HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-03-07 MinutesFayetteville.Public Library. • Board of Trustees Building Expansion Meeting March 7, 1999 Trustees present were M. Thomas, S. Singleton, 11. Roberts, M. Lawrence, and L Brewer, L. Gottsponer, M. Goff. Staff members present were L Schaper and Melanie Stodcdell. Also present was Jeff Scherer, consulting architect. Members of the press were Charlie Allison, Morning News, and Sarah Asher, NWA Times. Members of the public Included Barbara Moorman (for the first 30 minutes) and Elizabeth Wood. The meeting was called to order on 3/7/99 at 1:35 p.m.' No minutes of the previous meeting were available. 1. M. Thomas said that our goal was to arrive at a decision about the existing site and the other site. L Gottsponer • said that the goal was to eliminate one option, not two. 2. M. Goff asked If we have asked WRMC for a price on the property. S. Singleton said we had not asked. 3. 3. Scherer said we need to reflect on the lessons were Teamed over the last 10 or so meetings and speak from what were teamed and from our hearts. It is, he said, appropriate for the public to hear the Board talk. The Trustees have heard a lot of public comment and now the public needs to hear from the Trustees. 4. M. Thomas asked if red brick was a trademark of Segraves. 3. Scherer said that if we chose a path of preservation that we would use the red boc, If not, we could use a new logic S. J. Scherer talked about the meeting he had with Janie Segraves earlier in the day. J. Scherer said that people were learning and that If the process continues we will have the building the community wants. '6. Each Trustee spoke. The full text Is being transcribed. In summary: a. S. Singleton said he was emotionally drawn to the existing site, but believes the existing structure is not suitable. He would prefer a new building on the existing site or, secondarily, the hospital site. b. L Brewer spoke from her emotional and practical side. She has emotional connections to the existing site, but knows the Library needs a functional and efficientspace that will entice children and adults. She spoke of the Importance of the library for those who can't afford• books and other information. She said, "I feel a huge responsibility for that population." She said location and atmosphere are crucial. She added, "We must be stewards of finandal resources, neighborhoods and our environment" If we stay on the existing site she liked A2 or B1 or If we move to the new site we need to preserve the existing building with covenants. c. L Gottsponer spoke to the integrity of the neighborhood and that since he heard no consensus to keep or raze the building, he said that he befleves we must do what's best for the City. He would like to stay on the existing property, acquire the three houses to the south and build new. If that isn't feasible, then move to the new site and build new. He also added he liked the underground parking. M. Goff said that it would be hard to maintain the scale with an addition or new building on this site. She prefers the new site, but Ls worried about the cost of the land. e. M. Roberts said that "we want a library that Is quality" and that whatever Is erected on the existing site will not please the neighbors. He said we will do a service to people here and there (by uplifting the neighborhood) by building new on the other site. He said it would mean a lot to the aty to place the Library so dose to the Square. He said "I think Fayetteville is ready to do a quality job." f. M. Lawrence said that he would like to build new on the other site. Ile said renovation will not meet our needs and that there will not be the bang for the bucks. He would like to see the existing building restored and kept. He said this was a cleaner and easier answer. g. M. Thomas expressed concems about the hospital site neighborhood and said the existing neighborhood Is warm m a and mfuzzy. If we and if thethe existing site, we need to acquire the three houses on Conner. He likes plan h. L Schaper, Segraves building Is pulled down he likes 92. per, Director, spoke, thanked the Trustees for their partidpation and attention and said she thought the new site would provide the most functional and effident facility and felt the existing building should be preserved or brought bade to its original form. 7. M. Lawrence mored and L. Gottsponer seconded a motion to pursue, as one of the two choices, to acquire the • hospital site and build a new a'btary mere while recommending fa the Qty Count that the existing building be preserved. NI voted aye. 8. S. Sing/eton moved to aonsderas a second design color to raze the existing bu!/dings, acquire the three houses to Me south on Conner, andbu//d a new Way. M. Goff seconded the motion. M. Lawrence said he did not see the existing buildings as functional and that when we go to the voters we have to go with the best possible functional library. L Gottsponer said the best possible functional library is to build new. 5. Singleton said that the library is not obligated to do historic preservation. 3. Scherer said that in the 2n° round of public meetings no one stood up and said they objected to the MedArk Building being torn down. . t Thomas called fora vote. Al voted aye. 9. 3. Scherer asked the Board what they need from him to make the final dedsion. He said It was unwise to pollute the dedsion making with aesthetic or design considerations. He said R Is important to stay focused at this point on factual aspects of the process. L. Gottsponer mored and M. Roberts seconded a motion to charge J. Scherer to do a hard-nosed comparison of the two optics— (1) build new on existing site and acquire three properties and (7) build new on hospital site All voted aye. 10. Louts Gottsponer and Louise Schaper were charged with speaking to WRMC to assess their level of interest In selling. Steve Singleton and Louise Schaper were charged with speaking to the neighbors on Conner before the newspapers come out the next moming. 11. The meeting was adjourned at 3:20 p.m.