Session 04-03, a Regular Meeting of the Homer Library Advisory Board was called to order at 6:05 p.m. on March 2, 2004 by Chair Mauger at the Homer City Hall Conference Room located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

PRESENT: BOARDMEMBERS: MAUGER, SEAMAN, KEFFER, BURSCH, WAGNER, HAWFIELD

HONORARY STUDENT

MEMBER: ELLEN BAUER

STAFF: LIBRARY DIRECTOR HILL

DEPUTY CITY CLERK JOHNSON

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

The Regular Meeting Minutes of January 13, 2004 were corrected and approved by consensus of the Board.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

The agenda was amended to add Item B Kenai Peninsula Borough Comprehensive Plan as NEW BUSINESS and was approved by consensus of the Board.

LIBRARY DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Library Director Hill reported that she had recently attended the Public Library Association conference in Seattle. Some of the events at the conference were a fundraising pre-conference for sustainability of projects, planned giving, endowments and annual campaigns. Other programs she attended were building design for library users, managing public use computers, current issues in technology and library software design projects. One of the highlights of the conference was author Nancy Pearl’s Book Lust session.

Ms. Hill is working on the USDA, Kresge Foundation and Public Library Assistance grants. Both she and the library staff are reviewing revised drawings of the new library as a result of the recent work sessions and a teleconference with the architects is scheduled for March 4, 2004.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

A. Capital Campaign Committee

Chair Mauger said the Capital Campaign Committee (CCC) met last night and is working on the foundation part of the campaign including the USDA and Kresge Foundation grants. The Kresge grant is specifically for a green building, or LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, and may award between $50,000 and $100,000. The Committee met with the Rasmuson Foundation Program Officer Helen Howarth and President Diane Kaplan. One of the suggestions the Rasmuson Foundation made was that the cost of the land the City donated for the project should be included in grant requests. Including the $850,000 value of the Hazel Avenue land will change the overall project total budget and will be beneficial for grant requests. Although a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City indicates operating costs of the new library will be paid by the City, the Rasmuson Foundation needs more information on the City’s budget and where the funds will come from. Ms. Mauger said the information from the Rasmuson Foundation was valuable for the application process the City is starting towards the $800,000 grant from the foundation.

B. Publicity Committee

Boardmember Keffer said there were two recent events, the Bowl-a-Rama and the children’s event at Island and Oceans debuting Homer Alice doll. Alice appeared in her handmade outfit of the coat, scarf and hat. There were approximately 45 raffle tickets sold for the Alice doll and additional donations were collected. Tickets are now on sale for the Homestead event at $100 each with a theme of Homer’s Odyssey. Boardmember Seaman added that a live auction is planned with a travel theme and Alaska Marine Lines has donated ferry tickets to the Aleutian Islands as one of the items. She said most of the items for bid will be high end, valued over $100. The fundraiser will take place on April 17^th at the Homestead Restaurant.

C. Building Committee

Boardmember Wagner, Co-Chair of the Building Committee reported that they met with the architect two weeks ago. Included in discussions were young library enthusiasts and school groups. Technical information on the LEEDS checklist was discussed and it was determined a silver LEED rating would be feasible. Access to the site was discussed and it was decided the entrance would be from Heath Street and then the exit would be on Hazel Avenue. Minimizing traffic on Heath Street was the goal in addition to using the west side of the property to remove the building from the majority of roads.

A new map was shown to the LAB members and Ms. Wagner explained the main corridor will now frame the glacier view in the large windows. The lounge was moved to create a cozy space and to avoid direct sunlight and heat from the windows. A reading bar to take in the view or to use for reading, writing or computer usage was shown. The children’s room was remodeled to add a bathroom and the conference room was closed off to the children’s room. Story hour is to be located next to the sinks for ready clean-up from craft projects.

Student Member Bauer described the planning session for the teen area. She said the space for teens needed more definition and curved stacks of bookshelves were decided to add character. Most teens would like individual seats rather than tables. There were more nooks between the study rooms to provide more intimate space.

Boardmember Wagner said Steve Bambakidis, Systems Manager, was called to the meeting for his input on technology. Mr. Bambakidis said the desktop would not go out of style and the computer system for the new library would be wireless. Additionally members from the Public Arts Committee were present at the meeting with the architect and an RFP (Request for Proposals) for the art for the building was discussed. One percent, or $40,000 is budgeted for art and it was and could be used to purchase piecework or for a team of artists.

COMMUNICATION/VISITORS

Frank Vondersaar is in favor of a WiFiHotSpot in the new library explaining that it is a wireless access point where patrons can bring their own laptop computer and access the internet. It is reasonably inexpensive and the trend of the future.

Boardmember Wagner said Systems Manager Bambakidis said the City currently has a WiFi set up between the City offices and the port. The new library would require a dial-up system with ACS for a WiFiHotSpot that could be accessed by motor homes, keeping their access separate from the library system. Library Director Hill said touring motor homes having the availability of internet access from a hot spot would be a favorable mention to Homer’s amenities.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

A. Proposed Library Fines and Fees

Library Director Hill requested that this item be added to next month’s UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

NEW BUSINESS

A. Review of Open Meetings Act Materials from Clerk’s Office

B. KPB Comprehensive Plan

Chair Mauger suggested that an item could be added to the KPB Comprehensive Plan to have the borough recognize the value and services of the Homer Library to city and borough users. Boardmember Hawfield said recognition that many of the library users live outside of the tax paying boundaries of the City of Homer and may only occasionally provide financial support to the library may be needed.

Library Director Hill said many people within the borough believe they do contribute for city services through sales tax. The library is supported through the General Fund from both sales and property tax. Although property taxes are assessed on borough residents that money goes to the KPB rather than the City of Homer. If library services were $35 per person in the library service area the borough could budget that amount to be distributed from their fund. In the State Library’s formula at least 11,000 people are serviced from Ninilchik to across the bay.

Boardmember Hawfield said some Council members would like to see an established library service area that may become the bond funding entity, although creating that area may delay the library project. Mr. Hawfield would encourage the borough to consider borough-wide support of libraries that serve the public. Library Director Hill said some of the Council members may be interested in a recreational service area which would incorporate all type of recreation.

HAWFIELD/KEFFER – MOVED THAT THE KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH RECOGNIZE THE SIGNIFICANT VALUE OF MUNICIPAL LIBRARY SERVICES TO BOROUGH RESIDENTS AND CONSIDER CONTRIBUTING TO LIBRARY COSTS ON A PER CAPITA BASIS, AS THE MAT-SU BOROUGH DOES WITH ITS CITY LIBRARIES.

VOTE: YES. NO OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Motion carried.

COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD

Boardmember Hawfield said the CCC has concern of some of the issues including the consortium and the site selection for the new library and how it may adversely affect the appearance in the mind of the big funders. Mr. Hawfield said he had talked with Sue Colliton and Peter Berliner of the Paul Allen Foundation when they visited Homer last summer and had them open a folder on the project. Mr. Hawfield said large funders including Paul Allen understand how communities wrestle with issues.

Chair Mauger said the Allen people are community center people and they have funded a major portion of the Seattle library. At the CCC meeting a Mayoral Proclamation from the LAB for National Library Week, April 18^th through 24^th was discussed. It was decided Library Director Hill would provide the proclamation and the LAB could fine-tune it for the April 12^th Council meeting.

Boardmember Wagner said there was a person who had spent a lot of time in a wheelchair that also attended the worksessions offering his valuable input to the architects.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Advisory Board the meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m. The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for April 6, 2004 at 6:00 p.m. in the Homer City Hall Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

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JO JOHNSON, DEPUTY CITY CLERK

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APPROVED