Council finalizes plan for Pavillion Park improvements By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor
It appears an array of upgrades at Pavillion Park will take a much shorter amount of time to construct than they did to discuss.
The conversation about a permanent concession stand at the greenspace began last fall when Mayor Steve Peterson introduced the idea in his preliminary budget for 2015 along with an $85,000 earmark. In February, City Council voted to endorse a budget amendment to cover the concession stand, expanded women's restroom, improved electrical connections and added storage space.
The project was sidelined a month later after a rare 3-3 council tie. A week after the gridlock, the issue resurfaced at a special meeting and was approved with a pricetag of $252,000.
On Tuesday, council agreed to move forward with a final plan that will have low bidder Western States Construction as the general contractor. The governing board voted 6-1 (with Council Member Odin Langford in the minority) to move ahead with an alternate bid encompassing 1,356 square feet at a cost of $293,490.
Work could begin as early as this week, according to City Administrator Katy Allen, with late June as the goal for completion. The deluxe version of the project will mean 300 extra square feet of storage space as compared to the base bid. The concession stand will require a sink, countertops and plumbing which Allen said the city could address at a lower cost than the contractor.
"We thought we could install it less expensively ourselves," she said.
Before the vote, Council Member Hugh Severs made the case to spend more for improvements that should last at least 20 years. The base bid came in at $259,793.
"It sounds like a good project," he said. "By this being such a long-term project, let's not be cheap. Spend the money and do it right."
Council Member Dan Dunne concurred.
"This is an opportunity to invest in our community and provide amenities to our people," Dunne said.
Although he voted with the majority, Council Member Keith Kopelson expressed concern with the city tacking on costs to this and other capital projects.
"Each time we talk about it, this becomes a bigger and bigger project instead of talking about what we need at the beginning," he said.
Council will still need to vote on a special budget amendment for the balance of $41,490. Finance Director R.J. Stevenson said the revenue could come from the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) fund, the same source as the previously approved $252,000. The fund includes $470,000 that has yet to be appropriated.
Council approves parks plan update
A public hearing on the Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails Plan Update was followed by a unanimous vote in support of the document on Tuesday. Every six years, city staff collects feedback from residents and compiles a vision for parks and recreation in anticipation of grant opportunities.
Planning and Building Service Manager Amanda Tainio told council that around 1,000 citizens had contributed thoughts to the update, outlining priorities such as a community center, aquatic facility, multi-use facilities, trails, park programming and maintaining Liberty Lake's standing as a walkable community. Tainio said she is still receiving comments from residents on the plan.
The update was introduced on Jan. 14 and approved by the planning commission on Jan. 29 with several modifications. Tainio pointed to a number of projects that had been completed since the last update, including Town Square Park, community gardens, Rocky Hill Park and expansion of the trails system.
This time around, the city will be considering projects like a community park in the burgeoning River District as well as the pool and community center. Tainio expressed hope that a plan for the River District greenspace, known as Orchard Park, could materialize by the fall in preparation for the upcoming round of grant deadlines next May.
"We need to identify projects, timelines and funding," she said.
Resident John Olstad addressed council during the public hearing, saying he represented families that support an aquatic facility. He implored the city to set aside funds soon and establish a concrete plan for construction.
"The pool was a significant priority on the survey," Olstad said.
Dunne applauded Tainio, Parks and Recreation Coordinator Michelle Griffin and others who had worked on the update.
"This is really an important case study for quality of life features in Liberty Lake," Dunne said.
In other city news:
• Melanie Boerner of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library provided a first quarter overview of library happenings, including a fundraising effort in February by the Friends of Liberty Lake Library which generated $700. Movies at the library have been a success so far this year, Boerner said. She also encouraged residents to sign up for summer reading programs starting in June.
• Improvements on Interstate 90, including a proposed interchange at Henry Road, are included in the Senate transportation budget but not the House budget. The legislative session in Olympia is scheduled to end this week but most likely will be extended. Mayor Peterson has been in contact with legislators on both sides of the aisle as he campaigns for local funding.
• Allen said Waste Management Inc. will host a bulky waste cleanup on May 9 at Town Square Park. Goodwill will also be on site, accepting electronic items.
• The Liberty Lake Farmers Market will open its season May 16. The site will run through mid-October each Saturday on Meadowwood Lane from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• The picnic shelter at Town Square Park is expected to be installed by early July.
• The opening ceremony at Liberty Lake Ballfields is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. May 2. Allen said that while standing water at the venue has been resolved, lack of parking has been problematic.
• A number of improvements have been made recently at a pair of community parks, including a new gate and refurbished entrance sign at Pavillion Park. A new sign has also been installed at Rocky Hill Park, while interior upgrades in the park's red barn are now completed.
• The renovation of Appleway Avenue continues with a completion date of early June. Current work includes landscaping and trenchwork, while paving will begin in mid-May, with the work scheduled for evening hours.
• Allen gave an update on a project to install a sensory garden near the arboretum adjacent to City Hall. Financial support from the Liberty Lake Lions Club made the project possible. An open house for the site is scheduled for May 13 at noon.
• Work is under way on a pair of Fallen Heroes Circuit Course sites. The installment honoring Army Cpl. Kelly Grothe, a 2004 Central Valley High School graduate, will be located on a trail to the west of the Trailhead golf course. A ribbon cutting ceremony for the site will take place on Memorial Day, May 25, at 4 p.m. A Coast Guard installment is being constructed near the arboretum with a ceremony likely to occur in September.
• Allen said an update on the city's comprehensive plan will likely include a better definition of the downtown corridor, according to advice from a consultant. Recommendations also include simplifying the plan and adding legal updates. The planning commission will consider revisions to the plan at its May 13 meeting.
• An open house is scheduled at City Hall at 5 p.m. May 14.
• For the second year, city staff has earned the Well City Award for its emphasis on health and fitness. The honor translates into a 2 percent saving on the city's health insurance premiums.
• Andrey Muzychenko of the Spokane CASH (Creating Savings, Assets and Hope) Coalition accepted a proclamation from the city recognizing April 20-24 as Money Smart Week. The effort emphasizes financial literacy and education for unbanked and underbanked residents of Spokane County.
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