In the City Council Meeting, Strategic Planning Session regarding Library Facilities on April 28th, Library Director Jessica Dorr laid out a more detailed vision of a library facilities plan.  It has 3 themes: First, Next, Then.  At first glance, this plan looked great to me.  Ensure all major facilities maintenance is properly planned for.  Expand hours, look at innovative service (like an automated book checkout station), then finally add new facilitie(s) to meet a Two-Mile proximity goal.  However, as Council asked questions about the plan, it became clear that there was a degree of vagueness here that could result in nothing happening in West Boise for decades.
Director Dorr reminded Council about Group4’s estimates to build a new library facility ($31 – 32 million) or even to repurpose a leased facility ($23 – 24 million).  However, specifics about these estimates were not discussed.  I think it’s important to recognize these estimates are for a library nearly double the size of the Bown Crossing or Cole & UStick library.  The Bown Crossing library was built for $8 million in 2017 (land was already paid for years before, by the city), and we know costs have increased since then, but I still question if these estimates are overly cautious (high).
The city is considering creative solutions to deliver service at a lower price tag.  They’re looking at “innovative” (non-staffed) options, co-location (building a library as a combined project — either a police station or affordable housing project are the options I’ve heard so far).  Council Member Morales asked Director Dorr if she had considered a partnership with Meridian.  A library built at the border of the two cities could result in much lower cost for both.  (I also suggested this in the March 2022 city budget priorities meeting!)
Mark Dee of the Idaho Statesman, “‘Sticker shock’ slows plans for West Boise library. What it costs — and what’s next“, wrote on April 28th (by Willits he is referring to Luci Willits, City Council Representative for District 1):

Willits made it clear that she would not support a concept that didn’t include something for West Boise residents. “I think this plan ignores public feedback, and specifically ignores public feedback from West Boise,” she said of Dorr’s presentation. “This is a charade.” Willits called the Public Library’s strategy a “rope-a-dope,” referring to a boxer’s strategy to absorb attacks in order to wear out an opponent over the course of a bout. She pointed to the library’s priority list, which emphasized remodels, staffing and “any other nebulous improvements we can think of” before moving to new facilities. “There is no plan to put a library in West Boise,” Willits said. “There is no timeline to put a library in West Boise, and it ignores them completely. If this plan is approved without any specifics, they should consider themselves shafted.” In their own muted ways, her colleagues agreed.

During the meeting, Council Member Nash had several questions about how West Boise residents would feel about different proposals the city is considering.  I would like to take action to help answer this question.  Look for a survey coming soon!