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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL September 13, 2010 14 8.A. Review and Discuss Library Proposal (continued) Councilmember Holmes stated the County Board is made up of elected officials and they should listen to the residents. She stated she had talked with Tony Bennett and he is not excited about the proposed location options. The City Council needs to represent its residents and stand up to the County and fight for what the residents want. The repairs to the current building are equivalent in cost to the construction costs for the other locations. The other locations only have a twenty-year lease and this is not long enough to justify the investment. Councilmember Grant stated the library is an asset to the community. It would not hurt to ask the Library Board and the County to consider leaving the library in its current location. The direction the Library Board was given was to move fast on this project to cut operating costs. There are a lot of things the City has fought for on behalf of the residents and this should be one of them. Mayor Harpstead stated the City would need to evaluate trade offs with a new location for a library. The most efficient locations for libraries are in high density areas with connectivity via trails, roads, and transit systems. The City also needs to keep in mind the changing demographics of the City and Presbyterian Homes may be a better choice for the future. The Council needs to think about the long term in deciding on what would be a good location for a library. Councilmember Holmes stated the Council needed to decide if they are willing to support the Presbyterian Homes location and give TIF to support this. Mayor Harpstead stated Presbyterian Homes would be requesting TIF from the City regardless of the library decision. The redevelopment plan and the amount of the TIF request would be different if the City does not support a library in this location. Councilmember Holden suggested the City send a letter to the County Commissioners and let them know the City was not supportive of relocating the library and felt the options presented by the County had some drawbacks. The City could request the process slow down so that a more suitable site can be located. Councilmember Grant stated the County Board is rushing forward and it may be to their advantage to wait to find out about the development of TCAAP and the northwest quadrant of the City. He agreed the City should have a library and the Council should fight for this for the residents. Councilmember McClung stated the City should have been fighting to keep the library in its current location six months ago. It is late in the process at this time since the Library Board is requesting a letter of support for one of the options presented. Councilmember Holden stated she has been fighting the closing of the Arden Hills Library for a long time and has attended Library Board meetings and County Commissioner meetings to express these concerns.