Written by It’s been a turbulent twenty-four hours for everyone involved in the Renton libraries. Last night’s council meeting comprised two hours of testimony and council deliberations, ending in a 3 to 4 council split. I was in the minority, while the majority voted to take no action on the citizen library petition. The complete story on the debate can be found in Renton Patch here and Renton Reporter here.
But before the council chambers cleared, there were conciliatory overtures and mutual expressions of desire to resolve this– no one felt comfortable with so much division in our community. And by this afternoon Mayor Law was working with KCLS, city officials, and councilmembers to find a way to put the location of the library on the ballot.
I’m relieved to see us all pulling in the same direction again, and I know other Renton officials feel the same. We are an amazingly effective community when we are all working together– our Renton citizen/business/government collaborations and partnerships are the envy of the region.
So I’m hopeful and appreciative tonight. I’m also inspired by the people in our community, who were eloquent, informative, and even poetic in the council meeting, and made me proud to live in Renton.
When we start to look towards a vote on the library location, we should also consider options for improving our downtown. If you have not read it yet, I described work in my hometown in this blog here. Perhaps we can find a way to take some similar steps in downtown Renton.
All of your ideas are appreciated. Thanks again everyone.
Now what am I supposed to do with my set of handmade Renton City Government voodoo dolls? Sell them on Etsy?
Despair not! Your Renton City Government voodoo dolls can be converted to King County Library System Management voodoo dolls. This can be done at no cost in the comfort and privacy of your own home. I’m sure the library has books that describe how to do it. Do you have enough pins?
Perhaps you can donate them during the next toy drive. Kids love those City Council Action Figures. 🙂
If there’s going to be a stick-in-the-mud, it’s going to be KCLS.
Just a point: In the interlocal agreement with KCLS, it specifiecs that Renton would build them a new library. Renton and KCLS have agreed that it would be the Big-5 site.
BUT, I don’t recall that there’s a timeline in the agreement.
If my recollection is correct, Renton can still honor it’s agreement with KCLS to the letter, by postponing the build-out indefinably.
If KCLS says “You owe us a Big-5 library”, Renton can say “Yes… and we’ll probably being construction on it in two hundred years”
Pie in the sky:
The city has two problems: The library fiasco, and an upcoming budget crunch.
1) Create a special taxation district to collect funds for the Renton Libray at .30 per $1000 (Less than the KCLS .55 per $1000)
2) Create/revamp new city libraries
3) Use half savings in the tax rate to increase the city’s rate by .15 per $1000.
The taxpayers win, we get better library service (KCLS mismanages their money) , and the city gets much needed funds.
Randy,
I thought you made some great points during Monday’s council meeting. While I still think the move makes a lot of sense, I agreed with a lot about what you and others had to say about a public vote after I spoke. If the city CAN get KCLS on board, I think a public vote would be wise given the level of citizen interest. That said, if the voters are given the opportunity to decide, all parties involved must respect the will of the people (even if the vote doesn’t go their way). We cannot and should not continue this debate Ad infinitum. If KLCS refuses to negotiate, I still believe the city is well within it’s right to move forward for reason’s outlined in the City Attorney’s letter. I hope there is a happy ending to come from this process and no matter the final result, the people will come together and the city can heal.
I worry that the city has just two choices. Give the citizens a chance to vote on the location of the library, or the citizens will force a vote to de-annex from KCLS.
I always preferred the efficiently run Renton Library. I’m one of the old fashioned people who think that when you go to a library to get a book, you should be able to get it on the first trip most of the time, rather than waiting for a couple of months for a long list of other people to read it first.
The conniving part of me is kind of hoping that the City administration continues to show their contempt for the will of the voters.
If KCLS won’t negotiate with the city, just remember, we ‘told ya’ so’