The fate of a proposed library expansion in Vernon has been left in limbo. City council voted Monday to table any action on a new library/administration office until information on several issues has been gathered and the matter is discussed further at a workshop. And with no timeline set for that process, Okanagan Regional Library is left sitting on the sidelines. “We are in a waiting mode. We can’t do anything else,” said Carol Williams, ORL chairman. “It leaves us waiting for a decision from the city.” Williams isn’t sure how long ORL is willing to wait for the city to determine its next step, but she believes the library board will discuss the matter at its Sept. 19 meeting. ORL has given the city until Sept. 30 to commit to the complex between city hall and the museum.
“There is no certainty after that,” said Leon Gous, the city’s chief administrative officer, of $9 million in funding from ORL. Coun. Barry Beardsell made several demands for information Monday, including outstanding legal obligations to architects and ORL and the actual space requirements for a new library. “Let’s get all of the answers to the questions and then include the public in making a decision,” he said. It’s still not known if the art gallery and museum would be part of the proposed complex, and Coun. Juliette Cunningham says that must be determined. “If we are going to move forward, we need a commitment from the Greater Vernon Services Committee or Coldstream, and some firm costs,” she said. Projected costs for the complex should be known later this week.
Coun. Pat Cochrane continued to push for a cultural complex on the Coldstream Hotel site, saying two Vancouver developers may want to develop that property. The city’s plans to borrow $20 million for a library/office building were shot down through an alternate approval petition process, and Cochrane insists options must now be considered. “When you get 6,000 signatures, you need to take a couple of big steps back and look at what should be done.”
Coun. Jack Gilroy made a pitch for a referendum on borrowing $20 million for the building. “We made a commitment to the library to build a building. We were elected to make decisions,” he said. “I want a referendum in February so we can get on with the building.” That was also the view of Coun. Patrick Nicol. “We need to give people an opportunity to have their say on this,” he said.
Mayor Wayne Lippert wasn’t pleased with delaying the matter. “Council seems to be good at stalling things. Council needs to make up its mind and quit stalling,” he said.
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