FAQs

FUNDING

Grants and donations are actively being sought to fund the library building project. The figures in this section do not include the $10,000,000 bond passed by Palmer voters in October 2023. 

Current funds include:
$5,000,000: Alaska State Legislator, DeLena Johnson, was instrumental in securing this generous legislative grant.
$      54,918: Donations gifted through the Friends of the Palmer Public Library, Inc.
$2,500,000: Projected (not finalized) insurance settlement. 

Further funding for the project is expected and will be from a combination of municipal, state, federal, private foundations, and individuals. We're currently actively pursuing these options. 
Rasmusson Foundation
Senator Lisa Murkowski - Federal Grant
Various other grants

BOND

A $10 million library building bond was passed by 79.61% of Palmer voters on October 3, 2023.
From the Mayor's Report on October 10, 2023:

"Palmer Library Update –

The damaged section of the library has been demolished. Now contractors are working to weatherize the rest of the library for the winter.

As of the writing of this report, the Library Bond issue seems to be passing with an unofficial 79% Yes votes from Voting Day. Wolf Architects is working through analyzing the choices for moving forward with the library. In the next few months Wolf Architecture will be presenting to the council what the details and projected cost choices will be. This will include choices to either add to the existing structure or to build something completely new. Some of the factors have to do with their analysis on what all is salvageable and costs associated with the choices.

People have been asking me about the next steps for the library. Bonding isn’t the next step. In fact, Bonding is one of the last steps. Just because we have permission to bond for more money doesn’t mean we will use it.

We need to work through the design process to know what the projected cost will be. With that in hand, we can seriously approach grant sources and secure grants to assist with the project. With a library bond (assuming the final numbers are a Yes) we can work more confidently to build our project in a timely manner."

ARCHITECT SELECTION

A Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued on the City of Palmer’s website on April 10, 2023. The RFP was issued for “Architectural services to evaluate the feasibility of repairing, expanding, or replacing in its entirety, and provide planning and design services for future needs of the Palmer Public Library.”

You can see the complete request for proposal by clicking here.

On June 27, 2023, the Palmer City Council voted on Resolution No 23-019 regarding the selection of the architect. Please click on the documents at the bottom of this page regarding Wolf Architecture's proposal and how the selection was made.

TIMELINE

See the actual timeline and 4/23/24 resolution to pay an additional $15,000 for an alternate library design here.

This is the original timeline:

BONDS IN PALMER

Per PMC 11.1(a)(1), the City of Palmer has the authority to issue a bond for the Library project.

Excerpt from Overview of General Obligation Bonds from JDO Law, presented at the June 27, 2023 City Council Meeting,

• "If the City of Palmer (City) needs to finance major capital improvements – such as repairing/upgrading/replacing its City owned library – it may issue general obligation bonds to pay for the project. Issuing municipal bonds is one of the most common ways for municipal governments to finance capital improvements. Repayment of general obligation bonds is secured by the full faith and credit of the municipal government. In simple terms, that means such bonds are secured by a municipal government’s ability to tax, and to raise taxes if necessary, in order to pay bondholders."

Palmer voters have approved general obligation bonds in the past.

• In 2003 the voters approved Ice Rink General Obligation Bonds in the amount of $1,500,000.  In 2005 these were sold and indebtedness taken on for the MTA Events Center. These were financed in 2012 and paid off in 2022 which was two years early. During this time Palmer’s property tax (3 mils) and sales tax (3%) remained constant.
• In 2010 voters approved General Obligation Bonds for Mat Maid Block real property acquisition in the amount of $3,000,000: That project never happened so these were NEVER sold and expired in October of 2020.

Legislation to put the bond on the October 3rd ballot, Ordinance 23-002, was placed before the Palmer City Council on June 27, 2023 for consideration and adopted at the July 11, 2023 meeting. You may view these documents at the bottom of this page.

While the City of Palmer cannot advocate one way or the other regarding the Bond Proposal, the City can host meetings where all opinions can be expressed.

PLANNING MEETINGS

Public engagement successfully brought over 300 community members into the project via:

• Friday Fling--Informational Boards & Targeted Surveys
• Online Surveys—user group specific, teens, homeschoolers, etc.
• Informational Boards and Comment Cards at Library
• Public Work Sessions—three open house format meetings held at Palmer Depot
• Stakeholder outreach—City Directors, library staff, Library Building Committee, Palmer Chamber of Commerce, Palmer Historical Society, and others.

Wolf Architecture received input from the community August through November at various public and stakeholder meetings, work groups, interactive displays and comment cards, online surveys, and online comments. Discussion of community needs and Q&A about the plan for the Palmer Library rebuild included displays, planning exercises, and interior organization exercises.

Public comments are still welcome. Click here to submit a public comment.