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08/29/2000SPECIAL JOINT MEETING LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD FRIENDS OF THE CLEARWATER LIBRARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS, GREATER CLEARWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS CITY OF CLEARWATER August 29, 2000 Present: Judy Melges Chair, Library Advisory Board Glenn Garte Board Member Howard Adler Board Member Rhonda Smith Board Member Jill Perrino Board Member Merce Dickinson President, Greater Clearwater Public Library Foundation, Inc. Rita Garvey Vice President Todd Hinrichs Board Member Joe Critchley Board Member Julie Lewis Foundation Executive Director H. Rex Clark President, Friends of the Clearwater Public Library Betty Clark 2nd Vice President Jan Regulski Board Member Also Present: John Toppe Library Architect, Harvard Jolly Clees Toppe Architects John Szabo Library Director Dr. Arlita Hallam Quality of Life Administrator Susan Hackett Administrative Analyst Citizens ITEM #1 – Call to Order Library Board Chair Judy Melges called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. at the Main Library. ITEM #2 – Welcome and Introduction of Board Members ITEM #3 – Purpose of Tonight’s Meeting Quality of Life Administrator Dr. Arlita Hallam stated the purpose of the meeting, in response to the City Commission’s request, was to prepare a recommendation of the three Library boards on one of the two sites proposed for the new Main Library: renovating Harborview Center or building on the current bluff site. ITEM #4 – Review Agenda for 9/12/00 Meeting with City Commissioners Dr. Hallam reviewed the agenda for the upcoming meeting on 9/12/00 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. in City Commission Chambers, City Hall. Library Director John Szabo, Library Architect John Toppe, and Finance Director Margie Simmons will make presentations, followed by recommendations from representatives of the Library Advisory Board, Friends of the Clearwater Library, and Greater Clearwater Public Library Foundation. Public input will be received at the end of the meeting followed by City Commission discussion, according to agenda order. Dr. Hallam noted the City Commission is scheduled to make a final decision on Main Library as to site and size at the following City Commission meeting on 9/21/00. ITEM #5 – Presentation of Current Library and Harborview Sites, Sizes, and Costs In his presentation, Library Architect John Toppe addressed funding needs, associated costs and projected concepts of the building layout for each of 46,000 sq.ft., 66,000 sq.ft., and 90,000 sq.ft. size options for both the north bluff and Harborview Center renovation sites. In response to questions pertaining to the exact location of a new building on the north bluff site, Mr. Toppe noted three options were available depending on the City Commission’s preference for a view corridor: 1) the north corner at Drew Street, 2) the current site (midway between the corner and Harborview Center), or 3) near the Harborview Center. ITEM #6 – Discussion of Funds Available Mr. Szabo explained the sources of $14.95 million in available funding for this project: $1.2 million in Pennies I, $500,000 Slenker bequest, $9.25 million in Pennies II, and an additional $4 million as the result of City Commission re-prioritizing Pennies projects as of 8/29/00. Bonding on the $9.25 million and $4 million plus $1.75 million for debt service bond issuance totals $15 million. In response to a question, Mr. Szabo commented that the costs presented on each size option per location included all costs associated with the design, construction, and furnishings of the facility. Mr. Toppe noted that inflation would impact the total square footage at a 5% loss per year, if the project did not begin within the current projected time frame of 2001-2002. ITEM #7 – Discussion of Shell Space Concept Mr. Toppe stated that the $15 million available for this project would build 66,000 square feet of finished space on the current library site. He also discussed the option of finishing part of the square footage and leaving part of the square footage unfinished. This concept allows for fund raising to complete the unfinished portion. This would make a 90,000 square foot library possible. Board members preferred leaving specific rooms in the 90,000 square foot building unfinished rather than leaving an entire floor empty. Mr. Toppe will prepare more specific square footage figures for the finished and unfinished space concept within the available $15 million. ITEM #8 – Consensus and Vote of Library Support Groups Board members unanimously agreed that the favorable site for a new Main Library was the current site on the bluff. The consensus of the three boards was to design a quality, signature library of a minimum of 90,000 square feet with maximum finished space, expansion flexibility, and flexible site criteria on the bluff (not restricted to the north bluff corner) for $15 million. Unfinished space will be completed with private dollars. ITEM #9 – Designation of One Spokesperson for Each of the Three Groups Board members unanimously agreed that the Chair or President of each of the three library support groups represented would address the City Commission on 9/12/00 at 1:00 p.m. ITEM #10 – Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.