March 11, 2005 Minutes
Members present: Herb Snyder, Linda Coates, Pat Zavoral, Charles Pace, Mike Sebille, Helen Levitt, John Cosgriff
Others Present: representatives from Image Group, Lowell Wolff of Fargo Public Schools, Roger Gress of Fargo Park District, City of Fargo staff, public and media
Minutes
Helen Levitt moved to approve the minutes of March 4, 2005. Herb Snyder seconded the motion; the motion carried.
Discussion
Heather Mitzel announced the new Fargo libraries web page and e-mail address is set up. It is newlibraries@cityoffargo.com. People can also deliver suggestions directly to the library suggestion box.
Pat Zavoral said the contract for pre-design will be brought to the City Commission on Monday March 14. Approximately $70,000 includes an extensive review of each of three sites for downtown, south side and north side areas. The goal is to identify three sites for each location today.
Roger Gress suggested Oxbow Park for consideration on the north side and Brunsdale Park between 27th Avenue and 32nd Avenue on the south side. Linda Coates and Pat Zavoral will attend the Park Board facilities meeting on March 30 at 7am.
Richard Moorhead reviewed a number of sites throughout Fargo.
Lowell Wolff suggested Discovery Middle School at the north end of the campus could also be used for a south side branch.
Downtown sites include the existing library and green space as one possibility and the Civic Center parking lot as another. Richard Moorhead suggested looking at the entire campus to see what the best fit would be for the entire area. This was consolidated to one option. Positive elements of this site include potential green space with the impetus for other growth in the immediate area surrounding. It has the potential to reconfigure the campus and close a portion of 3rd Street while utilizing current site for parking if building on the parking lot. Negative aspects include flood plain issues, political issues of the green space, and 3rd Street infrastructure.
The old Carnegie Library site at 2nd Avenue North and Roberts Street has the sentimental perspective of being a previous library site. It also would be an impetus for growth in that area. Building on the parking lot would displace tenants of neighboring buildings, and at one time was listed as a potential parking ramp. The site may not be large enough to accommodate the main library and additional acquisition may be required.
Woodrow Wilson School was included as a possibility, but the committee felt it was too far out from the downtown core.
The parking lot between Old Broadway and NDSU Downtown was the first choice of a potential parking ramp site. In building on the site, a large parking area would be displaced. The size is appropriate and it would create a cultural zone with NDSU and the Plains Art Museum a short distance away.
The 2nd St North snow dump site was rejected as a possibility. Flood plain and soil stability issues were raised.
Island Park was rejected as a site due to perceived neighborhood sentiment and conflicting issues with the pool schedule. Restrictive covenants may also preclude construction of a library.
The Civic Center campus and Old Broadway parking lots were deemed the most suitable downtown sites with the Carnegie site as a third option.
North side sites included Elephant Park which is mostly low land that may have flood issues. The northwest corner may be a suitable construction site which would leave a large park facing the library.
Washington Elementary would have available six classrooms on the east side with a parking lot off of 5th Street. This would help strengthen the neighborhood and build a partnership with the school district. It is close to the downtown area and some people may not feel comfortable going to a school setting.
Longfellow Elementary would provide 29th Avenue access for new construction. Again it would be a lease arrangement with the school district. The site is further east and may limit the population that would use the facility.
Yunker Farm would be a lease arrangement with the park district. The current configuration may be difficult to maintain the same integrity of the existing site.
Trollwood parking lot would be a destination library as it is not convenient to other retail or traffic areas. There is no permanent access to Broadway at this time. It is the furthest north site and would meet the suggested distance of three to five miles away from the main library.
Leased space will also be considered for the north site.
South side sites eliminated from consideration include the park land south of Courts Plus as a sale is pending, the RDO site due to availability and timing issues, as well as Kennedy Elementary and city property at 40th Avenue South and 38th Street because it is to the west of Interstate 29. Remaining south sites include possible high school site along 52nd Avenue South, Eagles Kindergarten Center, Rheault Farm, Ed Clapp Park, Charism Center, Stonebridge Park, and Brunsdale Park.
The first public meeting will be March 31st at 7pm in the City Commission Chambers with day care provided at the Fargo Public Library. This meeting will focus on downtown sites and gather information for the north and south side sites. Another public meeting in the City Commission Chambers will be held approximately two weeks later discussing all three sites.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be Friday, March 18, 2005 at 9:00am. The meeting was adjourned.