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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-02-04 Library Commission SummaryKENAI ADVISORY LIBRARY COMMISSION KENAI COMMUNITY LIBRARY ACTIVITY ROOM February 4, 1997 @ 7:30 P.M. AGENDA 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 7, 1 997 5. DIRECTOR'S REPORT 6. FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY REPORT 7. PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD A. Mayor and City Council of Kenai 8. OLD BUSINESS A. Discussion - Library Expansion 9. NEW BUSINESS 10. COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS/QUESTIONS 11. INFORMATION A. Questions for Consideration B. Library Expansion Report C. Council Agenda of January 8 and 15, 1997 12. ADJOURNMENT Library Commission ***Minutes*** February 4, 1997 - 7:30 p.m. Kenai Library Activity Room Chairman Bob Peters 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Members Present: Bob Peters, Janet Brown, Kathy Heus, Carol Brenckle, Vince O'Reilly, Janice Rodes, Lorrene Forbes Members Absent: Elissa Fahnholz Also Present: Emily DeForest, Richard Ross, Nora Satathite, Cary Graves, Councilman Raymond Measles, Councilman Jim Bookey, Virginia Walters, Betsy Arbelovsky, Mayor John Williams, Debby Fahnholz 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner O'Reilly suggested switching items 7 and 8 on the agenda. Commissioner Peters felt it might help for the Council members to understand the Commission's feelings if items 7 and 8 were just combined into one item under Old Business. Commissioner O'Reilly MOVED to approve the agenda as amended covering Items 7 and 8 into Old Business. Commissioner Forbes SECONDED the motion. Commissioner Heus asked if this would affect the Friends report. Commissioner Peters suggested that the Friends report come under the new item 7. The motion was approved and the agenda was accepted as amended. ® APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Forbes MOVED to approve the minutes as written. SECONDED the motion. The minutes were approved as presented. Commissioner Brown ® PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD Moved to Old Business. Library Commission February 4, 1997 Page 1 Se DIRECTOR'S REPORT Library Director DeForest reported that 11,444 items were checked last month. reported that the Friends of the Library will have a booth at the Village Fair. She e FRIENDS REPORT Commissioner Heus stated that the Friends the met yesterday. She reported that they will have a booth at the Village Fair. The Friends Tea is scheduled for Feb. 16 from 1-4 and invited everyone to join in. She reported there will also be door prizes at the Tea. She stated that officers were elected at the last meeting. ® OLD BUSINESS Commissioner O'Reilly thanked everyone for attending and passed out a handout addressing the library's needs and Commissioners' concerns. He stated that the Commission has already identified their present and furore needs of the library. He then related to the present and furore space needs. Commissioner O'Reilly gave an Overview of the Library's committee work in using the Holt Methodology to determine the spacing needs. He stated that the stacks and privacy, as well as the rest rooms are not in compliance with federal law. He stated that they looked at expenses and felt that the volunteer staff is very important in considering their ability to keep personnel costs down. He reminded everyone that the Friends are a separate link to the library and that they are an important part in supporting the library financially. He felt that some of the Commissioner's were disappointed in some of the Council member's lack of total and complete support on the library expansion bond issue. He felt that a property tax increase was of major concern to many people and suggested other sources of financial support might be necessary. He felt these other sources would be hard to get without the City's support and backing. He stated that the library has to fit in with the other city projects, but also felt it needs to be addressed that the library has expansion needs. He stated that looking at the City's reserves and budget deficit, they should look at the purpose of those reserves. He felt the library attracts people to the city and asked for open discussion on what the library's future might be. Commissioner Peters stated that the first concern was the issue of need. Mayor Williams recognized everyone's dedication on the library commission and the dedication of the Friends. he felt that there were reasons why Council dedicates funds to different capital projects. He stated that it has been three years since the Council addressed their Goals and Objectives. He stated that he will introduce to Council to bring together the Library Commission February 4, 1997 Page 2 community to find out the necessary direction the city needs to go. He stated that on the surface Kenai seems to be a forward thinking community, but the underlying issue is that businesses are not growing well. He hoped that during the Goals and Objectives sessions they will identify items that will be necessary for future growth of the city. He stated that the City has other priorities facing them right now, some of them being the animal shelter, and an inadequate maintenance facility. He felt that education is an extremely important issue, especially literacy and math. He felt that support of the library was not an issue, but that funding an addition was another question. He felt that by addressing the City's Goals and Objectives they would be able to get an idea of what the next 3-5 years will bring. He felt their main issue was to sustain what they have now since the tax base is dwindling. He felt the whole answer is in planning, and planning what is realistic and attainable. Councilman Bookey agreed with the Mayor. He felt that as a Council, they would support the library, but not a $3 million addition. He felt that the animal control facility was a major issue this year. He felt the Council would support the library somewhere on a 3-5 year goal plan. He also felt the education system needs to be in support of the library, but felt the City's obligations were to other concerns at this time. Councilman Measles agreed with the Mayor and Councilman Bookey. He also felt that the best the library could do would be to get their needs addressed in a 3-5 year plan. Commissioner Rodes asked if the Council passed a resolution favoring the library expansion, would that override the other issues. Commissioner Peters stated that if the Friends were to attempt other funding sources, Council support would help a lot in obtaining other funding. Commissioner Forbes agreed that in a fund-raising campaign they would need the City and community's support. Commissioner Peters felt that the defeat of the bond issue was not a defeat of the library expansion, but a defeat of the property tax idea. Mayor Williams felt the City could possibly identify funds to target to the library each year, and felt the federal government may be coming up with grants to back education. He felt there may be a lot of avenues for grants. Commissioner Heus felt the City recognizes the need for the library expansion, and asked if the 3-5 year plan would include expanding in stages or was bonding the only option. Mayor Williams stated that finances depend on the reserves and revenue, he felt the city may have to go to taxes for revenue at some point. He did not feel bonding was always appropriate. Library Commission February 4, 1997 Page 3 Commissioner Heus felt that bonding, taxes, service areas and grams were all possibilities. Mayor Williams stated that the city .has to idemify why they raise taxes, and idemify where the tax money is to go. Commissioner Rodes asked if Council felt the amoum of the bond issue was too high and would they have supported it if the figure was lower. She felt if someone could come up with a good plan for less, she would be happy. Councilman Bookey felt that $2.5-$3 million was not realistic. He felt that there should be something that could be done to address the library's needs for a million. Commissioner Peters stated that the cost of things will only go up, not down. Commissioner Brenclde stated that money is no longer available as it has been in the past. She stated that knowing that money is just not there to cover everything, that we need to get creative in obtaining funding. She stated she would like to see approaches to creating funding and felt to be successful they would need the Council's support. Mayor Williams stated that the Visitor's Center was not an issue everyone really was sure they wanted. He stated that the Council agreed to fund it 50/50 if their organization got half the funding. He stated that they obtained the funding and called the Council on its offer. He stated that the Senior Housing and the water and sewer were really worked hard to get to completion. Richard Ross stated that we are in a transition where things no longer appear just because you raise your hand. He felt the community needs to become aware that the city is living on reserves and their furore needs are going to have to be paid for by taxes. He felt the City needs to protect their reserves until the economy balances out. Commissioner Forbes asked what would happen if the Friends began a fund raising program. She also felt they need hard plans and asked if the City could fund money for the plans. Mayor Williams felt there needs to be a plan to presem plans to the City. He felt if there were some compromising done there might be a possibility of working something. Commissioner Brenckle asked how the Council felt about the Friends raising funds on their own. Mayor Williams responded that whatever they get will also go to the city to support and maintain. He felt that step 1 was to figure out how big and how much it will cost. Commissioner Peters asked if the Council feels a professional study needs to be done. Mayor Williams did not feel that was necessary. Library Commission February 4, 1997 Page 4 , Commissioner Peters asked if we were locked imo bonds or were matching funds an option. Mayor Williams responded that the days of 50/50 matching funds are gone. He felt it may be more of a 1/3 or 1/4 matching terms instead. He didn't feel it would work to look at combining the library on a borough-wide basis. Commissioner Heus asked how to go about finding where to agree. She stated that if a professional needs survey doesn't need to be done and an assessment has been done, what is the next step? Mayor Williams suggested joining imo the Goals and Objectives process. He felt this would make it clear with everyone and that Council will then agree on the size and cost, but it will take negotiations. He suggested possibly a user fee would go a long way in raising some of the needed funds. He felt that somewhere down the line there will have to be some type of user fees. Mayor Williams stated that ADA requiremems are a major concern and felt that they need to first lay out their needs, then determine the space requirements. Commissioner Forbes asked if a user fee could be designated to a specific fund. Mayor Williams responded that if that was done, the money would have to be reappropriated each year. Councilman Measles stated it could be at the discretion of each new council to cominue the appropriation. Councilman Bookey stated that if the library-has serious concerns, they should be addressed this year. Richard Ross stated that only the minimum reasonable measures need to be done. Commissioner Heus felt that the ADA requiremems were not the basis for the library expansion plans. Commissioner Rodes agreed that she was under the impression the ADA requirements did not come into account until after the addition was planned. Richard Ross stated that the ADA requiremems must be addressed in any planned improvemems. Commissioner Forbes asked if the library needs can be addressed on the next community needs survey. Library Commission February 4, 1997 Page 5 Commissioner O'Reilly stated that some funding sources require that it be a free library. He suggested that the commission go over their needs and functions again and will present their findings to Council. He suggested he could work with the city manager to look at innovative ways to designate funds for the library. Commissioner Heus asked if each person were assessed a library tax could that be directed to a library fund. Mayor Williams stated that you can't tax the entire population and not call it a tax. Mayor Williams asked Library Director DeForest what the reaction would be if the patrons were asked for a local address and those outside the city limits would have to pay a user fee. DeForest responded that there would be many library cards returned. Commissioner Peters stated that he felt if we compromise and cut the size and cost of an addition, they will still be behind in their needs. Commissioner Forbes asked if the commission needs to massage cost and size before going to the goals and objectives sessions. Mayor Williams responded no, and suggested working with Councilman Moore as a liaison to the Council. Mayor Williams suggested everyone think about what has been discussed and possibly they might be able to work something into this budget session. Commissioner Peters stated that if the main priorities were to fix the ADA requirements then the library's space would only become smaller. 8. NEW BUSINESS None. ® COMMISSIONER COMMENTS/QUESTIONS Commissioner Rodes stated that she appreciated everyone's attendance and co mmems. Commissioner O'Reilly felt it had been a very informative meeting. Commissioner's Heus and Brown thanked everyone. Commissioner Brenclde felt it was a lesson in politics. Commissioner Forbes stated she was not really sure what direction to go next. Library Commission February 4, 1997 Page 6 Commissioner Peters thanked Ms. Arbelovsky for attending on behalf of the Friends. 10. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Heus MOVED to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 p.m. Commissioner Brenckle SECONDED the motion. Respectfully submitted, Debby J. F'~~olz Library Commission February 4, 1997 Page 7