City council members submitted a total of 49 questions about the proposed library expansion. Mayor Ardis collected them and submitted them to the Peoria Public Library Board and expects them to answer them all in writing by next Friday, June 6. The council will then discuss the answers during the June 10 council meeting.
Sadly, there’s no indication which council members asked which questions. Some of the questions are completely irrelevant (e.g.,”Whatever happened to the library at Main and University?”, “Why were the libraries closed the weekend that the high schools had finals?”). Others are designed to call the library referendum into question (e.g., “What percent of the 70% of people that voted for the new library system understand your full plan?”). Some are just idiotic (e.g., “If the downtown museum is successful, would it be possible to position the downtown library at that location?”). There are good questions, too, but I’ll bet almost all of them could have been answered by Gary Sandberg if any of the council members had bothered to contact him.
Below is the cover letter from the mayor. The questions can be seen by clicking the “Read the rest of this entry” link that follows.
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
Jim Ardis
MayorMay 30, 2008
TO: Library Board & Director
FROM: Peoria City Council
RE: Questions regarding Library Operations and ExpansionsPlease find the attached questions submitted by members of the Council. Note that all members were asked to submit questions for clarification from your report or possibly some information not included in your report.
We would like to emphasize that this process should not be viewed as second-guessing your work to this point. Our collective goal is to understand your thought process and recommendations and discuss how we can incorporate them into a plan for enhanced library services that can be done within a realistic budget. Every single person on our Council supports strong libraries.
Make no mistake; we feel compromise will have to happen if we are going to move forward. Otherwise we would have approved what you submitted to us 10 days before the decision was to be made. Please acknowledge that the questions attached should be viewed as a starting point and based on your response, will likely generate additional questions. We would like to think good communication will accelerate this process and get us to a point where we can focus on what we can both agree on going forward. We are very confident that Councilman Spears will be able to do an outstanding job as our liaison.
We would like to request that a written response be provided to the Council by 5pm on Friday, June 6th. In addition, we would like to place an agenda item at the June 10 meeting to discuss these questions and answers publicly. There will be no vote taken at that meeting regarding the issuance of bonds. Please advise the City Manager of your ability to provide the written response to these questions and your willingness to participate in Council discussion as outlined.
Thank you for helping us answer these very important questions that were not clear to this point. This due diligence is very important to the decision making process. Have a nice weekend.
Jim Ardis
Mayor
1.Has the historical significance of Lincoln been fully vetted? Will the addition comply with historical standards for materials, design etc?
2. Farnsworth is a leader in LEED design. Has sustainability and “green” design been considered for any location and if so to what extent? (Looking for detail here.)
3. What is the resistance to considering a consolidated northern branch?
4. You are adding 15k+ square feet to Lakeview (approximately 126% increase in total sq ft), adding no headcount (12.6 FTE) and reducing your operating expenses by 100k per year (-11+%). How is that possible?
5. Can you provide a 5 year look at operating expenses at Lakeview?
6. Has the Lakeview Museum location been considered and if not feasible,why? Next door 37k+sq ft. Cooling, heating, windows would need to be replaced; other obstacles?
7. What is the objection to doing a phased in approach (ex. Lincoln)…rather than 14k immediately, build out in sections of 5k as conditions and usage warrant further investment?
8. Can we secure historical and forward pro formas for operating expenses by branch and rolled up?
9. Can you explain the process for determining that we will be able to hold millage for 5 years and provide backup financial data to support this position?
10. How does the choice of Northern locations make our city more walkable or pedestrian friendly?
11. Has the HOPC had any input or provided any opinion on the designs and or locations?
12. What are the specific technological upgrades and/or additions that are planned?
13. Given the dramatic economic changes since the referendum, will you consider one branch for the northern section of the City?
14. What ever happened to the library at Main and University?
15. What ever happened to the library on Griswold?
16. Who was the councilman that put more money in the budget for more computers in the libraries?
17. Why were the libraries closed the weekend that the high schools had finals?
18. Why do all other libraries districts locate next to a school (Dunlap, Peoria Heights, Bartonville…..)?
19. If 70% want the new library system and 30% do not, what would you cut out if the council only approve 70% of the money? (what are your priorities and why?)
20. Why did you not let the public talk at the public hearing?
21. What percent of the 70% of people that voted for the new library system understand your full plan?
22. After closing two libraries and adding on to one Lincoln library do you think more children will be using the Lincoln library?
23. The South Side library has children waiting in line to use the computers. What will happen when you close down the South Side branch?
24. The bookmobile is going to take the place of the libraries in the south side that you are closing down. How will this give the children more time in a library and more computer time?
25. If you do not locate the new northern branch in a neighborhood what is the difference driving 5 or 10 minutes?
26. Are there any other studies you’re aware of that use the 5 minute drive time criteria for libraries? If so, please provide.
27. Why worry about location? Shouldn’t we be looking at what we can do to make the library building the best possible that it can be and a place that it will be highest and best use?
28. What interest rate are you using for an assumption on the bonds?
29. RE: Matrix Regarding Greenfield sights. Why were the following questions criteria not asked?
utilities at site extensiveness of earthmoving for site availability of fiber optic to site or cost to get it there request for donation of property from property owner30. RE: Question #4 Medina Plains Matrix (pg. 66).
a. Direct visual line from Rt.6 in both directions????
b. Site has a controlled intersection at Allen and Townline. Report says it doesn’t have a signalized light.31. RE: Question #9. Site does have current stormwater utilities.
32. Cost over runs are a problem nationwide. Your time line shows by the end of 2009, 3 of the libraries will be under construction. If you miss your estimates and overrun your projects, how will you make up the shortfall?
33. As of the council meeting on 5/27, how many board members had actually visited all of the proposed sites?
34. Identify your processes and procedures to prevent cost over-runs and staying on budget.
35. How will users of Harrison branch get to Lincoln Branch almost 2 miles away?
36. Is there a bus route to Sud’s sight? Festival Foods? Medina?
37. Was any consideration given to a possible sight at ICC North?
38. Your own statistics are showing a decline in over all numbers of people who use libraries. Do you believe this trend will change? Explain.
39. Have you considered a virtual library where all functions and resources would be done on-line? Was the board aware that this year Amazon introduced a wireless system where you can access and listen to over 100,000 different book titles?
40. What is the relationship with libraries in Peoria Heights, Bartonville, Dunlap and other neighboring communities? Are we able to check out books from their libraries with a Peoria card and vice-versa?
41. Were the librarians and high school teachers polled to determine what their needs were now and what they anticipated in the future?
42. Statement: A final site selection needs to be completed before any bond issuance. A preferred site should be secured with a contract contingent upon the Council’s issuance of bonds.
43. Under our current library configuration, the Lakeview branch is the most frequently used library in Peoria. The construction of a new northern branch will undoubtedly change the current traffic and usage patterns at Lakeview. Please justify the proposed 15,000 sf expansion at Lakeview at a cost of $7M. Library officials have cited research showing no changes will occur in the usage characteristics at Lakeview following the construction of the northern branch. Please make this research available to the Council.
44. Could the proposed Lakeview expansion be considered a Second Phase and not included within this bond issuance?
45. If the downtown museum is successful, could Lakeview Library relocate to Lakeview Museum if an expansion is still necessary after the new northern branch is constructed? Please provide engineering data that describes the issues related to moving the library into the museum facility. (similar to #6)
46. If the downtown museum is successful, would it be possible to position the downtown library at that location? It seems the synergy with the museum components would lend itself to increased usage and avail the current downtown library for other potential users.
47. Please provide drive-time data between the various northern branch sites, including Sud’s, Northpoint, Expo Gardens/Richwoods, and the current Lakeview Museum.
48. Recognizing that the City’s goal for fire service response is 4 minutes, please indicate to the Council the importance of having 5 minute drive-times to and from libraries. How was the number arrived at? (similar to # 26)
49. Please describe the incorporation of new urbanism principles within the libraries located within the Heart of Peoria – particularly the Main branch because of its downtown location.
How does the Council know what to compromise on? The citizens that voted in favor of the referendum voted on a “package” of improvements. As a taxpayer, I want a North branch library and that is why I voted “yes.” It seems unfair to have taxpayers vote in favor of something and then completely change it, because that is not what was presented to the voters.
Also, those in favor of library enhancements wish to see those improvements sooner than later and the library seems like it is moving swiftly and thoroughly on the matter, pending City Council approval. I think projects the public is initially enthused and supportive of become tainted in their eyes because they drag on so long without approval and there are endless hidden agendas, i.e., trying to do away with the strip club out North.
I would not even think eminent domain would be possible given the developed and undeveloped property that is available out North – how could the City make the argument that Elliott’s is the place where the new library must be located given all the other options??
Finally, my family, including my two pre-teen daughters, live out North and are always driving past Elliott’s. I was not thrilled about Elliott’s locating on N. University but really, it doesn’t seem to have amounted to all that much. It is always quiet there when I am driving past. I hate to see limited tax dollars being used to fight something that has not turned out to be that much of a nuisance. Elliott’s should be granted a liquor license and in turn if that results in problems at that location, then the City will have to deal with it like any other business that services liquor.
You don’t need a crystal ball to see where this is headed. It’s not a question of if, but rather how much the proposal will be cut prior to approval.
It’s appropriate that some of these questions be asked but unfortunate this unfolded in such a typically dysfunctional way.
Looks like the new library is going the way of the museum – voters vote, politicians politic. I guess I don’t understand the hierarchy. Who exactly outranks who?
I am surprised none of those questions were to put a library along the existing Rock Island trail. You know how great a commercial success it has been so far.
Deebie… do you really need to ask… ?
The Rulers are the rulers because they are the rulers and only the rulers can rule.
The taxpayers are the taxpayers because they pay the taxes and only the taxpayers can pay taxes.
The former group is the parasite of the latter group, but the former group believes the latter group is the parasite. THAT is the hierarchical dynamic.
The library could buy adult fiction for a fraction of the cost if they would wait for a year after publication to purchase. Why not wait? Fiction is not like a brain surgery manual that might be obsolete in a year.
RE Paul O’Donnell
You present an interesting point. However, PPL buys adult fiction when the books are newly released to attract patrons. That would be like Barnes & Noble not getting a new release until it had been out for a year.
Re Tim
If the purpose of the library bond issue is to attract patrons, ask the voters if they want $35 million more in library services or $35 million knocked off their cable bill. I bet the cable bill reduction would attract more people.
The point of Barnes & Noble is to make a profit. I thought the point of the library is to educate and if they also want to entertain,I think that part should be done as inexpensively as possible, if at all.
“40. What is the relationship with libraries in Peoria Heights, Bartonville, Dunlap and other neighboring communities? Are we able to check out books from their libraries with a Peoria card and vice-versa?”
Anyone who pays attention or has ever checked out a book would know that if the library belongs to the Alliance Library System, you can check out a book using your PPL library card or vice versa.
I won’t repeat the remainder of the “dumb questions” because CJ took care of that.
And RE Paul… I agree, libraries are more intended to educate and less to entertain. But, as the patrons get younger, they also want to be entertained. I know I’ve mentioned to co-workers that PPL has alot of new release DVDs… not only does that help the patrons save money by not having to pay to rent them, it also gets them in the libraries and gets them introduced to the periodicals, research materials and the number of programs PPL offers at all of its branches. Something tells me that you’re not a librarian and I’m not a librarian. There are alot of new trends in library programming & services that we may not be aware of. That’s what PPL is trying to do… offer the same programming & services that libraries in larger cities are offering.
Who has a #35 million cable bill?
“If the purpose of the library bond issue is to attract patrons, ask the voters if they want $35 million more in library services or $35 million knocked off their cable bill. I bet the cable bill reduction would attract more people.”
The result of a bond issue is an increase in property taxes. Ask voters if they’d like an increase in property taxes in knock $35 million off their cable bill. So – who has a a $35 million cable bill? In this example given, you’d pay the increase in taxes to pay less of a cable bill. Everyone doesn’t have a cable bill. But it’s clear that everyone, including half of the city council and Merle Widmer, doesn’t see the point of a public library.
For me, an extra 50 dollars a year for access to all that the libraries have to offer is a bargain.
Re who has a $35 million cable bill
The $35 million bond issue, to be paid back over 20 years, is proposed for improved library services. Not everyone uses the library. I’m saying that given a choice the electorate might prefer improved selection/reduced rate cable service-collectively-for their 35 large. Maybe they would prefer free polka lessons more than anything else. I don’t know, but if you are over-spending for adult fiction to attract users, over-spending for computers to attract users, and over-spending on DVDs to attract users, perhaps the bond issue isn’t in the best interest of the users.
Pardon me, but I don’t understand why the City is involved at all. Why doesn’t the library issue their own bonds? And if this scandal doesn’t lead to the resignation of somebody on the council, this town is in even worse shape than I thought.
Mouse: what scandal are you tlking about? So far, you have unnamed people allegedly saying something to someone who has not confirmed whether they said anything at like like Gary said they did.
wacko, the PJS even admits that the Library Board discussed it. How much more confirmation do you need? If they lack the honor to come forward, we need an investigation to determine who the three “unnamed” council members were. Notice Nichting did not deny the speculation that he was one of them.
I am sorry but most of these questions aren’t even related to the issue at hand. If anyone would have attended the public meetings they would have been able to obtain answers to the questions that do pertain to the library expansion. Anyone and everyone was encouraged to ask questions or make their thoughts known at all the meetings. Too bad some of the council members didn’t think it was important to attend any of the meetings offered to them. It seems that a of the council members would benefit from visiting our local libraries to obtain a better knowledge of the English language and how to put a sentence together properly.
$50 additional in property taxes is a small amount to pay for improving our community and the services available to our children and families. Most people waste $50 a week on liquor, cigarettes or fast food. $50 a year seems a small price to pay for improving our libraries.