CC_Minutes_2007_0917 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

City Council Study Session Monday, September 17, 2007 Page 3 County to hire MS & R Architects to assist in developing a schematic design for Phase II; ongoing communication with neighbors and pa- trons to address their comments and concerns during the design proc- ess. Ms. Nemitz advised that the Library Board had approved concep- tual design plans in March of this year. Mr. Norrgard noted that the Roseville Library is the busiest public li- brary in the State of Minnesota, with data suggesting that in excess of 200 people enter the building hourly when it's open. Mr. Norrgard further noted that the facility was built to handle circulation of one million items, but was consistently over 1.6 million items; and advised that it was crucial to the Library Board that the access and functional- ity of the Roseville facility be enhanced. Ms. Nemitz noted that existing women's restroom facilities were in- sufficient for the library, as well as the adjoining Dunn Brothers cof- fee shop. Ms. Nemitz noted that when the building was erected in 1992, footings were installed sufficient to accommodate a second story, and that was the intent of Phase II, fora 30,000 square foot ex- pansion, and an additional 130 parking spaces. Mr. Norrgard noted that additional parking would serve both sides of the library for better access, with green space added to the south side to allow more of a barrier between neighbors and the library, and to facilitate a requested outside children's area, accessible from inside the library only. Mr. Norrgard advised that the visualization didn't re- flect actual exterior materials at this time; noted the intent to reorient the front of the library to Hamline, with parking on the north and south; a three story building in back, with one story at the front. Ms. Nemitz reviewed cost estimates in conjunction with Ramsey County's analysis for square footage costs; furnishing and equipment needs and costs; $1.2 allotted for an automated handling system for sorting books into bins or onto carts, all in an effort to reduce future staffing costs and allow staff to better serve customers where they're needed. Ms. Nemitz reviewed the assets of the proposed Radio Fre- quency Identification Detector (RFID) to better control inventory and functionality of the system.