Letter: More openness needed in library discussion

EDITOR, Last evening, I participated in the open meeting for the new library in Scotts Valley. It was clear that the financials were already determined, including the cost of the building and the basic elements inside. The ideas of things wished for are simply empty wishes in the acknowledged lack of funding.
I ask, why has the city stopped with this belief? There are those of us who care and should be given the chance to identify what the library needs and how those needs can be met through financing, sponsorship, community drives, direct retail revenue and other methods.
We were reminded at Monday’s meeting that the ideas we gave cost money, duh, that basically wasn’t budgeted for. So in effect, it looked like a giant beauty pageant.
Yes, we know the big ad in the paper for this meeting was to grease the wheels of the incumbents. Yes, we KNOW there is an election, but did you have to waste our evening?
I am offended that the city would insult our intelligence with this, and I feel sorry about the great presentation by the architects. I hope they actually get to design something we can afford as a city.
Many people, like myself, are advocates for education in general, but the catalyst for the Town Center deserves better. We need to stop putting the fate of a project in the hands of a single company.
We want a say in exactly how the city proposes to spend its money, not just a say about what we wish for. I asked last night when the financials were to be discussed, and some numbers were given, but it lasted about 30 seconds.
There is a LOT of missed opportunity here. We could find ways to structure a city-owned retail operation for job skills training or bring in a book shop that gives patrons a chance to spend money that directly supports the library and transfers the cost center of some functions. Why do we need to hire a cafe worker when a partnership would do the same thing?
Why rely on tax dollars here? The city owns the building, so make the operation revenue-neutral. There is a lack of real imagination and exploration.
It gives me no pleasure to inform you that we need a more open forum for these ideas. What are the protocols for including ideas?
This attempt at openness could have been mistaken as a reelection campaign meeting. How about setting up an independent group to explore sources of funding for each idea? An unfunded wish list is just a wish. We owe it to our community to approach the City Council on this issue and ask for more options in the financial makeup of this project. It was embarrassing to watch, for everyone who cared enough to show up.