HomeMy Public PortalAbout2020.10.14 LEC Minutes MCCALL PUBLIC U
BUILDING ITTEE
Building Committee Minutes October 14, 2020
Attendance: Andy Laidlaw, Larry Swan, Dean Martens, Bill Thomas, Linda Burns, Heather Haynes, Jacki
Rubin, Meg Lojek.
Called to order 11:05 by Bill Thomas
Minutes 06/20/20 Approved —Larry 1 st, Dean 2nd, all in favor.
Meg gave the Committee an update on various aspects of library expansion since the Committee last met
in June of 2020. Her main points were:
• Dennis Humphries suggested yes, his firm would have capacity to work on our project, whether it
be phasing or something else, and they could pick up where they left of instead of starting over.
• Dennis also suggested keeping the library bond initiative as clean as possible, so people have
less to pick apart and less confusion. Key question: What obligations does the library need to
take on?
• Meg explained that City Council in July agreed to leave time for Focus Groups. Erin Greaves is
doing these"deeper dives"with the community to garner more feedback. Her final report will be
October 301n
• Board of Trustees created a MEMO to City Council in July. Cost and scope of project were a
concern, and they are ready to work to find a solution, possibly taking the parks building piece out
of the financial package of the bond. It was not discussed at length yet, but will be at a joint work
session October 30tn
• Meg has met with Anette and Kurt Wolf and Michelle Groenevelt to discuss funding pieces, and
Trustees have also reached out to Kurt to continue to solve the challenges of expansion for both
the library and the parks/rec departments and slowly reduce the cost.
• City Council remains supportive and looks forward to hearing results of Focus Groups. Their
timeline is to work toward a plan before the 2020 Christmas holiday season.
• Amy, Ambassadors and Foundation continue to work toward grants and donations to also reduce
the amount of the bond.
The Committee discussed its role going forward, and it was generally agreed that the Committee will still
play an important roles such as advocacy, offering advice on phasing the project if needed, and listing
elements that have already reduced the cost of the project. It was generally decided the Committee will
continue meeting on a quarterly basis, or as needed.
Andy Laidlaw brought up important design and cost estimate considerations. The committee asked Andy
to meet with Meg and CM to discuss possible options to reduce cost/scope of project in case we need to
go that direction. Bill Thomas requested clarification before any new bond might go forward, as to the
legal roles for advocacy of a library bond for Committee members and Trustees.
The group also discussed promoting a new library initiative in a post-COVID world. The community still
desires a space to share materials and activities, but that the space must be upgraded for proper
ventilation, and made larger to provide social distancing when needed.
The Committee agreed that in summary, Option A is still the best plan for the community, but a new cost
estimate and re-evaluation of prior assumptions is needed. Members stressed the need for flexibility in
the new building design, and the need for better education to the public about making Parks department
whole with a fair replacement value for what the new library building would take away from that
department. Better education to the public may include re-branding the next bond and raising more
private contributions.
Meg was asked to provide a written summary of Erin Greaves' Focus Groups project to the Committee
when available.
Upcoming meeting: City Council and Library Board Joint Meeting 10-30-20
Next meetings will be January (TBA)
Meeting adjourned 12:13 PM 1st Heather 2nd Larry
Minutes Prepared by Meg Lojek, Library Director/interim secretary
Respectfully submitted by Heather Haynes, Chair