CCMIN11152016 - Laserfiche WebLink

Michaela Hertle, Library Commission Member, spoke in favor of the Master Plan and asked the City Council to accept it She noted the need for a bigger library and stated that upon reviewing the Master Plan, the Commission feels that the proposed library will suffice the needs of the City and its residents Concerning the number and size of the proposed classrooms/meeting space, Councilmember Brown asked Ms Hert le if she had reviewed the plan Ms Hertle confirmed she had and felt the plan along with a community room would meet the needs of the community Julie Testa shared comments she has heard from the community including that the proposed architecture is stark and too modern and she agrees, residents deserve an improved library, and felt the current library could be repurposed instead of tearing it down, commented on the lack of a youth center in the Plan, she spoke about Measure P and said the original vision for Bernal did not include a civic center for city office and a police station is was suppose be civic oriented facilities, she addressed the costs and felt desire to keep all city staff together is not a good enough reason to relocate, and spoke in opposition to developing mixed-use residential on the existing site Mayor Thorne closed the public comment Mayor Thorne reiterated that it is unknown what will be done with the existing site and that decision will be made much later in the process Public hearings and commission meetings will be held in determining what to do with it MOTION: It was m/s by Pentin/Brown to direct staff to move forward with the Draft Civic Center/Library Master Plan with the understanding that additional formal public hearings and take steps necessary to place the approval of a change to the Bernal Property Specific Plan on the November 2018 ballot Councilmembers Pentin and Brown commented positively on the work done by the Task Force and staff on this matter Councilmember Narum offered an amendment to the motion to direct staff to look at the school district and a financial analysis if school district offices were to move onto the property Councilmember Pentin stated he will not accept the amendment considering all the work that has been done to date He wondered why this issue was not previously addressed through the Liaison Committee when the Task Force was formed He felt that work should have been done then City Manager Nelson Fialho stated that the City worked ahead of the school district's ability to decide and the City would entertain their involvement, if it makes financial sense, in the future He said they could work independently with the school district and determine if it make financial sense Councilmember Narum withdrew her friendly amendment and thanked the Task Force for their work Mayor Thorne also thanked the Task Force for their work Motion passed by the following vote Ayes Councilmembers Brown, Narum, Pentin, Mayor Thorne Noes None Absent Councilmember Olson City Council Minutes Page 5 of 6 November 15, 2016