UPDATE ON POTENTIAL RELOCATION OF THE FOOTHILLS BRANCH LIBRARY
Staff Contact and Presented By: Erik Strunk, Director, Community Services Department
Staff Contact and Presented By: Michael Beck, Chief Librarian
Purpose and Policy Guidance
This is a request for City Council to review and provide guidance on the potential relocation of the Foothills Branch Library (FBL) to available space at the Foothills Recreation and Aquatics Center (FRAC) and expansion of library services. Specifically, staff is seeking Council direction whether to move forward with the potential sale of the Foothills Branch Library and its re-location to the Foothills Recreation and Aquatics Center.
Background
At the February 3, 2015, Council Workshop, City staff presented a concept to potentially sell the FBL and re-locate and transform it to space currently available in the FRAC. In doing so, the City Council directed staff to conduct separate public hearings and a vote with the Library Advisory Board, the Arts Commission, and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. These meetings were conducted on February 9, 11, 12, 23, 25 and 26. The purpose of conducting these meetings was to provide staff the opportunity to present the concept to each of the three boards and commissions; answer questions; take public commentary on the proposed concept; and to provide an opportunity for the boards and commissions to make a formal recommendation to the City Council. In total, 395 persons signed-in as having attended the six meetings.
In addition to these six public meetings, a special website was established to provide the public with meeting dates and information related to the concept. Public comments were solicited through comment cards at each of the public meetings, at each of the three libraries, through the special website, via e-mail, and a phone hotline. The concept also received wide-spread media attention.
After their review and consideration of the concept, each of the three Council-appointed boards and commissions voted not to recommend the City move forward with the potential sale and relocation of the FBL. Each of the three chairpersons for the respective boards and commissions are attending the March 17, 2015 Council Workshop: Mr. John Krystek, Chair, Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission; Mrs. Karen Aborne, Chair of the Library Advisory Board; and Mrs. Carol Ladd, Chair of the Arts Commission.
Analysis
Although the concept was discussed at length with the City Council, three boards and commissions, and presented several times to the general public, the public input received to date has been overwhelmingly in opposition to it. Each of the three boards and commissions voted against it. All related meeting minutes and citizen comments received by the Community Services Department pertaining to this item have been attached as part of the public record.
Community Benefit/Public Involvement
Including the February 3, 2015 City Council Workshop, a total of six additional board and commission meetings were conducted throughout the month of February to explore and publicly discuss this concept.
Budget and Financial Impacts
Outside of the staff time needed to analyze and prepare this concept, the only other related expenses are the completion of an appraisal of the property ($4999); the development of conceptual designs used in the presentation ($4789.25); and additional meeting transcription services (approximately $800). Any other budgetary impact will be determined based upon Council direction.