to: Mayor and Town Council
from: Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager
subject: Possible Alternatives for Library Project
date: January 26, 2009
Resubmitted: February 9, 2009
The purpose of this report is to determine the Council’s interest and seek guidance regarding possible alternatives to the current plan for expanding the Library.
The Library expansion project is currently delayed pending improvement in municipal bond markets and the Council’s desire to have greater assurance that the Town will be able to absorb additional costs related to the borrowing of construction funds and future operating expenses.
In April, 2007, during the planning phase of the Library expansion project, the Council asked the Town staff to explore alternatives to expanding the Library in its present location. We reviewed options for establishing a branch library in the downtown area and some other areas of town. The Council decided to not pursue other options due to complications with trying to begin a new planning and design process and due to the additional costs associated with operating a branch library.
We recognize that conditions have changed since the April, 2007, report to the Council about alternatives to the expansion project. Both the near and longer term financial situation is more volatile. The Town’s debt capacity is strained and the General Fund operating budget is under scrutiny for the near future. Other planning contexts have changed; the Council has expressed interest in testing assumptions about growth and has expressed support for finding ways to support sustainable economic development. We recognize that the Council may want to extend this evolving planning context to Town facilities as well. This could lead to a reevaluation of the assumptions we have made about what kind of library facility to build and where to build it.
If the Council were interested in looking at alternatives, the staff could develop information for additional discussion, including options for further consideration.
We have not determined what options might be examined, but based on limited discussion, it is possible that a smaller building that could serve one or more Library purposes could be a less expensive option than the full sized, full service expansion that is being designed for the current Library site. Where such a building could be built or purchased has not been considered, nor have we analyzed operating considerations, nor how a change to the plan might affect the Library Master Plan, nor the remaining costs associated with needed renovations to the existing building.
If the Council would like to consider alternatives, we would begin a staff review of key issues and options and report to the Council. We would appreciate any guidance that may be offered on this possible work.
We ask for Council guidance on whether or not the Council desires additional information on possible alternatives to the Library project.