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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-03-24 BOLT MINS .. . . . MINUTES LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES LIBRARY CONFERENCE ROOM 3:35 PM MARCH 24, 1993 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Alexander, Vice Chair Viesca, Trustees Donovan, Lathers, Williams BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: wilson (excused) CITY STAFF PRESENT: Alex Al-Agha, Associate civil Engineer; David Palmer, Acting Library Director; Frank Rivera, Assoc. Traffic Engineer; Hal Rosenberg, City Traffic Engineer; Roberto Saucedo, Sr. civil Engineer; OTHERS PRESENT: william S. Burton, Burton Associates; Luis Carreira, citizen; Robert Coye, citizen; Gustavo Garcia, citizen; Isabel Garcia, Chula vista High School; Maria Lopez, Chula vista High School, Maria Garcia Marshall, citizen; John Mattox, LPA, Inc.; Betty Roche, Friends Liaison; Joe Yee, LPA, Inc.; Cristina Zamora, Chula vista High School. I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Meeting of February 24, 1993 MSC (Alexander/Viesca) that the minutes of the February 24, 1993 meeting be approved with the following corrections: Page six, paragraph two, line four be corrected to read "an interest in fiscal responsibility", and page three, section A, paragraph two, be changed to read, "The Act, which recently went into effect,". Approved 4-0-1 with Trustee Wilson absent. II. CONTINUED MATTERS A. South Chula vista Library 1. Fourth and Orange Street Improvement Acting Director Palmer introduced members of the City's Design and Traffic Engineering Divisions to discuss the street widening project. Alex Al-Agha, Project Engineer, explained that the street improvements portion of the Library project is limited to Library frontage along Fourth and Orange Avenues. Orange Avenue will be widened approximately 50% with all the improvements LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 2 - MARCH 24, 1993 occurring on the south side, while sidewalks and curbs will be installed along Fourth Avenue. The Safety Commission, a group of citizens whose primary concern is traffic safety, reviewed and approved on February 26, 1993 the City's plans for street widening with the addition of a center median on Orange Avenue that would allow a left turn into the Library grounds, but prevent a left turn out of the library going west on Orange Avenue. In addition, the center median on Fourth Avenue would prevent left turns into and out of the Library property. The Library Board had received the minutes of the February 26th Safety Commission meeting in their packet. Hal Rosenberg, City Traffic Engineer, reported that Fourth and Orange Avenues are major, high-volume streets designed to carry 25,000 to 30,000 cars per day. with the continued build-out of the City and further commercialization within the area, traffic volume will increase. The construction of islands on the streets are necessary to control and channel traffic. Chairman Alexander asked if the center median would have a fence to prevent children from crossing Orange Avenue. Hal Rosenberg, City Traffic Engineer, answered that the median is primarily to provide a delineation for the cars and would not prevent pedestrians from crossing mid-block. He explained that City policy is to educate the public not to cross mid-block, which in this case would be illegal. Landscaping planned for the median that may discourage casual crossing. , Acting Director Palmer reported the issue of preventing a left turn from Orange Avenue had been discussed by the Safety commission and at the town meeting at the Otay Community Center in January. A number of residents attending these meetings expressed concern that traffic would increase along Quintard and EI Lugar Streets. The center median configuration approved by the Safety commission would prevent individuals from making a left turn out of the library lot on Orange Avenue onto Quintard. Mr. Palmer stated he was originally opposed to this configuration but learned that it is not uncommon to find a one way exit at large facilities, shopping centers and the post office. At certain times of the day traffic on Quintard is <, . . . LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MARCH 24, 1993 - 3 - a high as on Orange Avenue. the Library Board support the recommendation. He recommended that Safety commission's Chairman Alexander opened the meeting to members of the public for comment. Maria Garcia Marshall asked: (1) How graffiti would be controlled at the new library; (2) The street setback for houses that would be affected with the widening of Fourth Avenue; (3) What would happen to the duplex at the corner of Fourth and Orange; and (4) How much parking would be accommodated at the new library. Mr. AI-Agha stated that Fourth Avenue would be widened only in front of the new library. Property north of orange Avenue will not be affected. The zoning setback is 20-25 feet between the driving lane and existing houses. Acting Director Palmer stated that the new library would have 175 parking spaces, 20 more than the library at 365 F Street. John Mattox, LPA, Inc., answered that graffiti had been a concern at every public meeting held for the South Chula vista Library. Some preventative measures to be incorporated in the new building would be an adequate setback from the street, lighting, thorny landscaping, and graffiti-proof paint. Mr. Carreira questioned whether Library users would be able to make a left turn from Orange onto Quintard. Mr. Al-Agha explained that a center median would prevent a left turn onto Quintard. City Traffic Engineer Rosenberg reported that during meetings with representatives of the neighborhood, residents petitioned the City to design the project making Quintard a cuI de sac. This may occur during the next phase of street improvements to Orange Avenue, but is not a part of the current project. MSC (ViescajDonovan) that the median at Orange be effectuated as stated for the ingress and egress LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 4 - MARCH 24, 1993 from the Library at orange and Fourth. Approved 4- 0-1 with Trustee Wilson absent. 2. Project Manager Acting Director Palmer reported that the City Council approved hiring Starboard Construction Company to provide project management services for the South Chula vista Library. This firm will help the Library through the design phases, the bid award and final construction of the Library. The negotiated fee for their services is slightly in excess of $182,000, $76,000 of which can be reimbursed through the grant. To provide these services in-house would cost more without any means of reimbursement. 3. Landscape and Design Mr. Yee, Director of Planning at LPA, described his concept for landscaping the new South Chula vista Library, treating the project like a small hacienda set on a low bluff. On the outskirts of the property will be a naturalized arroyo area with sycamore and poplar trees. The parking lot would be defined by an orchard of oaks. A drive lined with palm trees would delineate the entrance to the Library. As one moved closer to the library the landscaping would become more lush. Along the base of the building would be a bougainvillea ground cover to discourage graffiti. Acting Director Palmer reported that the South Chula vista Library plans will go before the City's Design Review Committee on April 12th, (4:30 pm) and before the Planning commission on April 28th (7:00 pm). B. ADA Plan of Service Acting Director Palmer reported that Chula vista Public Library has been awarded $29,950 in grant funds from the State Library to help bring the Library into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Funds will be used to create an adaptive work center at the Library at 365 F Street. The grant application required a plan for ADA service compliance, distributed to the Trustees at Library transitional a draft of which was their February 24th . . . LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 5 - MARCH 24, 1993 meeting. Generation of this document required considerable staff time to complete. Mr. Palmer asked the Trustees for their input stating that the plan should be finalized no later than May 1st. with this award, Chula vista Library staff has applied for and received over $125,000 in grants during this fiscal year. C. EastLake Library The Trustees received a draft of the contract at their February 24th meeting along with a summary of highlights and key issues. Questions and comments were solicited from the Trustees. Acting Director Palmer asked the Trustees for their support of this j oint-use contract with the School District. Chairman Alexander asked if the School District had agreed to make the circular driveway one-way to allow on- street parking. Mr. Palmer stated that this issue could not be addressed until construction is completed. Chair Alexander also asked if noise from nearby sporting events would be distracting to library users. Mr. Palmer stated that this is addressed in the contract, but he is concerned that Saturday soccer games and evening basketball games may be disruptive. MSC (DonovanjViesca) that the Library Board supports the Library on the joint use agreement. Approved 4-0-1 with Trustee Wilson absent. Mr. Palmer also reported that the agreement with Eastlake Development Company is also very close to completion. D. Library Budget Acting Director Palmer stated that there was no new information on the budget. He reported that the cities of Sunnyvale and Salinas are proposing closing their libraries. The National City Public Library has lost people and has frozen hiring. San Diego County is proposing to run many of their branches with volunteers. Past experience has shown that Chula Vista Public Library will be heavily impacted by decreased service levels at other libraries. LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 6 - MARCH 24, 1993 III. NEW BUSINESS A. Legislative Day - Sacramento, May 4, 1993 Trustees discussed attending Legislative Day and will make arrangements with the Board Secretary after they have checked their calendars. IV. LIBRARY DIRECTOR'S REPORT A. Card catalog Acting Director Palmer reported that the card catalog is being removed from the public areas. Approximately 1/3 of the collection, 40,000 new books and materials received during the last two years and 25,000 books and materials at the branches, have not been added to the card catalog, but have been available through the automated catalog. During this time the public has become accustomed to using the new automated system. Library staff is prepared to provide additional assistance to any patrons still not comfortable with using the new system. Chula vista is the last public library in San Diego County still to have a card catalog on the public floor. B. Master Fee Schedule The city council, at their meeting of March 23rd, approved changes in the City Master Fee Schedule. When these new fees go into effect at the end of May, the Library will begin charging a $5 processing fee for lost books and increase the fee for a non-resident card from $10 to $20 per card. C. Summer Reading Club Acting Director Palmer reported that the Library will include non-food items as Summer Reading Club incentives this year. vice Chair viesca asked that Paula Brown be asked to attend the next meeting to discuss incentives for the Summer Reading Program. D. stained Glass Windows Acting Director Palmer reported that the Library has two stained glass windows on temporary display by the local artist, Robin Brailsford. The windows will be permanently installed at the pieknik School of Classical Ballet which is currently under construction. . . . LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 7 - MARCH 24, 1993 E. Low Vision Magnification System Acting Director Palmer reported that the Friends of the Library have received a $3,200 gift from the doctors at the Physician's Eye Group for the specific purchase of a low vision magnification system to be included in the adaptive work center the Library will create to comply with the American's with Disabilities Act. V. COMMUNICATIONS A. Friends Betty Roche reported on attending a Friends Summit meeting at the Rancho Penasquitos Library. This meeting was held to allow members from different friends groups to get together and share ideas. B. Public Comments Mr. Coye suggested installing a hitching post with chains across the entry drive at the South Chula vista Library to direct pedestrians and discourage cars from cutting through. He also asked about lighting in the parking lot. Acting Director Palmer answered that outside lighting will be carefully selected to provide adequate safety for patrons and staff, but not negatively impact the surrounding area. C. written Comments The Trustees received a letter from Virginia Stewart requesting the purchase of specific books, which was referred to staff. D. Board Comments Chairman Alexander pointed out the flyer announcing the opening of the Library Director position. Vice Chair viesca asked if the Board could meet at the Museum. Trustee Williams felt that a meeting should be held at Castle Park branch before meeting in other facilities. Trustees agreed their April 28th meeting would be held at 6:00 PM at the Castle Park Library. Trustee Donovan expressed excitement over the new library and landscaping plans. She also formally expressed her appreciation for all the work staff is doing and the great projects being accomplished. LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 8 - MARCH 24, 1993 Trustee Lawthers also expressed excitement over the landscaping plan. Trustee Williams complimented the vision the architect and Library staff are displaying in making the new library unique and innovative. Chairman Alexander thanked Mr. Palmer for the full sized site plan with landscaping features sent to the Trustees in their packets. VI. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 5:58 p.m. Library Board of Trustees meeting will be held on 1993 at 3:30 pm at the Chula vista Public Library, Room One. The next April 28, Conference (Changing the meeting time to 6:00 pm on April 28th would conflict with the Planning commission's review of the South Chula vista Library plans that evening. The May meeting will be held at Castle Park Library beginning at 6:00 pm.) COMPLIANCE WITH AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) The City of Chula vista, in complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act, requests individuals who require special accommodation to access, attend and/or participate in a city meeting, activity or service request such accommodation at least forty-eight hours in advance for meetings and five days for scheduled services and activities. Please contact JoAnn Howard for information or your request at (619) 691-5193. California Relay Service is available for the hearing impaired.