Click on this story for the latest: Troy Davies says new library is too costly, seeks council support for cheaper plan

The estimated price tag for a new downtown library seems reasonable given the building's proposed size, according to city hall.

But the Saskatoon Public Library (SPL) should rethink how much "general-use community space" it builds into the $154-million facility, the city said.

That's one of the key takeaways from the city's recent review of the SPL new-library plan unveiled a month and a half ago.

The city's caution comes in the wake of a study requested by city councillors into how much public space already exists downtown.

It also comes ahead of a city council vote later this month on whether to allow SPL to borrow $87.5 million for the project.

The plan for a new library includes this illustrative photo and contemplates "a multi-use space used for large public gatherings, programs, events and performances." (Saskatoon Public Library )

Lots of space already, city says

City buildings can already accommodate 52,984 people, plus another 17,000 people in private spaces, according to the report.

"At this time, the administration has no fact-based or anecdotal evidence to support the need for construction of significant additional general-use community space in the downtown," the report states.

"As such, the administration believes that the new central library design should minimize general-use community space."

SPL's business case contemplates several types of space in the new library, described and proportioned as follows:

Collections: 21%

Programming and discovery spaces: 18%

Public seating, collaboration spaces and bookable spaces: 15%

Employee work areas and storage: 15%

Open and gathering spaces: 9%

Building operations: 9%

Public computing and assistive technologies: 6%

Public washrooms and water fountains: 3%

Retail: 2%

Service and checkout: 1%

Click here for a more detailed breakdown.

Creating "welcoming and vibrant community meeting spaces" has been key to SPL's plan.

"Libraries have become civic commons," according to the business case. "They create neutral and safe spaces for human interaction. They are places where people come to meet, learn, share, and where people feel a sense of belonging and community."

194 - The number of times the word "space" appears in Saskatoon Public Library's business case for a new downtown library

The city's report does not specify what kinds of spaces proposed in the library business case fall under the category of "general use."

Vote on borrowing coming soon

The new library is a SPL project led by the library service's board of directors but still requires city council's permission for the $87.5 million in borrowing.

Clae Hack, the city's director of finance, recently said "a final decision will be made during budget deliberations by city council." 2020 budget talks are set to begin at the end of the November.

Although it comes appended with the library's formal request for the borrowing, Tuesday's library agenda item appears to be an information item only.

The estimated price of the new library — which has the support of several community groups — is predicated on council approving the borrowing this year, SPL board chair Lisa Erickson previously told council.

SPL was initially set to release its business case earlier this year. Instead, it was publicly unveiled in September — less than three months before Budget 2020 talks are set to begin on Nov. 25.

One city councillor has voiced his concern that the timeline seems fast.

"I'm not sure why we're making this large of a decision two months prior to a budget when we're going to have a new council next year," Ward 4 councillor Troy Davies said in September when the business case was unveiled.

Davies suggested a good new library could be built for less than the expected $154-million price tag.

"As we've seen in Halifax you can build an amazing building for $80 million," he said.

Pushback on the pushback

Another councillor, Mairin Loewen of Ward 7, argued against the idea that the library loan ask was coming too fast.

"This is by no means a new issue," she said. "I don't want to make light of the significance of the dollar figure and of the scope of the work.

"But I feel like I'm hearing some resistance around the table today on the basis of this somehow coming out of nowhere. And I want to push back against that because I know our administrations have been working together for literally decades to create capacity for us to consider a new downtown library."

It's not clear what impact would result if city councillors voted against the borrowing, but SPL CEO Carol Cooley has suggested council's decision is key.

"Some of the deliberations we [the board] have had is, 'Do we aggressively fundraise before the project is approved?' and the risks associated with that. 'Would donors even be willing to commit prior to approval, whenever approval might come?'"

Asked Monday what the board's plan is in the event city council does not approve the borrowing this year, SPL spokesperson Janna Sampson said, "The board is waiting for the decision on the borrowing from council at this time."

What about the city's debt?

The city's recent review of the library plan also addresses what a new library would do to the city's debt load and greenhouse gas emissions record.

"I don't want to be known as the council that lost our AAA credit rating. We're one of the only cities in Canada that has it," Ward 5 councillor Randy Donauer said in September.

The city's accumulated debt stood at $354 million at the end of 2018, according to the city. The debt is projected to increase to $439 million in 2025.

That projection also includes $31.4 million for the city's future bus-rapid-transit service and unspecified utility projects.

It does not include such projects as a new downtown arena, a new water treatment plant, and the relocation of the city yards marshalling site.

The city's debt limit is currently set at $558 million.

Borrowing for a new library alone would not have any short-term impact on the AAA credit or put the city over its debt limit.

"Rather, it is the cumulative impact of all projects requiring borrowing that will impact the city's debt," according to the city.

Carbon dioxide emissions

The current downtown library branch, which is called the Frances Morrison Central Library and takes up 78,000 square feet, emits 1,000 tonnes of CO2e (carbon-dioxide equivalent) every year.

The new library, which would be roughly double in size but built to LEED Gold Standards, is estimated to annually output 1,400 tonnes of CO2e.

All told, the city states "the construction costs identified in the SPL business case document appear reasonable in consideration of the building type, size, and limited program definition identified in the business case."

City councillors are set to give their own thoughts Tuesday at city hall some time after 1 p.m. CST.