake, as well as a much better understanding of the future growth we will see in the years to come.  I have a new appreciation for the City Council and many of the folks who work on our behalf over at City Hall.  There is so much to be thankful for in Liberty Lake and I feel very fortunate to call it home.

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