Session 06-09, a Regular Meeting of the Library Advisory Board was called to order on September 5, 2006 at 6:06 pm by Chair Lord at the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 East Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

PRESENT:       BOARDMEMBERS BURSCH, HAWFIELD, KEFFER, LORD, MARTIN

                        STUDENT MEMBER LETTIS (Arrived at 6:25 pm)

 

ABSENT:        BOARDMEMBER WAGNER, SEAMAN (Both Excused)

 

STAFF:            LIBRARY DIRECTOR HILL

                        DEPUTY CITY CLERK JACOBSEN

                        CITY MANAGER WREDE

 

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

 

            A.        Minutes of the August 1, 2006 Regular Meeting

 

There was discussion of the minutes.

 

HAWFIELD/KEFFER MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS AMENDED.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT      

 

Motion carried.

 

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

 

HAWFIELD/KEFFER MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT      

 

Motion carried.

 

LIBRARY DIRECTOR’S REPORT

 

A.     Statistical Report for August 2006

 

Library Director Hill reported that the move to the new library building is going well.  She provided statistics for the Board to review and pointed out that the Story Hour attendance keeps increasing, which is exciting.  Ms. Hill noted the statistics were not complete which makes some of the uses look low and they have had many volunteers this month to get ready for the move.  She hopes to have them updated in time for the next meeting.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

There were no reports.

 

COMMUNICATION/VISITORS

 

Library Director Hill read a short letter into the record,

Dear Homer Library Board:  We are very excited about our new library and thank you to all who made it possible.  Please ensure that the new library is warmer than the existing one (frequently, especially in the winter, patrons sit and read with coats on as the existing one is so cold). Preferably 72º minimum.  Also, please provide a quiet area for those who need to concentrate and computers that allow patrons what ever time they may need.  Thank you, a local Homer family.

 

Councilmember Stark commented that he would answer any questions the Board may have for him.  He provided a list of questions and answers to the Board prior to the meeting being called to order.

 

Frank Vondersaar commented that every time he goes into the new library he is more impressed.  He commented that today he kept hearing a strange noise and it was explained to him that that the windows open and close themselves to help the temperature stay constant.  Library Director Hill noted that the windows won’t do that during a rain or snow storm.

 

City Manager Wrede was in the audience but had no comments.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

A.                 CIP Review and List for Council

 

Chair Lord noted that at their last meeting the Board made their recommendations to Council regarding the CIP list and questioned whether they wanted to revisit their recommendations since they have been given information on the Joint Use Library Addition. 

 

There was discussion between the Board and Councilmember Stark.  Mr. Stark made points in favor of the Joint Use Library Addition,

·        It would add space to the library which would not be exclusively for the college.

·        It is space that was deleted when there was not enough funding to build the library as designed.

·        City feels strongly that the University is a great asset to the community and wants to do what it can to further the relationship.

·        The legislature looks favorably on cooperative arrangements between the City and University.

·        The proposal addressed the objections that came up in January when the previous plan was before the Council.

·        This expansion would not be built for two to three years and would not impact the new library until that time.  Once completed the addition would be an asset to the library.

·        The name of the facility wouldn’t need to change.

·        The City and City Librarian would have the supervision over the library and budgeting would be by the City in cooperation with the University.

·        Any personnel that may be needed would be under the direction of the Library Director.

·        There are consortium libraries all over Alaska and the United States, most of which are successful.

·        Supporters who don’t agree with the joint use probably would not participate.

·        There is anticipated support for the project through the legislature and granting agencies who have offered support previously.

·        The City considers the University a great asset to the community and the City of Homer.

·        It won’t cost the City much; a majority of the money will come from grant funds.

·        The City is currently working on other projects like the Deep Water Dock expansion, the expansion of the water treatment plant and purchasing right-of-way.

 

The Boardmembers noted points of opposition, 

·        The college has other priorities; they have made no indication that this is a priority.

·        The college has never done a space needs study or any library planning.

·        The space presently identified is only about half of what was identified for college needs in an earlier space needs study done between the LAB and the college in 1999.

·        In the area of fundraising and grant writing there may be issue with the perception that donors are building a University facility at the City’s expense.

·        Adding a room to the existing library does not make it a joint use library.  Had a joint use library been planned the design would be very different.

·        Available funding sources have been exhausted.  If there had been more funds available, the need for the City to take out a loan would not have been there.

·        With the Library’s Capital Campaign completed, it needs to be recognized that there are other projects that the City and community needs, and they need to have their chance.

·        Adding a room for the college would preclude availability to enlarge the public library in the future and shorten the life of the building. 

·        Students and faculty of the college have expressed the desire for their recourses in their own building for easier access.

·        Until the library is open it is unknown how the use is going to be and how it will work out. 

·        The college needs to do their own study of projecting growth, enrollment and its plans and use.  Until that is done it is difficult to know what space is needed.

·        The college library contains a lot of current reference materials provided by teachers for specific classes.

·        It is not the kind of library where one would sit to read magazines.

·        There are more pressing needs of the City that should be put before this. 

·        It seems rogue for the Board to go to the community and ask for more space in the library.

·        The project will cost the City much money and there have already been so many City hours put into the library project by employees.

·        It is time for them to stand down and let other projects go forward.

·        Some of the impetus for this project needs to come from the college.

·        The college has done several significant improvement projects and none of them have included changing the space of their library.

 

The Board took no action to amend their CIP recommendations to include this project.  Councilmember Stark and City Manager Wrede left after the discussion.

 

            B.         New Library Construction Update

 

Library Director Hill commented that construction is complete.  There is some fine tuning and adjustments that need to be done.  She noted they are ahead of schedule with moving books over to the new building, but there are still many things to do.

 

            C.        Planning for the Future - Discussion

 

Chair Lord recommended deferring this topic to the next agenda. The Board agreed.

 

NEW BUSINESS

           

            A.        Library Operating Budget for FY 2007

 

Library Director Hill provided the Board with a copy of a worksheet she prepared.  She advised the Board that the column “FY 2007 Manager Proposed” are numbers she put in to present to City Manager Wrede, but she has not met with him or Finance Director Harville yet.  She asked that they label the column “Department Requests”, so it is not confusing.  At the request of the Chair, Ms. Hill explained the budget process.  She went through and clarified some of the line items in her proposed budget and explained that she asked for a new library technician.  She knows there will be higher usage in the new library and there will be more interaction with the public, more reference and research questions and more programs.  She has also requested a couple of student pages which is invaluable for students in the community as well as the library.  It is good to have a student consistently all year to help with shelving and other things that would free up regular staff for answering reference questions and other jobs they get behind on.   Ms. Hill explained that the staffing requests do not show up on her draft because Finance Director Harville is dealing with new positions differently than the previous Finance Director.  She will keep the Board updated on the progress of the budget.

 

            B.         Grand Opening Update

 

Library Director Hill briefly noted that she, Claudia Haines and Administrative Assistant Livingston are working to get things lined up for the grand opening.  Invitations have gone out, speakers have been lined up, the food has been taken care of and final details are being worked out.  Some events include stories in the kid’s room, music in the lounge and ongoing tours of the library throughout the day.  It is scheduled from 1 to 4 pm on September 16 and there will be other events taking place through out the week. 

 

            C.        Amend LAB Bylaws to Comply with Resolution 06-115(A)

 

The Boardmembers discussed and expressed opposition with the three minute time limit. Some points were,

·        What is wrong with public comment, public testimony and audience comment in a democratic world.

·        It is understandable for a Chair to use discretionary authority, as needed, during a meeting.

·        Why not limit Boardmembers and Commissioners to speak for three minutes no more that two times on any given topic.

·        It is inappropriate for the Council to tell Commissions and Boards how to do their business.

·        None of the Boardmembers felt there is an issue of to much public comment at their meetings that would require a limit.

·        Grammatically, the amendment doesn’t make sense.

·        The resolution is to amend the Council operating manual, not City Code.  The Board is bound by City Code and their bylaws. 

·        It seems odd Council is ordering a change to the Commissions and Boards bylaws through changes to their operating manual.

·        Legally the Council did not do this properly; it should be an ordinance with a public hearing. 

 

Chair Lord suggested an amendment to add a section under article 4 “Meetings” which would read:

Per Resolution of the City Council (Resolution 06-115(A)), Public Testimony shall normally be limited to three minutes per person, exceptions may be provided for at the Chair’s discretion or by a majority vote of the board members in attendance.

 

Some Boardmembers spoke in favor of her amendment as it meets the spirit of the resolution. Chair Lord said she spoke with a Councilmember earlier in the day who said this didn’t mean anything and if they read the small print, they could do what ever they wanted. 

 

MARTIN/HAWFIELD MOVED TO ADOPT THAT LANGUAGE.[1]

 

With permission from Chair Lord, Boardmember Hawfield asked Deputy City Clerk Jacobsen for her input from the aspect of all the Commissions and how their meetings are handled.  Ms. Jacobsen made the following comments:

·        There are instances in some meetings of the public being allowed to comment and they start to say the same things over and the meetings go on for hours.

·        This is an opportunity for people to focus their comments.  A person can say a lot in three minutes.

·        This is a way for Council to address this with all the Commissions rather than singling any group out.

·        It is consistent for all groups, so the public knows what to expect coming to any public meeting.

·        More time could be given at the Chairs discretion or by suspending the rules.

 

Discussion continued and Ms. Jacobsen commented that she didn’t see this change as a huge issue for the Library Advisory Board.  They thanked her for her input.

 

Chair Lord noted that if adopted this would come before them for final action at their next meeting. 

 

VOTE:  NON OBJECTION:  UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

D.        Letter from Special Projects Coordinator Holen Re: Request from the Economic Development Commission for Board input on Mariner Park Development

 

Chair Lord commented that this is not Library business and not a good use of their time.  She feels the area is fully utilized now and is a good asset to the community.

 

HAWFIELD/BURSCH MOVED THAT THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMEND THAT MARNIER PARK NOT BE DEVELOPED AS A FISHING LAGOON.

 

Boardmember Bursch made the following comments:

·        The use (a fishing lagoon) is already available in another area.

·        The current fishing lagoon has financial challenges, which have already been made public and the City does not need the additional challenges.

·        There is harmony with the different uses on the spit and what is going on there now is consistent with that.

·        Other improvements would be more beneficial like permanent restrooms.

 

The Boardmembers were in agreement with Mr. Bursch.

 

VOTE:  NON OBJECTION:  UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

 

There were no public comments.

 

COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD

 

Library Director Hill thanked Deputy City Clerk Jacobsen for the cover on the LAB packet.  She loves it.

 

Boardmember Bursch said it was a good meeting.  He has been helping with the library move and is getting a full appreciation of the collection at the library. 

 

Boardmember Keffer recommended everyone get in and see the new building.  It is amazing.

 

Student Member Lettis apologized for being late.

 

Chair Lord thanked everyone for their patience. 

 

Boardmember Hawfield felt he needed to apologize a little for getting on a soap box about speaking at meetings, but it is above all else, the most precious freedom we have.  He apologized for missing previous meetings and will miss the next meeting.  He thanked Deputy City Clerk Jacobsen for her work. 

 

Boardmember Martin commented that after discussion tonight regarding the addition, she is looking forward to a suggestion Chair Lord made that there may be some way that we can cooperate with the college and enhance the relationship between the college and public library, short of shocking anyone with an addition.  Surely there are other things that can be done and she is looking forward to those discussions.

 

HAWFIELD/KEFFER MOVED TO ADJOURN.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE:  NON OBJECTION:  UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

ADJOURN

 

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 7:49  pm. The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for October 3, 2006 at 6:00 pm in the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

INFORMATIONAL MATERIAL

 

 

 

                                                                                   

MELISSA JACOBSEN, DEPUTY CITY CLERK

 

Approved:                                                                   


[1] To adopt Chair Lord’s recommended language.