02/12/1986 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

e e e Referring to a chart on the last page of the agenda, she said the first phase in the process wi 11 be creati on of a commi ttee call ed IlFuture of Our Li brary. II She revi ewed the compos i ti on of the commi ttee. She sa i d the committee will develop an outline of future library needs, a preliminary building program, and criteria for mixed use on the future site if it is determined that the library should be part of a large development. In order to obtain citizen involvement, the committee will hold a Community Forum and then circulate a report describing the Ilfuture library" concept. She said the committee will present the report and public comment on it to the council in about six months. The second phase of the process, Ms. Decker said, will involve a site selec- tion study, a detailed building program, and a financing plan. The second stage will be completed in about 12 months. It will be reviewed by the Library Board, the Downtown Commission, and the Planning Commission and then adopted by the council. The final phase of the process will be implementation of the financing plan and development of a design for the future library. Charles Stephens, chairer of the Library Board, said he is pleased that a planning process for the library expansion has been proposed. He said the participation of City Councilors, the City Manager, and other City staff in the January 11 meeting was appreciated. He said the meeting focused on library growth and the direction it should take and the meeting started a dialogue about the needs of the public library. He urged approval of the proposal to formalize the planning process. Ms. Ehrman said the public meetings on the Eugene Agenda in the summer of 1985 indicated that the community considers expansion of the library a priority. She said the proposed process will address that concern. Mayor Obie added that Ms. Ehrman volunteered to take the lead position for the council on the library expansion. Answering Questions from Mr. Miller, Ms. Decker said existing library services will not be affected by the proposed planning process. Mr. Hansen said there are many unknowns about the financial condition of the library. He questioned the advisability of organizing a committee to consider something that will increase the City.s operating expenses funded by the property tax. He would like to delay approval of the committee at least until the 1987 Budget ;s approved. However, he will urge that a financial plan for the library expansion include provisions for the increased operating costs that will result if the council approves the proposal. Ms. Bascom said the community has evidenced a very strong interest in the library expansion and that interest has directed the council to begin the plans. She would like to represent the council in the second lead position for the project. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 12, 1986 Page 10