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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-01-09 BOLT & PRC MINS . . . , MINUTES OF A SPECIAL JOINT MEETING of the LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION JANUARY 9, 1991 LIBRARY CONFERENCE ROOM 4:00 PM LIBRARY BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Miller, Vice Chair Williams, Trustee Donovan LIBRARY BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Trustees Viesca (excused) Trustee Alexander (ill) PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: vice Chairman Hall, Commissioners Lind and Willett PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Chair Sandoval-Fernandez, Commissioner Roland CITY STAFF PRESENT: Library Director Lane, Assistant Director Palmer, Deputy city Manager Thomson, Jess Valenzuela, Director of Parks and Recreation, Shauna Stokes, Senior Management Assistant Library Board Chairman, Suzanne Miller, informed all present that this meeting was being held to consider the conceptual plans for a 35,000 square foot Library at Orange and Fourth Avenues as presented by architectural firm, Wheeler, Wimer, Blackman and Associates. Library Director, Rosemary Lane, detailed the changes made in the archi tect' s drawings since the last time the Library Board and Parks and Recreation Commission had viewed them. These changes included recommendations from the Library Board, the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Montgomery Planning Committee as well as input from City staff. The drawings were prepared to apply for grant funds to build a library and do not show a proposed community center, gymnasium, amphitheater and park land to be added at a later date. The Montgomery Planning Committee unanimously voted to support this project. She also reported that since meeting in December, the State Librarian wrote the letter enclosed in the packets, that shows Chula vista is "very competitive" ranking 15th out of 104 pre- applications. The Library Director attended a Proposition 85 Workshop on January 7th in Sacramento where Chula vista's "Changing Concepts in Library Services" and its "Needs Assessment" sections . JOINT MEETING - 2 - JANUARY 9, 1991 of the Pre-application were used as good examples for other libraries. commissioner willet asked what other options were planned if grant funds do not materialize. Director Lane responded that if Chula vista does not receive these grant funds, the Chula vista 21 committee may recommend a bond election to build a library plus recreational facilities on this site. Commissioner willet asked if the City was still negotiating with SDG&E to use the land beneath the power lines and how this land was going to be used; i.e., passive park, parking or jogging and horse trails. Deputy City Manager Thomson responded that the City Manager I s office is negotiating with SDG&E to use this land. If the grant application is funded and the agreement with SDG&E approved, the parking lot would be reconfigured to make maximum use of the site. . Mr. willet 1 s concerns were twofold: 1) the cost of paving and landscaping that would be demolished when a future community center and 2) the possibility of leakage and leaf accumulation on the library 1 s flat roof. He cited problems with the Chamber of Commerce building. He believed that buildings should be designed with future maintenance costs in mind. Deputy City Manager Thomson reported that this project was slated to go before the Design Review Committee on January 10, 1991 at which time the plans would be reviewed from an architectural point of view. In answer to Mr. willet's concerns, Richard Blackman responded that the building will be surrounded with heavy cobblestones and prickly bushes to deter graffiti and to prevent people from climbing onto the roof. Any trees near the building will be tall and slender in nature and will not drop leaves on the roof. There is a flat roofing product the firm has used successfully at Sharp-Cabrillo Hospital for the past ten years with no maintenance or leakage problems. Also, since there will be no equipment on the roof that demands servicing, there is no need for anyone to walk on the roof. Walking causes most flat roof damage. commissioner Hall asked if architecturally compatible library. it would be difficult to design an Community Center adjacent to the . Richard Blackman replied that the proposed library building has been designed for possible linkage with another building. An area at one corner of the building would serve as a transition point when joined to another building. A footprint of this community center on the site was shown at the December Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. . JOINT MEETING - 3 - JANUARY 9, 1991 Mr. willet asked if the entrances into the parking area could be indented to allow for a shallower turn into the parking lot or a turning pocket added to allow busses and cars to enter and leave the lot safely. Mr. Blackman replied that the drawing was prepared with preliminary information from the City's Engineering Department on ingress and egress to the lot. If the project is funded, the Engineering Department will prepare a more in-depth study of traffic in the area and alter the design to accommodate these considerations. (Vice Chairman Ron Williams arrived at 4:53 pm.) commissioner Hall asked that the record show he is concerned that the Parks and Recreation element at this site may be abandoned because of restrictions that mayor may not be imposed based upon the library grant. He is concerned because, no matter what the library needs for this area are, there is also an equal need for a Parks and Recreation element in this area. . Library Chair Miller agreed his point was well taken. She reassured him that the Library Board members have never lost sight of the fact that this is a joint project. The Library has an opportunity to obtain funding to build its portion first. commissioner Hall stated that it was unfortunate the library and community center could not be built all at once. He suggested that the respective Board and Commission suggest this to Council. commissioner Willett commented that the footprint of the building has exceeded the square footage that his Commission had seen under the POD study. He suggested reducing the footprint of the building and going up two or three stories. This would allow ample space for a future community center and gymnasium. Board members and the Library Director replied that over a long term, mUlti-story buildings are much more expensive to staff. Such a design on six acres would probably not make our application competitive. Deputy City Manager Thomson mentioned that there is only a limited amount of General Fund money available and a major need for both parks and libraries in the area. As money becomes available through the State Grant to help with part of those needs, it makes it easier to build the other needs. Chairman Miller committed Library Board support to the Parks and Recreation Commissions plans for a community center in this area. . commissioner Hall stated that it behooves this project to have this Parks and Recreation Community Center built with the library. If the State decides to fund this project, the Parks and Recreation Commission will take this to Council to suggest that the recreation component be built in conjunction with the library. . . . . JOINT MEETING - 4 - JANUARY 9, 1991 Chair Miller suggested if notification of the grant approval is received in April, both committees go to Council in support of the Community Center. Commissioner willet was concerned that the state Library might restrict the building of a community center on the same lot. Richard Blackman agreed that it is possible for the state Library to impose restrictions on the site. The award will be made on mul tiple issues. Some of these are going to change as the information process goes along because the plans are at a preliminary stage now. Sue Miller asked for separate votes from the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Library Board. Director Lane reported that Commissioner Roland had called her office and asked that she convey that he is in favor of whatever the City can do to put a library at Fourth and Orange. Library Board Chair Miller polled her Board members: MSUC (Donovan/Williams) to accept the negative declaration issued by the city's Environmental Review Coordinator. MSUC (Williams/Donovan) to recommend to Council the conceptual plans for the 35,000 square foot library as presented by the architectural firm, Wheeler, Wimer, Blackman and Associates. Parks and Recreation vice Chair Hall polled his Commission members: MSUC (Willet/Lind) to accept the report as presented by the city's Environmental Review Coordinator. MSUC (Willet/Lind) to support and accept the conceptual plans as agreed to and voted on by the Library Board. The Library Director will take the recommendations of the Library Board and the Parks and Recreation Commission to the City Council on January 22, 1991. Both the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Library Board will address asking Council for a Community Center on this site at their next Board and Commission meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 5:29 pm.