Snooty outsiders like to slam Spokane as a backwater burg where voters come together every so often to say no.

The electorate shattered that unflattering image last year when they resoundingly approved not one but two measures needed to proceed with an expansion of the city's convention center.

The twin approvals (one was even a 17-year extension of a sales tax) transcended the community's usual political dividing lines: city vs. Valley, north vs. south. Support was broad-based, a bold endorsement of a forward-thinking concept for strengthening the Spokane area's economic base.

Clearly, the voters did their part. They rendered a mandate, and now it's up to the public officials to carry it out.

Unfortunately, though, that's not happening. And, as City Council President Rob Higgins lamented this week, "People in the community are saying, `Why doesn't the council get its act together?"'

Why, indeed? And the Public Facilities District, too.

At its regular Monday meeting, the City Council postponed an expected decision on agreements to move the expansion project ahead. The council laid the delay at the feet of the PFD, which didn't have the agreements ready for approval.

It was all reminiscent of January when city-county squabbling, among other concerns, caused the council to defer the issue indefinitely.

Then, the day after this week's City Council meeting, the PFD sounded far from close to making a critical site decision. PFD board member Erik Skaggs declared that dropping the project altogether is an option.

No one is saying it's easy. Difficult challenges have to be addressed. Choices must be made thoughtfully and responsibly. Public interests have to be protected.

Which is why community leaders -- repeat, leaders -- need to throw their full energy and skill into making those solutions happen. Ducking the issue, deferring it, postponing it, running from it -- those aren't acceptable options. Certainly not dropping it altogether.

If the delays were discouraging in January they are alarming in April.

Interest rates are at tantalizing lows for issuing some $96 million in bonds. A $36 million state sales tax rebate is ours -- if construction begins by the end of the year.

This community's public officials have not met the public's expectations. To redeem themselves, they need to make this issue their top priority and give it their full attention until the differences are resolved.

That would be a more appealing legacy than the one they threaten to leave -- the council whose decision-making paralysis sabotaged a community vision and squandered a progressive opportunity.