It Takes 2 YES YES Votes to Support the Library Museum
Posted on: October 5, 2009 | voteyesyes | Comments Off | Print Article | Rate Post:
(11 votes, average: 4.18 out of 5)Since 2005, the Seward Community Library Building Committee (SCLMBC) has worked diligently on behalf of the community to bring a new co-located library museum facility to reality. Their efforts have been mindful of what is essential for our community’s future education, information and historic preservation needs and the need for this new facility be one that is sustainable, innovative and functional, yet affordable and, most importantly, wholly supported by our citizens.
This committee has fostered this project through land acquisition, a comprehensive feasibility study, initial design concepts to arrive at a project cost estimate and development of a solid business plan, successful procurement of initial grant funding, leadership contributions and solicitation of in-kind services and supplies totaling over $1 million, and due diligence of a professional community support survey.
The project was accepted into the Foraker Pre-Development Program which assisted the committee in planning for a successful capital project by providing guidance and technical assistance to ensure the proposed project met a documented need , is consistent with strategic/community plans; considered opportunities for collaboration; has appropriate facility and site plans and realistic project budget is financially sustainable and will not negatively impact the sustainability of the proposing organization. The committee is proud of the project’s advancement within this program, and as the last pre-development step, is now in the process of selecting an architect/design team and have committed $200,000.00 of funds raised to date take the project through 35 percent design phase.
With successful completion of pre-development activities, the project has reached a pivotal point. For the project to secure additional project funding from state and public/private foundations, the community’s commitment of local funding must be in place.
On October 6th, the community will be presented with (2) propositions relative to the advancement of the Seward Community Library Museum.
The Vote YES YES Library Committee encourages the community to support the advancement of the Seward Community Library Museum project and presents the following for your information; Based on 2008 city sales tax revenues, 64% of city sales tax collected was paid by non-residents (visitors), 36% by residents (Seward, Bear Creek, Moose Pass)
A YES YES vote will enable the SCLMBC to apply for state and public/private foundation grants for the balance of the funding required for construction.
The SCLMBC has placed the following language in a Memorandum of Agreement with the City; ’The City recognizes that as sponsors of the initiative to seek voters advisement on a sales tax increase in support of a new co-located library/museum and any additional operational and maintenance costs that may occur as a result of the new facility, it is the intent of the SCLMBC to remain pro-active by establishing long-term generational stewardship to work with the current and future city councils to hold the voter’s original intent that revenue resources for this project be managed prudently and every opportunity to reduce the length and cost of the citizens commitment be explored and vetted. ‘
The proposed sales tax increase (one half percent, 0.5%) and issuance of general obligation bonds (not to exceed 5M) will not be put into effect until all project funding is secured.
On October 6th, please join us in supporting this significant community project and remember, it takes two Yes Yes votes to support the Seward Community Library Museum Project! Yes for Proposition 2 and Yes for Proposition 3.
The Vote YES YES Library Museum Committee
PO Box 722
Seward, AK 99664
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