The design for a $40-million main library in downtown Riverside is back on track.

The Riverside City Council voted 5-1 Tuesday, Oct. 3, to approve the design for a three-story oblong building with a prominent front window. The city will move $9.6 million in Measure Z funds from police headquarters to construction of the library.

The vote came just under a month after the same proposal failed to get the four votes required by the city charter.

This time, the proposal had the support of City Councilman Jim Perry, who previously opposed it, and of Councilman Steve Adams, who was appointed Sept. 18 to fill a seat that was vacant when the first vote was taken.

Earlier, Perry was concerned about taking the money from the Riverside Police Department, where it was set to be used for a new detention facility.

“After meeting with staff and representatives of the Police Department, I was convinced that we can move forward,” Perry said by phone Thursday, Oct. 5. “This has been such a controversial issue for so many years. It started well before I was on the council. … Hopefully, when people see the finished product, they will be happy with it.”

Councilman Chuck Conder remained opposed to the plan’s price tag. He named several prominent local architects who he said told him they could build the library for significantly less.

“I have these gentlemen saying to us, ‘We will come and sit with you for free and show you how you can save millions of dollars on this building,'” Conder said during the meeting. “Millions of dollars that could go toward (Councilman) Andy Melendrez’ s favorite, Riverside Art Museum. It could go toward the homeless issue that Councilman (Mike) Soubirous is fighting to help but he can’t get any money for it. It could go toward the mayor’s home first initiative.”

City Manager John Russo chastised Conder for suggesting city officials don’t care about how taxpayer money is spent.

While the builders Conder mentioned are wonderful, Russo said, they’ve never built a library — and if they think they can do it for less, they’re welcome to bid on the construction. Tuesday’s vote only approves the design and the expenditure of up to $39.7 million.

“It’s like going to a podiatrist asking to do open-heart surgery,” Russo said Tuesday. “They’re both doctors, but it’s a different thing.”

The cost per square foot of the proposed library — $938 — is less than most other libraries built in California over the past few years, a city report presented to the City Council states.

Melendrez, who isn’t allowed to vote on the proposal because he owns property within 500 feet of the site, also spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting to express his support.

While a majority of the members of the public who spoke Tuesday praised the plan, many comments on social media have panned the design and the price.