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Mayor’s Statement
March 11, 2008

A Word about the Library Site Location

First, I want to acknowledge the hard work of many citizens who studied possible locations and to express my gratitude. Also the recommendation from our Library consultant, Jeff Scherer, certainly should be acknowledged. This combined input has brought us far along in the process of making the idea of a new library a reality.

The next stage in the process is to submit the idea for voter approval. Proposition I of the Ordinance calling an election will authorize the acquisition of land, construction and equipping of a Public Library and related Parking Facility. A campaign is an opportunity for additional dialogue with the citizens and gives voters an opportunity to express their desires and viewpoints.

From a practical perspective, assuming the voters give the City a green light, a number of factors will need to be considered when executing this plan in a manner that is consistent with the debt limits imposed by the bond proposition. We need to make sure we get the best possible library for the money being entrusted to us by the voters.

Through Council deliberations, the language in the library proposition and accompanying ordinance provides for flexibility regarding site selection for the library. The language commits to a new library in the vicinity of the downtown area, as recommended by the original Library Master Plan, which was the product of extensive citizen input.

Following the May 13th election, Council will select a site within the downtown vicinity weighing such factors, as citizen input, site cost, environmental concerns, feasibility, traffic and aesthetics. This flexibility allows Council to be most prudent with the funds entrusted to them by the voters for the new library.