CC Minutes - 07/22/98 Work Session

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the plan also called for periodic reviews to review locations and other issues. Ms. Nathanson said the explanation was satisfactory and a good approach. Mr. Tollenaar expressed some concern that the report does not state the need, but rather jumps right into the recommendations. He said stating the need was "devastatingly urgent" and needed to be explained to the public for its support. He questioned the need for a permanent library board, saying it was not consistent with approved council policy, adding there might be a need for advisory groups that would sunset in two years, particularly for the branches. Mr. Tollenaar said he also questioned the assumptions made around parking, given the library's location next to the Lane Transit District's (LTD) station downtown. Ms. Aspinwall-Lamberts responded that the committee did not get into design issues such as parking. With regard to the advisory committee, she said the committee believed library services would be more complex with branches and it would be most helpful and advisable to have an ongoing citizen committee. Mr. Meisner added that the Library Board was supported by public input. He added that public testimony insisted on having "free, safe parking." Ms. Taylor said parking was most often mentioned in her public contacts as a requirement for the new library downtown. She noted that library visits were usually scheduled around other errands or with their children and public transportation was impractical for those types of trips. Mayor Torrey said he is often asked if the project can stay within budget, with concern that any shortfall come from private contributions and not taxes. He said if there is no public support for the operating levy and branches, he would like to delay construction until operating funds are secure or identified. Mayor Torrey recalled the council process thus far and said it had been a very good one. Ms. Swanson Gribskov expressed appreciation for the committee's work. She said she did not share Mayor Torrey's concern with operating funds because there were operating resources for the current library that could go toward the new library system so even absent new money, there should be enough for enhanced services. She explained that she believed the City would be able to operate the new system "smarter, better, more efficiently." Ms. Swanson Gribskov asked what would happen if the $5 million is not raised. Mayor Torrey said if the people vote the operating levy down, the council still has the ability to identify other operating resources, but he was concerned that the exact cost for a new library had not yet been developed and would escalate if put off for another two years. He said he hoped for public confidence that the library would be built because they would than be more likely to approve the operating levy. Sue Cutsogeorge, Administrative Services, reported on funding options for: 1) a new library, yet undesigned, estimated to cost about $25.5 million; 2) two branch libraries; and 3) enhancing services at the main library. She explained that the $5.6 million funding gap between the estimated $18 million available from urban renewal funds and from the $1.9 million included in the local option levy for the new library would be met with private fund-raising. Total costs estimated at $9.24 million over four years would be raised through a proposed four-year local option levy--about $39.50 a year for the average taxpayer. MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 22, 1998 Page 2 5:30 p.m.