04/27/1988 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Mr. Rutan said he is not comfortable with the library construction and site selection process. He said the City needs to have a concept of what it wants to build before it discusses site. Ms. Decker said staff feels the council is making progress because it is making decisions that are beginning to define the library. Because the process is not finished, she said it will appear that in some cases the cart is coming before the horse. She said questions such as location, size, branch options and construction phasing will all be subject to recommendations from the council subcommittee on library financing. Ms. Decker said staff would like the council to get an approximate idea of what it wants in terms of a library before it tries to determine how it will be funded and whether construction should be phased. Mr. Rutan said he is still uncomfortable that financing and conceptualizing are not closely enough integrated. Mr. Miller said he would like council members to hear input from each other during the library work sessions. e Mr. Bennett said he agrees with Mr. Rutan. He said the information is being presented as if the council will make the final decision. He said the council is approaching the issue in a public manner. At the same time, he said the decisions reached by the council on the issue are being presented to the community as if the council knows the timing and the source of funds for the project as a whole. Ms. Decker said the council's V1Slon of the library and financing proposals will be put out for public comment in November 1989. However, she said the public will not be able to provide meaningful response unless the council combines its vision of the library and how it will be funded. Ms. Bascom said she would appreciate hearing why the Broadway and Charnel ton site was selected as the Future of Our Library Committee's first choice. Mr. Rutan reviewed Mayor Obie's comments that the economics of the new library will playa big part in the location and the nature of the facility. Mr. Bennett said he agrees with the concept of knowing the funding source and probability of a new library first. He said the council should continue to strive for what it wants in a library and can always return at a later date to revise the proposal. Ms. Decker said staff has structured the process this way in an effort to coordinate the library's financial planning with the discussions on the Six- Year Financial Plan scheduled for this summer. Don Lutes, library consultant, presented a report evaluating the existing and proposed sites. Benefits of the proposed Broadway and Charnel ton site are its central location and adequate size for the generally accepted level of one library floor per 45,000 square feet. He said the site would generate - MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 27, 1988 Page 7