Council will hear from residents about site at meeting
Wednesday
After months of study, surveys and looking high and low for funds, the City Council will launch the formal “where to put the new library” discussion Wednesday.
Council will likely not make a firm decision since Councilman Greg Sellers, who had a long-standing family commitment out of state, asked to be present for any vote. However, since the agenda item is a public hearing, the public will be heard.
Mayor Dennis Kennedy said Monday that he was comfortable delaying the choice.
“The council will want to get more information before making a decision,” Kennedy said, “and to give the public more time to understand why we might choose a way they might not approve of.”
He said that he expects to hear plenty from people wanting the 28,000 square-foot library built on a vacant lot behind City Hall and from those who think the downtown Sunsweet site would benefit more people. He said the council will listen to everybody, but also consider recommendations by other committees asked to review the details and report back.
“We need to consider what is best for everyone,” Kennedy said.
One critical report is from the library subcommittee and Friday afternoon City Manager Ed Tewes announced that the staff would recommend the downtown site. The report also included ways to pay for the library, which has been a sticking point in the past and which Councilman Larry Carr said he needed to see before taking any votes.
In all, Tewes’ staff has unearthed $18,195,300, which the report says, “will allow the Downtown Library Project to proceed in a way that not only meets the objectives of expanding library services, but also enhances the downtown with appropriate parking and amenities.”
If council approves the subcommittee suggestions, the library development impact fees (assessed on each newly built residence) would be raised and council would ask county supervisors to raise similar fees in unincorporated areas, which the Morgan Hill Library serves.
About $7 million would be temporarily reallocated from unused flood control funds (not expected to be needed for several years) and the library building fund would receive money from RDA land sales and funds paid back from business assistance loans.
Nova Partners, a construction management firm, helped staff develop cost estimates for the two sites: $14.3 million for Civic Center and $14.7 million for Sunsweet at Depot and Third streets.
The primary reasons given in the subcommittee report for choosing downtown over the popular neighborhood location is its ability to synergize (working together so everyone benefits in a greater way) with other parts of the community.
A downtown site would increase library patronage, being more centrally located; it would draw from downtown housing and business customers and bring in more customers, all which ends up beefing up the general fund that pays for police and fire protection and recreation services. Parking is an issue which council will address.
The complete Council agenda and the subcommittee report are available at the City Clerk’s desk in City Hall and on line. City Council and/or the Redevelopment Agency will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday in City Hall Chambers, 17555 Peak Ave. Details: www.morganhill.ca.gov or 779-7271. Council meetings are broadcast live on cable access channel 17. Previous Times stories giving more details can be found, free, at www.morganhilltimes.com/
