The Liberty Lake city council is expected in June to consider plans for three capital improvements totaling just over $3 million: a street roundabout at Mission Avenue and Harvard Road, sports fields near an elementary school, and a town center.

The Harvard Road roundabout, which would absorb traffic from an Interstate 90 off-ramp, is expected to cost about $1.5 million. It would be funded in part from the city's mitigation fund paid into by developers for transportation improvements, as well as with city funds and with grants, says Doug Smith, city community development director for Liberty Lake.

Smith says the city originally envisioned a traffic control light at the Harvard-Mission intersection, but more recent traffic analysis found that a roundabout would be a more effective control device.

He says if the plan is approved by the city council, the Washington state Department of Transportation would assist with a design.

"If approved and the state completes designs, we would anticipate the construction to start next year," Smith adds. "It would be fall of 2013 at the earliest for completion."

Additionally, the city is negotiating an interlocal agreement with the Central Valley School District that would allow the city to build an estimated $1 million sports field complex on a 20-acre site owned by the district. The property is set aside for the future building of a middle school, just east of Liberty Lake Elementary School, which is located at 23606 E. Boone.

Smith says the district recently expressed interest in an agreement that temporarily would transfer ownership of the property to the city with the condition that the land would return to the school district when a middle school can be built. Smith adds that as a municipality, the city has more options to seek grants to build baseball, football, soccer, and track fields for community use.

Developing the fields that typically are found at a middle school would meet a huge community need for recreational sports areas, Smith says.

"I'd anticipate if all details of the agreement are approved, we would be starting first thing next construction season in spring 2013," he says.

He adds, "There's been a growing interest to provide recreation opportunities for the community. We've heard the need for additional ball fields for at least five years. If you were to go to any of our parks during the weekend, as kids are beginning practices, each is at capacity."

The third project involves creating about $850,000 worth of park-like amenities on about 2 acres of vacant land for a town square. The town square would be located off Meadowwood Lane south of Appleway on part of 6.4 acres owned by the city.

The city has applied for a $425,000 grant with a state agency to go toward half of the town square improvement costs, and the city would match that amount. Near a community farmers market, the town square would offer public gathering space, an amphitheater, and a pedestrian plaza, Smith says.