HomeMy WebLinkAboutRDA LIBRARY STUDY 04-04-94/ RDA NO. 4
4-4-94
·
DATE:
APRIL 4, 1994
Inter-Com
TO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
FROM: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: LIBRARY STUDY
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the Agency authorize the Assistant City Manager
to prepare a Request for Proposals for approval by the
Redevelopment Agency to study the City's options concerning the
renovation of the existing library, construction of a new library
and provision of library services and recommend an action plan for
upgrading library services for City's residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The actual cost of the study will not be known until proposals have
been received and analyzed and a contract negotiated. The Agency
will approve the final cost when it approves the contract.
DISCUSSION
There is considerable discussion in the community concerning the
current status of the County Library located in the Town Center
Project Area. This discussion ranges from concern about the
current level of services at the existing County operated library
to proposals to renovate the existing library or to build a new
library in coordination with the school district. Further, some
Orange County cities, most notably the City of Mission Viejo, are
considering opting out of the County Library System and developing
their own library.
The County is undertaking its own review concerning funding and
level of library services in the branches it operates. In the
shift of the property tax approved by the Legislature and Governor
last June, the County system lost 34% of its funding. In r~sponse
to this, the Board of Supervisors is appointing a task force to
review options for the County's system. The Board is anticipating
receiving recommendations from this Task Force by June in time for
their budget considerations for the next fiscal year.
Staff have met with the School District to review their recommended
approach and have begun contacting other communities who have
Redevelopment Agency Report
Library Study
April 4, 1994
Page 2
undertaken library construction or library service reviews. Based
on efforts to date, there are significant technical issues and a
variety of approaches the City might take concerning any study of
the County's existing Library. Staff believes that a thorough
review of these issues, as well as an analysis of their costs and
benefits to the Redevelopment Agency, the City and its residents is
needed before specific recommendations can be made to the
Redevelopment Agency and City Council for action. To this end, the
staff recommends that the Redevelopment Agency authorize the staff
to prepare and return to the Agency a request for proposals for
consulting services to undertake this study.
If the Agency approves this recommendation, staff will return
shortly with a Request for Proposals for Agency approval.
Christine A. ~
Assistant City Manager
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