September 19, 2016 Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting
ANN ARBOR DISTRICT LIBRARY BOARD
343 S. FIFTH AVENUE, ANN ARBOR, MI
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
16-193 I. CALL TO ORDER
President Barney Newman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
16-194 II. ATTENDANCE
Board Present: Nancy Kaplan, Margaret Leary, Jan Barney Newman, Prue Rosenthal, Ed Surovell, Jamie Vander Broek
Board Absent: Jim Leija
Staff: Bruce Hadler, Eli Neiburger, Josie Parker, Karen Wilson (recorder)
16-195 III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
(Item of action)
Secretary Leary, supported by Trustee Kaplan, moved to approve the agenda.
CFO Hadler reported August showed unrestricted cash balance of $13,507,772. Tax receipts totaling $9,985,815, reflecting 67.2% of the budgeted amount, have been received through the end of August. The fund balance stands at $5,697,884. Six line items are currently over budget on a year to date basis.
16-199 VII. DIRECTOR’S REPORT
In addition to the written report in the Board packet, Director Parker gave an audio-visual presentation on the following:
The Westgate ribbon cutting ceremony and open house celebration on September 18th.
Two titles have been selected for review by committee to determine the title for the Washtenaw Reads program. Vice President Surovell inquired how the change from Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor Reads to Washtenaw Reads came about. Director Parker stated that a county-wide reads program has always been a goal and the opportunity presented itself with recent staff changes at several local libraries.
Statistical information was presented on check-outs and door counts for the first half of September.
Top tweets and online reactions to the opening of Westgate Branch were viewed.
The exterior of the building on South Industrial, future home of the archive was viewed. Work is being done on the space to make it ready. The move from Green Road was precipitated by the expansion of Toyota at that location.
600 emails were sent to patrons who registered to receive status notifications on Westgate Branch. Patrons were notified of the branch opening and celebration dates.
Website design development requests will be going out to local website developers in the near future.
16-200 VIII. NEW BUSINESS
16-201 A. DISCUSSION OF TRAVERWOOD BRANCH MSE WALL
(Item of discussion)
Nicole Wallace, O’Neal Construction, Inc.; Len Lemoire
Nicole Wallace of O’Neal Construction and AADL Facilities Manager Len Lemorie were introduced by Director Parker.
They explained that the MSE wall constructed at the Traverwood Branch Library has failed. Some small temporary repairs have been made to the wall. The length of the 200 foot wall originally was to be covered in vegetation. Only about 30% coverage has been achieved. Secretary Leary inquired if these types of walls were generally accepted and a recognized practice. Ms. Wallace stated they are and there is one located nearby.
Manager Lemorie presented his case study to the Board outlining solutions available.
Concept 1 addresses only the area of the wall that has failed, which is currently less than 50%. This solution does not address the failure of vegetation to establish itself. The cost estimate is $357,654.
Concept 2 addresses all deficiencies of the wall by completely removing it, cutting the slope back and establishing native grasses and trees along the slope. The cost estimate is $615,968.
Concept 3 would be to replace the entire MSE wall with another MSE wall. Given that a new MSE wall would still be north facing, establishing vegetation would still be a problem, consequently this option is not being recommended.
Board members asked several other questions regarding the failure of the wall and decided that a visit to the site would give them a better perspective of the work needed to be done. Arrangements will be made for a site visit for Board members, including Ms. Wallace and Manager Lemorie.
16-202 B. VOTE FOR CLOSED SESSION AT THE OCTOBER 17, 2016 REGULAR BOARD MEETING FOR DISCUSSION OF REAL ESTATE AND OPINION OF LEGAL COUNSEL
(Item of action)
Roll call vote
Treasurer Rosenthal, supported by Secretary Leary, moved to hold a closed session at the October 17, 2016 regular meeting for discussion of real estate and opinion of legal counsel.