ANN ARBOR DISTRICT LIBRARY BOARD
343 S. FIFTH AVENUE, ANN ARBOR, MI
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, JULY 16, 2012
12-143 I. CALL TO ORDER
President Leary called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
12-144 II. ATTENDANCE
Present: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
Absent: None
Staff: Neiburger, Nieman, Parker, Wilson (recorder)
12-145 III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
(Item of action)
Secretary Barney Newman, supported by Vice President Rosenthal, moved to approve the agenda. Trustee Kaplan, supported by Trustee Head, moved to amend the agenda by adding a resolution amending the charge of the Facilities Committee. The amended agenda was voted on.
AYES: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 7-0.
12-146 IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JUNE 18, 2012 AND JUNE 20, 2012
(Item of action)
Vice President Rosenthal, supported by Treasurer Murphy, moved to approve the minutes of June 18, 2012 and June 20, 2012.
AYES: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 7-0.
12-147 V. CITIZENS’ COMMENTS
Lyn Davidge
When I arrived this evening I learned that no one else has signed up for comments. I think it’s time people started coming to make comments and you’ve been saying that for a while so I thought I would just make a comment. And that is that I’ve been a member, I have had a card with the Ann Arbor Public and then the Ann Arbor District Library since 1945. And I have never, I’ve always voted for, I have never voted against any library millages and that was true of my parents before me. But at this point I feel that I do not have enough information and for a variety of other reasons I am 99% positive that if the decision that I understand you will be making tonight is to go for a brand new building I will be voting no, unless in the next four months something stupendous happens. On the question of renovation I’m feeling more amenable to that and how my vote would go in that case would depend on exactly how the proposal was worded, what information I had about what the renovations would include, what the components were, the nature of them, the cost of the various components and so on. It would depend on the information available to me at the time, but at this moment thinking generally about the possibility of a renovation for this building I’m definitely in leaning in the yes column. And thank you, that was all.
Alan Haber
Hello all, I’m definitely support Lyn saying that more people should come and make comments and participate. And I wanted to draw to your attention for those who been and share with us the party on your front porch on Saturday. We had an imagine a park party trying to gather ideas and thoughts and images from people all over town and to actually make the park with music and grass and kids and food and conversation and even a speech or two. And it was really a beautiful event. I know that there is a lot of anxiety about what a park or a open facility might be on your front porch and this we sort of put together to show how beautiful it could be as a beginning effort of which more will be. And I know that you have, I know the word of the curtain is that you are not looking over there even though it’s right out your window. But I wish you would look over there and people on the Board join in the discussion about the various options with the committee and the group that is looking at a library green as the desirable option
which many, many people in Ann Arbor really see as desirable to have a green place downtown. That even though it is not your land it is your, intimately related to the library. And I hope that in your considerations you would designate one or two or people just to sit in our conversations and to be participant. This is very much part of your future I believe, because I believe that as more and more events such as we did the other night take place and day it was from noon to eleven at night. I know that there were a few glitches, but basically it was a very beautiful event and the kids go somersaulting on the sod was pretty neat. Well anyhow, that’s the comment I wanted to make and to let you know that we would have a great, great time on your yard which is all of our yard and whatever the formal lines are, so I hope that you would consider that this is a nice karma on your edge and let it permeate your own thinking. I was just in New York, New York and Bryant Park and its relation to the library is just beautiful. And we did sort of a local approximation of that kind of connection with and there would be more. My good wishes to all your deliberations and our neighborliness and a place for community to grow over the years rather than to be taxed built taxed outsourced the creativity and outsourced to the security I think our town can really do something beautiful there all together without having to put it on the tax roll but trusting the volunteer spirit that we had the other night and day. So that’s my comment and good wishes to you all.
David Diephuis
I just want to make a brief comment about the resolution tonight to tear down the old building and build a new one for the library. I have to agree with Lyn that I’m not sure the case has been made for that. I did attend the forums, read the Providence report and $65 million seems like a lot. Just 21 years ago we spent $10 million to refurbish the library and to double its size. It was an acclaimed renovation at that time and news reports said this building project has been designed for flexibility, to allow adaptation to new technology, expansion of collection, and now 21 years later were ready to scrap that. So I wonder if we can really predict what we are going to need 25 or 50 years from now. Whether in 20 years’ time a new building will look outdated to us. Technology changes awfully quickly now and needs of communities helpful changes are quite fast. So to me I would hope that you would consider a renovation proposal, an extensive renovation, not necessarily tearing down the old building, the first old building, I think it cost $738,000 back in the 50’s to extensively renovate instead rather than to rebuild. Thank you.
12-148 VI. FINANCIAL REPORTS
Associate Director Nieman reported June showed unrestricted cash balance just under $8 million. Tax receipts just over $11.1 million, reflecting 99.8% of the budgeted amount, have been received. The fund balance is at just over $8.2 million. The figures are pre-audit and the auditors are expected to be here the first of September.
12-149 VII. APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENTS
(Item of action)
Trustee Surovell, supported by Trustee Head, moved to approve the June disbursements.
AYES: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 7-0.
12-150 VIII. COMMITTEE REPORTS
12-151 A. FACILITIES COMMITTEE
Chair Rosenthal reported the committee sponsored three public comment forums and offered tours of the downtown library. The committee met with O’Neal Construction reviewing the 2008 estimated construction costs. The committee is also offering a resolution under new business. Trustee Kaplan and Trustee Surovell also serve as committee members.
12-152 IX. DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Director Parker reported that AADL received an award from ALA for outstanding PR for the Ben Franklin exhibit. Other local awards recently received include Family Favorites 2011 Best Story Hour and Family Favorites 2011 Best Free Activity in the Community.
The past weekend ADDL hosted Comic Central with hundreds of participants. Kids were encouraged to read comics and activities were held throughout the library. Director Parker was presented with two original “Josie & the Pussycats” comics.
12-153 X. NEW BUSINESS
12-154 A. FACILITIES COMMITTEE PUBLIC FORUMS ON THE FUTURE OF THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY UPDATE
Chair Rosenthal reported that all three forums and the internal tour of the downtown library were recorded and are available for viewing on the AADL website.
12-155 B. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING BOND PROPOSAL TO REPLACE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY BUILDING
(Item of action)
Trustee Kaplan, supported by Trustee Head, moved that a bond proposal for $65 million for a period of 25 years to fund the replacement of the Downtown Library building at its current location at Fifth and William be placed on the November 6, 2012 ballot and that all resolutions and parts of resolutions that conflict with the provisions of this resolution are rescinded.
Board members around the table expressed their reasons for supporting this proposal. The Board discussed at length the proposed 25 year bond versus a 30 year bond.
Trustee Surovell, supported by Trustee Head, moved to amend the period of 25 years to 30 years.
AYES: Head, Leary, Barney Newman, Surovell
NAYS: Kaplan, Murphy, Rosenthal
Motion passed 4-3.
The amended motion was voted on.
AYES: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 7-0.
12-156 C. RESOLUTION AMENDING THE CHARGE TO THE SPECIAL FACILITIES COMMITTEE
(Item of action)
Trustee Kaplan, supported by Treasurer Murphy, moved that the charge to the special Facilities Committee be amended to state the charge of the committee is a) to continue its work of gathering information about the condition of the downtown library facility and b) making recommendations to the Board concerning the details of implementing any bond the Board may choose to put before the voters and c) to recommend a process for taking the next steps should any bond proposal be approved and d) to recommend measures needed to maintain the existing building should a bond to replace the downtown facility fail to pass. The membership of the Facilities Committee will continue to include Prue Rosenthal (chair), Nancy Kaplan and Ed Surovell. That the Committee will serve through 2012. That all resolutions and parts of resolutions that conflict with the provisions of this resolution are rescinded.
AYES: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 7-0.
12-157 D. VOTE FOR SPECIAL BOARD MEETING TO APPROVE BALLOT LANGUAGE OF BOND PROPOSAL
(Item of action)
Treasurer Murphy, supported by Vice President Rosenthal, moved to schedule a special Board meeting to approve the ballot language of the Bond Proposal on July 30, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
Director Parker clarified that with the approval to seek a bond proposal, ballot language will need to be drawn and approved by the Board.
AYES: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 7-0.
12-158 E. VOTE FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION AT THE AUGUST 20, 2012 REGULAR MEETING FOR OPINION OF LEGAL COUNSEL
(Item of action)
Roll call vote
Vice President Rosenthal, supported by Treasurer Murphy, moved
to hold an Executive Session at the August 20, 2012 regular Board meeting for opinion of legal counsel.
A roll call vote was taken.
AYES: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Rosenthal, Surovell
NAYS: None
Motion passed 7-0.
12-159 XI. ADJOURNMENT
Secretary Barney Newman moved to adjourn the meeting.
President Leary adjourned the meeting at 8:27p.m.