Renton City Council Approves Library Move Despite Opposition

Renton's City Council made an historic decision Monday that will affect library patrons and the downtown core for decades.

The Council's decision to approve an interlocal agreement between the City and the King County Library System (KCLS) did not come easy, but it narrowly passed by a 4-3 majority vote.

More than a dozen people stepped up to the podium Monday to comment on the issue, although the vocal majority strongly opposed the downtown library's proposed move.

Prior to the vote, Council member Greg Taylor made one final plea to his fellow Council members.

"You're about to make a decision that will be felt for decades," he said. "I would urge us to step back … to engage our community, our constituency."

Citing public "outcry, push back, and the overwhelming, resounding resistance" as his reasoning for further delay of the vote, Taylor urged the group to slow down and gather more public input. Despite his request, a resolution for the agreement passed.

Not all Council members felt the need for more time.

"This began in April," said Council member Terri Briere. "We've had time to do that."

Council member Rich Zwicker agreed with Briere, adding, "I strongly believe it is time to move forward."

Council member Randy Corman, however, sided with Taylor and asked for a slowing of the process. He made several suggestions for options, including moving ahead with the Highlands library and a delay on the downtown library move.

"I'd be reluctant to do something that 90 to 95 percent of the public seem reluctant to do," he said, adding that he has heard of a silent majority group that supports the downtown library's move; however, he said, he has not heard from those people.

Council members Briere, Zwicker, Don Persson and King Parker voted in favor of and interlocal agreement between the City and KCLS for the construction of two new library buildings in Renton. Taylor, Corman and Marcie Palmer voted against the agreement.

The same Council members also approved of an ordinance that allows the City to pursue an $18 million bond to fund construction of the two new buildings.

The decisions followed a Committee of the Whole meeting held earlier Monday evening. Alex Pietsch, the economic, neighborhood and strategic planning administrator, briefed the group on the bond issue, as well as the City's  interlocal agreement with KCLS.

Last Monday, the City closed in its purchase of the former Big 5 Sporting Good building on South 3rd Street, Pietsch said. The 15,000-square-foot building is the proposed new site of the downtown library.