LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

JULY 7, 2009

 

Session 09-06 a Regular Meeting of the Library Advisory Board was called to order on July 7, 2009 at 6:03 pm by Vice Chair Michael Hawfield at the Homer City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

PRESENT:          BOARDMEMBERS WAGNER, LARSON, SEAMAN, HAWFIELD

 

ABSENT:           BOARDMEMBER BEATTY, FAULKNER (EXCUSED)

 

STAFF:              LIBRARY DIRECTOR HILL

                        DEPUTY CITY CLERK KRAUSE

 

Approval of the Agenda

 

Vice Chair Hawfield requested to amend the agenda to move Item 10. A., under Pending Business before Visitors and Communications.

 

The amended agenda was approved by consensus of the Board.

 

Public Comments Regarding Items on the Agenda

 

None.

 

Reconsideration

 

There were no items for reconsideration.

 

Approval of the Minutes

 

A.            Regular Meeting Minutes from June 2, 2009         

 

Vice Chair Hawfield requested a motion to approve the minutes.

 

WAGNER/SEAMAN – moved to aPPROVE the minutes.

 

There were no changes.

 

VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

Vice Chair Hawfield thanked Deputy City Clerk Krause for her “good job on the minutes as always.”

 

PENDING BUSINESS

A.        Library Improvement Plan

a.         Report on Worksession with Bill Smith

 

 

Vice Chair Hawfield reported on the meeting with Mr. Bill Smith regarding inefficiencies with the Public Library. There was consensus with those present at that meeting to discuss recommendations to send to the City Manager.

 

Discussion ensued regarding what the Library Advisory Board (LAB) should do regarding taking steps to make recommendations to the City Manager through a formal report on the information received from Mr. Smith. It was noted many details still need to be worked out. Board Member Larson recommended re-programming the building that allows the Library personnel to turn things on and off manually. This is a simple fix. Vice Chair Hawfield acknowledged that Mr. Smith had separated his recommendations. Further discussion covered that it should be a city responsibility, not a volunteer group. Library Director Hill stated that City Manager and Public Works Director are taking steps to address some of these issues by speaking with the architect.

Vice Chair Hawfield submitted a draft memorandum that he would like the Boardmembers input on. He then read the draft into the record.

He explained his intent with the memo was to encourage support of implementing some of Mr. Smith’s idea and to assure the City Manager of the support of the LAB.

There was conversation regarding the formation of a task force to assist the City with addressing the problems noted in Mr. Smith’s report. These problems are not going away and have had exponential growth. They are not linear. The Boardmembers discussed the analysis was undertaken in response to concerns expressed by staff, patrons and boardmembers.

Further discussion regarding changes in wording of the memo developed. It was agreed that the memo as drafted with the minor recommended changes would be a good start on making sure these issues were addressed in an expedient manner.

Vice Chair Hawfield will distribute final memo to the City Manager. He will submit the memo for final review of the boardmembers before distribution.

 

WAGNER/LARSON - MOVED TO ACCEPT MEMORANDUM WITH CHANGES AS NOTED AND VICE CHAIR HAWFIELD TO SUBMIT TO THE CITY MANAGER.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

Vice Chair Hawfield extended a thank you for all the hard work and efforts extended by Mr. Smith.

 

Visitors and Communications

 

A.            Friends Report – Library Director Hill

 

Library Director Hill commented that she included information in her Director’s Report on the last meeting and asked if there were any questions. They progressed in to the Director’s Report.

 

B.         Visitors

 

 There were no visitors scheduled.

 

Library Director’s Report

 

A.          Director’s Report for July 2009    

 

Library Director Hill reviewed her monthly report and asked if there were any questions. Boardmember Wagner inquired about the computer shut down. Library Director Hill responded it was happening right now and was progressing quite well. The put notices in the local paper, on each computer, etc., regarding the changes. If everything goes well the computers should be available again by Friday, July 10, 2009.

 

There was no further discussion.

 

 

B.            Monthly Statistics – June 2009                

 

Library Director Hill distributed the June statistics. She noted a pattern regarding the usage of the study rooms. She noted it has been a very busy summer so far.

 

There was no further discussion.

 

Committee Reports

 

A.         Art Selection Committee Report

 

The new exhibit is on display until October. Vice Chair Hawfield commented that they needed to discuss elections for a new chair for this Committee.

 

B.         Landscape Committee Report – Kyra Wagner

 

Boardmember Wagner reported that they purchased plants from the Garden Club annual sale, spent approximately $75.00 from the budget. The FFA kids attacked the place to remove some dandelions, six kids for three hours. The discussed retaining the services again of Brenda Adams to visit and make recommendations on the grounds.

Boardmember Larson spoke with Ms. Adams and reported she was thrilled with the invitation. Ms. Adams recommended the following for the Library landscaping issues:

1.         Focusing the remaining time of removal of the clover and burdock.

2.         Prepare beds for winter

3.         Replace septic grade typar material with landscape grade. (this offers higher weed control)

4.         Review plant budget and reallocate funds.

5.         Recommended plants for different locations.

6.         Hire her crew to come in and get the work done all at one time to gain control over the landscaping before the end of July.

 

There was a brief discussion among the boardmembers regarding the remaining amounts in the budget.

 

Boardmember Larson spoke with the FFA kids and they will not be coming back to work for them. She believes there were outstanding issues within that organization.

 

LARSON/WAGNER – MOVED TO RECOMMEND HIRING BRENDA ADAMS AND CREW TO WORK ON THE EXISTING GARDENS.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

There was no further discussion.

 

Public Hearing

 

None.

 

Pending Business

 

A.            Library Improvement Plan

 

There was no discussion.

 

B.            Library – Comments, Responses, Issues, and Challenges

 

There was no discussion.

 

NEW BusinesS

A.         2010-2015 Capital Improvement Plan Recommendations                                      

            Please review and prepare a minimum of three recommendations.

 

Moved to the August agenda by consensus of the Board.

 

Informational Materials

A.         Ordinance 09-28(S) Amending HCC Chapter 1.48 Amending Number of

            Boardmembers and descriptive title. Approved 06/22/09   Effective 06/23/09.

 

There was no discussion.

 

Comments from the PUBLIC

 

None.

 

COMMENTS OF THE CITY STAFF

 

There were no comments from staff.

 

Comments from the Board

 

Boardmember Larson commented as not wanting to be the cause of a problem in a marriage.

 

Boardmember Wagner and Seaman had no comments.

 

COMMENTS OF THE CHAIR

 

Vice Chair Hawfield thanked everyone for attending and their input and thanked them for letting him leave early for his anniversary dinner.

 

adjournment

 

There being no further business to come before the Board Vice Chair Hawfield adjourned the meeting at 6:45 p.m. The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for August 4, 2009 at 6:00 pm in the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

 

                                                                       

 Renee Krause, Deputy City Clerk I

Approved: