Library fans breathed a sigh of relief Wednesday when the City
Council agreed to start building a new library right away.
Library fans breathed a sigh of relief Wednesday when the City Council agreed to start building a new library right away.
Council could have waited until the end of November when the state will announce the third round of winners for Prop. 14 library construction money – few people expect Morgan Hill to be among the winners. The city’s grant application for $13.3 million to add to remaining Redevelopment money was rejected twice before.
Or council could have waited until 2006 or later to see if the city gets lucky with money from a second library construction bond, taken through the Legislature by state Senator Dede Alpert. The extra money would allow Morgan Hill to build a 40,000 square-foot library, the size considered sufficient to see the growing city through 30 years or more.
By going ahead now, library users will see a 28,000 square-foot, $17 million library designed for expansion should enough money ever be available to build an addition. However, Recreation Manager Julie Spier told the council that, if the city were to be extraordinarily fortunate and be successful in November’s round three, it wouldn’t be too late to consider the larger building.
Council also chose to use a “multiple prime” method of construction management. Under the traditional method, the city hires a general contractor who brings preselected subcontractors to the job. Under multiple prime the city hires a construction manager who works with the architects and hires each subcontractor separately, a method thought to save money and allow the city tighter control.
City Manager Ed Tewes said that hiring a construction manager right away would not tie the city to a building of either size.
“Choosing the CM first would actually accelerate process,” Tewes said. “We wouldn’t have entered into costly contracts (by the end of November).”
Another public facility has had a terrific first six months, Spier told the council. The Aquatics Center that opened June 12 on Condit Road has been so popular that council agreed to try to keep it open during the colder months, November through February.
Spier said that, while open recreational swimming diminished rapidly with the beginning of school and colder weather, programs and competition swimming have continued to be popular. Fees from special programs and swim clubs could underwrite the costs of keeping the center open.
Council agreed to try but asked to be told before Spier gave the required one week’s notice that the pools would be closed if pool use were not sufficient to cover operating expenses.
