The Grants Pass City Council showed interest in helping the Josephine Community Library District and Mobile Integrative Navigation Team after both groups made presentations during Wednesday night's regular meeting.
The City Council started the meeting by proclaiming November 30th to be "Small Business Saturday" and recognizing long-time volunteer Doug Walker for his "unwavering commitment" as a champion for affordable housing in Grants Pass.
The Josephine Community Library District made a presentation about the new library it plans to build in downtown Grants Pass. Library Director Kate Lasky explained the current Grants Pass branch was built in 1959 and is owned by Josephine County. She said the estimated start for construction of the new library on the block bounded by 6th, 7th, J and K streets is January 2027, with a planned completion before the end of 2028. She and Josephine Community Library Foundation President Rebecca Stolz made a request for the Council to include the project in an amendment to the Urban Renewal Agency's five-year implementation strategy. The Council will consider the strategy on December 4th.
The local district did not request direct monetary support, but stated that including the new library in the Urban Renewal Agency will help it obtain grants and other funding to help pay for the project. Lasky said the district will not try to fund the project through a bond, but intends to pay for it with grants and donations.
The Mobile Integrative Navigation Team (MINT) presented a request for help in purchasing the Parker property where it currently leases the land with plans to put in a permanent managed shelter for the unhoused population. The mostly volunteer group talked about its success in removing barriers for homeless people. It wants to expand its services to the unhoused in order to alleviate problems occurring at the two temporary campsites in the city. In order to do that, it needs about $750,000 to purchase the Parker property. That will open up more grant funding opportunities for its regular operations, which it estimates will be around $1.8 million per year.
The City Council engaged in lengthy deliberations about both requests and it will continue those discussions at future meetings that will occur before the end of the year when four new Council members and a newly-elected Mayor take office.
