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explained that the Council's role this evening is to provide feedback on the work done thus far and refine the options for staff to pursue further over the next several months. Assistant City Manager Steve Bocian reviewed the Civic Center Master Plan process which began in 2001 and spent the next 3 years working with the downtown neighborhood, Pleasanton Downtown Association, and Library Commission on the development of 12 site concepts. Nearing the end of that project, the City Council directed staff to begin work on plans for the library expansion. Staff retained consultant Kathryn Page to perform a library needs assessment that, in summary, determined a need to expand library services and the size of the library itself. With considerable community involvement, staff also retained Mark Schatz of Field Paoli to prepare a technical study, conceptual design, and preliminary cost analysis for various options. Mr. Bocian stated that the total civic center site is approximately 13 acres, with another 3.3 acre site owned by the City and County of San Francisco. The Downtown Specific Plan was finalized within this time period and called for an improved gateway and plaza entrances throughout the site. Staff worked closely with the PDA to identify site plans 11 and 12 as the preferred concepts. He reviewed several site plan concepts, noting that staff received a number of suggestions to move City Hall offices to the San Francisco site but it did not satisfy the improved gateway requirements. He also noted that all designs clearly display the idea of connectivity between the Civic Center, library, and Main Street. Councilmember McGovern referred to Concept 6 and requested more information on the community center it depicts. Mr. Bocian explained that several concepts included the idea of constructing a new City Hall office building and potentially converting the former for community resource purposes. He added that none of those are the recommended concepts. He also added that none of the recommended concepts include plans for the San Francisco site, which may or may not be available for acquisition. Mr. Bocian highlighted the two preferred concepts. Concept 11 received considerable positive feedback and is centered around a City Hall presence on Main Street, large library expansion, the elimination of 200 Old Bernal Avenue, and construction of a parking structure. Concept 12, which received the most positive response, meets most of the goals of the Downtown Specific Plan with a strong civic presence, strong gateway on both Main Street and Bernal Avenue, pedestrian traffic improvements, library expansion, plazas, and a strong link to the park. He noted that the Library Commission identified several issues with this concept, primarily focused on vehicle traffic and accessibility, but staff anticipates suitable resolutions. Julie Farnsworth, Director of Library Services, briefly reviewed the library needs assessment, described the library's transition from a County branch to City library in the late 1990s, and introduced architect Mark Schatz. Mr. Schatz said that an assessment of the facility made it imminently clear the existing library is too small to meet the current and anticipated needs of this community. He explained that the current building is still in good condition but has many deficiencies in terms of ADA accessibility, staff workspace, and seismic guideline compliance. He advised that the building's foundations are not sized to support a second floor addition; mechanical and electrical systems should be replaced to meet current code requirements and green building standards; all windows should be replaced to provide better thermal breaks, light, and heat reflection; and an expansion of the scope that is proposed would require relocation of a sanitary line. He discussed the new designs features, program offerings, and technological opportunities. City Council Minutes Page 4 of 9 October 6, 2009