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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Library Bond ConsiderationCouncil Communication Administration Library Bond Consideration March 16, 1999 Submitted by: Greg Scoles Approved by: Mike Freeman Title: Consideration of"A Resolution of the City of Ashland, Jackson County, Oregon, Calling a Special Election to Submit to the Voters the Question of Contracting a General Obligation Bonded Indebtedness in the Amount of $7,600,000 to Finance Expansion and Renovation of the City's Historic Public Library Facilities." Synopsis: On November 17, 1998, the city council approved a request by the Friends of the Ashland Public Library to pursue expansion of the existing library facility. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for architectural services was issued, and ultimately SERA Architects was selected to provide consulting services to the city. A Public Library Improvement Committee was established and project meetings began in mid-January and have continued through March 8th . These meetings included a series of committee workshops, public workshops and open houses. The committee considered a variety of alternatives for expansion of the library and has selected a preferred alternative which was used for development of the cost estimate for the bond preparation. Recommendation: It is recommended that the council adopt the attached resolution which would call for a special election for voters to consider the question of contracting a general obligation bond for the expansion and renovation the city's historic Carnegie Library. Background Information: The present building is a Carnegie Library, which was built in 1912. An addition to the original structure was competed in 1954 and then a parking lot was added in 1972. The city owns the building and site, however, the library is operated as a part of the Jackson County library system, which has a network of 15 public facilities and is a department of Jackson County government. There have been a number of programming studies recommending expansion of the library from its current 7,000 square feet to a more useful size (21,000 s.f. in 1990 and 24,000 s.f. in 1998). The later of these two studies was based on an expansion of the library to meet the needs of the city in the year 2025 and anticipated a service area population of 32,000. These programing Council Communication - March 16, 1999 Library Bond Consideration Page 2 needs have now been reconfirmed by the consulting team as part of this project and have been incorporated in the preferred alternative. The project team for the project consists of SERA Architects, Raymond Kistler (local architect), George Kramer (local historic preservation consultant), and Kathryn Page (library programmer from San Francisco). The project team has significant experience with library design and construction, programming, historic renovation and renovation of Carnegie Library facilities. The team was assisted by an ad hoc Public Library Improvement Committee which had the following members: Catherine Shaw, Mayor; Marjorie O'Harra, Historian; John Fields, Friends of Ashland/Planning Commission Member; Jim Lewis, Historic Commission Member; Bob Wilson, County Librarian; Pat Blair, County Librarian; Amy Blossom, County Librarian; Sheila Bums, State Library Board of Trustees; Barbara Ryberg, Friends of the Ashland Library; Ed Hungerford, County Library Advisory Committee; Lesley Klecan, County Library Advisory Committee; Marilyn Briggs, Planning Commission Member; Phyllis Reynolds, Retired School Counselor and neighbor to the project; Mark Knox, Planning Liaison; and Greg Scoles, Project Coordinator. While this is a project which was accomplished in a short time frame, given the desire to have this issue considered by the council at the March 16th meeting, there was a significant public participation component. The committee met on three separate occasions to review project goals, design and cost estimates. There were two half-day workshops where the public could influence the design process, and the architectural team held public open houses on five different days to allow the public to meet with the team on a one-on-one basis during the day. After completion ofthe public involvement process, the committee recommended a preferred alternative to the design team. This alternative is approximately 28,000 s.f. (including the existing 7,000 s.f. structure), requires the acquisition of the adjacent commercial parcel and provides approximately 31 off-street parking spaces. The estimated cost for this alternative is $7,600,000, including construction, land acquisition, consultant services, furniture and equipment, and financing. A $7.6 million bond issue would result in an assessment of approximately $.5852/$1,000 of assessed valuation. ~ A house with an assessed value of $100,000 would have an assessment of about $58.52. The project team will be at the council meeting to present the project and to discuss the design concept and cost estimate. It is important to note that for this bond issue to be on the May 18th Ballot, the council must have its decision forwarded to the county by March 18th. NOTICE OF BOND ELECTION City of Ashland Jackson County, Oregon NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on May 18, 1999, an election will be held in City of Ashland, Jackson County, Oregon. The following question will be submitted to the qualified voters thereof: CITY OF ASHLAND CAPTION: GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND AUTHORIZATION FOR PUBLIC LIBRARY EXPANSION AND RENOVATION. QUESTION: Shall the City be authorized to issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $7,600,000? If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to limits of Article XI, Section 11 b of the Oregon Constitution. SUMMARY: This measure authorizes up to $7,600,000 of general obligation bonds. Bond proceeds will be used to finance the cost of capital construction and improvements related to land acquisition, construction, furniture, and equipment, associated with the expansion, remodeling and repair of the City's public library. The bonds would mature within 20 years. RESOLUTION NO. 99- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ASHLAND, JACKSON COUNTY, OREGON, CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO SUBMIT TO THE VOTERS THE QUESTION OF CONTRACTING A GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDED INDEBTEDNESS IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,600,000 TO FINANCE EXPANSION AND RENOVATION OF THE CITY'S HISTORIC PUBLIC LIBRARY FACILITIES. RECITALS: A. The City Council of City of Ashland, Jackson County, Oregon (the "City"), has determined that there is a need to finance the cost of capital construction and improvements related to land acquisition, construction, furniture, and equipment, associated with the expansion, remodeling and repair of the City's public library (the 1 "Library Project"); and B. The costs are estimated to be $7,600,000, all of which are costs of capital construction or improvements or costs of issuing bonds; now, therefore, THE CITY OF ASHLAND RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. A special election is called for the purpose of submitting to the qualified voters of the City the question of contracting a general obligation bonded indebtedness in the name of the City in a sum not to exceed $7,600,000. Bond proceeds will be used to finance the "Library Project". The bonds shall mature over a period of not more than 20 years. SECTION 2. The special election called shall be held in the City on May 18, 1999, in accordance with Oregon Law. SECTION 3. The City Recorder shall cause to be delivered to the Elections Officer of Jackson County, Oregon, the attached Notice of Bond Election, not later than 61 days prior to the election. The Election Officer is requested to give the electorate of the City notice that the election shall be conducted by mail pursuant to Oregon law; and SECTION 4. That the City Recorder shall give notice of the election by as provided in the laws of the State of Oregon and the charter and ordinances of the City of Ashland. SECTION 5. The City Attorney is authorized to alter the text of the ballot to comply with any rules, procedures or practices of the Elections Officer of Jackson County to implement the requirements of Oregon Law. Page 1 - Resolution G:ITEMPIBarbara Clresolution3.16.99.wpd The foregoing resolution was READ and DULY ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Ashland on the day of , 1999. Barbara Christensen, City Recorder SIGNED and APPROVED this _ day of ,1999. Catherine M. Shaw, Mayor Reviewed as to form: Paul Nolte, City Attorney Page 2 - Resolution G:ITEMPIBarbara Clresolution3.16.99.wpd