May 11, 2005 Minutes
Board members present: Betty Kerns, Prakash Mathew, Helen Levitt*, Herb Snyder*, Jean Rayl
Library Building Committee members present: Linda Coates, Pat Zavoral, Charles Pace (*Helen Levitt and Herb Snyder are also on this committee)
Others: Jeff Scherer from MS&R, Richard Moorhead and Marcia Pulczinski from Image Group, Konrad Olson, City of Fargo staff, public, media
I. Minutes
Charles Pace moved to approve the building committee minutes of April 19, 2005. Helen Levitt seconded the motion; the motion carried.
II. Review and select option for south branch
The Park Board understands we are looking for land for a 15,000 square foot facility. Pat Zavoral reported the Park Board wants to proceed with Ed Clapp Park as a library site, with the understanding they need to have dialogue with the Ed Clapp family to discuss if this would fit with his original intent in donating the land to the parks.
Ed Clapp Park may have issues with soil conditions as a residual effect from the earth displaced from Bluemont Lakes. The piling of earth caused a fault to occur in the southern portion of the site. Care needs to be taken not to build over the fault line. A contingency fund may be needed in the budget projections in case something is discovered later in the process.
The following action was taken by the Board of Trustees. Jean Rayl moved to approve Ed Clapp Park as the south branch site contingent on soil samples and Park Board approval. Betty Kerns seconded the motion; the motion carried.
III. Review and select options for north branch
Konrad Olson provided a proposed lease agreement to Pat Zavoral. Proposed terms call for the landlord to provide a vanilla box with credit for floor coverings. City attorney Gary Stewart will review the lease.
Charles Pace reported there were no national studies providing data about increased traffic from libraries within retail malls. Anecdotal evidence suggests an increase in traffic to the area which has a positive effect on the other retail establishments.
The following action was taken by the Board of Trustees. Betty Kerns moved to have Pat Zavoral, Charles Pace, Konrad Olson, and Richard Moorhead along with Gary Stewart negotiate the details of the lease. Herb Snyder seconded the motion; the motion carried.
IV. Review and discuss options for downtown
Jeff Scherer distributed a list of proposed sites with positive and negative attributes of each. Richard Moorhead pointed out each site is unique with different ambience around each.
The US Bank location is at the heart of downtown right on Broadway with complications that go along with such an urban setting. The Union Storage facility is a historic building ready for rejuvenation with suburban parking found on the edge of urban downtown. Although it may help create an arts district with NDSU and Plains Art Museum in close proximity, it is furthest from the core of downtown very close to the railroad tracks. The existing site would require a parking structure or limited expansion of parking.
Next Meeting
The next joint board and building committee meeting will be held June 14, 2005, at 5:00 p.m.