Saskatoon downtown library plan questioned, call for “less expensive and smaller facility”

Saskatoon City Councillor Troy Davies is looking for the library board to find a “less expensive and smaller” option than the proposed $154 million project.

Part of Tuesday’s committee meeting included an administrative report on Saskatoon Public Library’s (SPL) business case.

There was no debate, but Councillors had the ability to ask questions and make comments following two presentations by the North Saskatoon Business Association (NSBA) and the CEO of SPL.

“The intent is that this is information that helps to inform the discussion at budget,” Mayor Charlie Clark said prior to the presentations.

Keith Moen, executive director of the NSBA said the library was not the top priority of his members, which had a new downtown entertainment district and bus traffic transit, ranked higher.

“We would urge this committee and council to evaluate and prioritize the projects that will potentially require borrowing, and create a plan to ensure the city can manager the borrowing for the projects under the debt ceiling,” he said. Moen said the draft multi-year budget signaled the city’s borrowing will peak at $439 million, out of the cap of $558 million by 2025.

Meanwhile, Carol Cooley, CEO of the SPL said they agreed with the city report recommendation of increased rental space for the building.

On October 31, Cooley told 650 CKOM there was room to maneuver around the original ask of $87.5 million, and they were “conservative” in the cost of land sales and private donations.

The report said the city could manage the debt of new central library, but the forecast didn’t include other projects such as a new downtown arena and convention centre.

Following the presentations, Counc. Davies said he was preparing a motion to table at budget deliberations, asking the library board to reconsider their original plan.

“We’ve been informed that the size of the library is beyond what our needs are based on,” he said.

“Considering the significant tax impact the project would have if approved as is, in addition to the multitude of other priority capital pressures the city will face over the next decade, the library board is requested to reconsider their business plan, and bring forward a proposal for a significant less expensive and smaller facility.”

Davies is also looking for enhanced fundraising estimates and partnering with other entities, and he looks forward to the debate at council.

Saskatoon city council will deliberate the multi-year budget line by line from November 25 to 27.