ANN ARBOR DISTRICT LIBRARY BOARD
343 S. FIFTH AVENUE, ANN ARBOR, MI
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
12-160 I. CALL TO ORDER
President Leary called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
12-161 II. ATTENDANCE
Present: Head, Kaplan, Leary, Murphy, Barney Newman, Rosenthal
Absent: Surovell
Staff: Choate, Neiburger, Parker, Wilson (recorder)
Others: James P. Kiefer, Dykema Gossett PLLC
Paul R. Stauder, Stauder, Barch & Associates
12-162 III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
(Item of action)
Secretary Barney Newman, supported by Vice President Rosenthal, moved to approve the agenda. Trustee Head amended the agenda with the addition of the Directors Report following Citizens’ Comments. The amended agenda was voted on.
Well again I am trying to get more people to come, but you’ve got me again. I simply have a question tonight and I realize that if citizens’ comment came at the end of the meeting that I might not have the question. But I’ll ask it. I was looking at the resolution that you are planning to act on tonight. Thank you for posting the Board Packets and I had a question about a phrase in the ballot language where it’s, you know, borrow a sum not to exceed thirty years for the purpose of paying all or part of the cost of
constructing, furnishing and equipping…all or part it was the or part…that I wondered about. I’m hoping there will be some clarification on that tonight. Thank you.
12-164 V. DIRECTORS REPORT
Director Parker reported she received a call from the office of Congressman Dingell informing her that the Library has been awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Grant for the American Film Project Bluegrass to Broadway for 2013.
The AADL digital archives staff received a Bezonki Award from the Ann Arbor Chronicle. Congratulations were given to Amy Cantu, Debbie Gallagher, Andrew MacLaren and Jackie Sasaki.
12-165 VI. NEW BUSINESS
12-166 A. RESOLUTION SUBMITTING BOND PROPOSAL FOR APPROVAL BY THE VOTERS TO REPLACE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY BUILDING
(Item of action)
James P. Kiefer, Dykema Gossett PLLC
Paul R. Stauder, Stauder, Barch & Associates
Secretary Barney Newman, supported by Vice President Rosenthal, moved ballot language: the following proposition shall be submitted to a vote of the qualified electors of the Library’s district at the general election to be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012:
Shall the Ann Arbor District Library, formed by the Ann Arbor Public Schools and the City of Ann Arbor, County of Washtenaw, State of Michigan, borrow the sum of not to exceed sixty-five million dollars ($65,000,000) and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds, in one or more series, payable in not to exceed thirty (30) years from the date of issuance of such bonds, for the purpose of paying all or part of the costs of constructing, furnishing and equipping a new main library building to be located at the current site of the downtown library building, including costs related thereto? Yes [ ] No [ ]
The following is for informational purposes only: The estimated millage to be levied in 2013 to pay the debt service on such bonds is 0.56 mills ($0.56 per $1,000 of taxable value) and the estimated
simple average annual millage rate required to retire the bonds is 0.47 mills ($0.47 per $1,000 of taxable value). In accordance with State law, a portion of the revenue collected may be subject to
capture by the City of Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and the Scio Township Downtown Development Authority.
Election Procedures: The County Clerk is requested to include the ballot language set forth above, as provided by law, on the applicable ballots for voting on the above-referenced proposition and to carry out all appropriate statutory duties with respect to the election described in this Resolution.
All resolutions and parts of resolutions insofar as they conflict with the provisions of this resolution are hereby rescinded.
Director Parker introduced James Kiefer and Paul Stauder who were present to answer any questions of the Board regarding the bond proposal.
Clarifications were made regarding:
The bond language “paying all or part” was questioned as to intent. It was stated this language allows the library to use grants or donations if received for the construction project. It was also stated that monies from the bond can be used for demolition, temporary relocation of the library during construction and other construction related expenses. Monies from the bond cannot be used for non-related construction expenses.
Numerous statements in the ballot language were required by the District Library Financing Act.
Director Parker informed the Board of a document prepared entitled “The Vision | The Vote” which will be made available to the public via the AADL website and as handouts at public service
desks. This document answers the most commonly asked questions regarding the reasons for the bond, but is not an advocacy document as the Library is prohibited from advocating.
12-167 VII. ADJOURNMENT
Vice President Rosenthal moved to adjourn the meeting.
President Leary adjourned the meeting at 7:38 p.m.