02/06/2025 Library Board Meeting Minutes February 6, 2025
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
e
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, February 6, 2025
10:15 AM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Library Board
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City of Clearwater
Library Board Meeting Minutes February 6, 2025
Roll Call
Present 4 - Chair Donna Dennis, Board Member Kelly Malizia, Board Member
Loretta Mitchell, and Board Member Tanya Landry
Absent 1 - Board Member Rosemarie Kibitlewski, Board Member Kelly
McLeay, and Board Member Helen Amburgey
Also Present - Jennifer L. Obermaier— Library Director, Nicole Sprague — Deputy
City Clerk
1. Call To Order
The meeting was called to order at 10:15 a.m.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approve the minutes of the November 7, 2024 Library Advisory Board meeting.
Member Malizia moved to approve the minutes of the November 7, 2024
Library Board meeting as submitted in written summation. The motion
was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda: None.
4. New Business Items
4.1 Fiscal Year 2025 Library Board Schedule
Members were encouraged to calendar all meetings dates so quorum will
be met.
4.2 Election of Officers
Elect Chair and Vice Chair
5. Old Business Items
5.1 Beach Library Update
Library Director Jen Obermaier said the beach library and recreation
center was damaged by Hurricane Helene. All building contents were
thrown out. She said she is working through the rebuild process with the
Parks and Recreation Director. The dollar amount of the repairs will need
to be approved by Council. The timeline to reopen will depend on Council
approval, the timeframe for repairs, and delivery of library furniture,
materials, etc. Pop up libraries and services are being planned, and staff has
been delivering new and reserved material to the beach twice a week to
provide some level of service to the public until the library reopens.
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City of Clearwater
Library Board
Meeting Minutes February 6, 2025
In response to questions, Ms. Obermaier said there is not a projected
cost of repairs yet but it will be costly. Claims have been submitted to
insurance and FEMA. She said she would let the Board know when the
Council is scheduled to vote on the repair expenditure.
6. Director's Report
6.1 Director's Report Items
Ms. Obermaier said the FY25/26 budget preparations are under way.
She said all department directors were asked to provide reduction proposals
for Council to consider. She submitted a proposal to reduce Sunday hours at
the Countryside Library and Saturday hours at the Main Library. She
proposed to keep the hours the same at the East, Greenwood, and Beach
branches. Vacant positions are currently not being filled. She said many city
departments have relocated with the renovation of the Municipal Services
Building and the Human Resources Department is now located on the 3rd
and 4th floors of the Main Library with over 20 staff members. She said
Council Chambers will be relocated to the new city hall, once complete, and
the room will be reincorporated into the library to reserve for events.
Ms. Obermaier reviewed upcoming events and programming at all
branches and said the Main Library will be closed May 28-30, 2025 to
support Pinellas County School graduations at The Sound and the North
Greenwood Library will be closed temporarily in the spring for renovations.
7. Board Members to be Heard: None.
8. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 10:59 p.m.
Attest:
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City of Clearwater