1994-08-04 Special CC MinutesMINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF ALAMEDA CITY COUNCIL
AUGUST 4, 1994
The meeting convened at 7:30 p.m. with President Withrow presiding.
ROLL CALL -
Present: Councilmembers Appezzato, Lucas, Roth and
President Withrow - 4.
Absent: Councilman Arnerich - 1.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Vice Mayor Roth.
94-458 Report from President, Alameda Free Library Board,
transmitting Carnegie Expansion Feasibility Study (including
architects' presentation). (Library Board)
Archie Waterbury, President, Library Board, stated the upgrade
study should be ready in November; the Board reviewed the
feasibility and found both sites meet their standards and the size
and costs of sites are comparable; and recommends Council make
determination between the two.
The City Manager stated that the architectural firm of Bull
Stockwell Allen & Ripley will provide comparison numbers and
programs between the Linoaks site and the site adjacent to the
Carnegie Library; Council may wish to postpone a decision until
another time; the City will be proceeding with a design on the
Carnegie Building, because plans must be completed by November for
unreinforced masonry buildings; and if Alameda wants to be
competitive in any State Bond Act grant applications, if approved
in November, a decision must be made fairly soon.
Cynthia Ripley, Principal, Bull Stockwell Alien and Ripley,
introduced: Dan Kallenbach, Project Designer; Mark Schatz, Project
Manager, representing the same firm; Jay Turnbull, Page and
Turnbull, Historic Consultant; and Gloria Stockton, Library
Consultant, who works directly for the City and has been reviewing
architects' work and commenting on behalf of the Library as to the
adequacy of plans on the Carnegie site; and stated that she
[Ripley] and Messrs. Schatz and Turnbull would give the
presentation.
Mr. Schatz addressed the scope and findings of the study; Mr.
Turnbull explained the historic upgrade of the building; and Ms.
Ripley explained and clarified the drawings on display.
President Withrow stated the report and briefing are excellent.
Responding to inquiry by President Withrow, Ms. Ripley explained
the design of a building is a 5-phase project, the Carnegie has
Special Meeting, Alameda City Council
August 4, 1994
been given a briefer look than the Linoaks; enough study has been
done [on the Carnegie] to know that all the basic structural
systems will work; and the conditions of the foundation, and space
required by the Library can be accommodated on the site.
Councilmember Lucas noted the fact pointed out that if the decision
was made to go with the Linoaks, the cost of the seismic work on
the Carnegie, about $3,000,000, would still be needed.
Ms. Ripley confirmed for Councilmember Appezzato that the site next
to the Carnegie on Santa Clara is strictly for parking purposes;
and added that one of the goals in the study was to allow phasing
the acquisition of that site, and the alternatives reflect the
possibility of developing the project without the property
acquisition, however it would be a much more satisfactory project
with it.
Councilmember Appezzato noted if the site is not needed, [the
project] would be a million dollars less.
Vice Mayor Roth stated it is unfair to say that if the Linoaks is
used, $3,000,000 must be spent on the Carnegie, because that
depends upon what is in there; and inquired concerning
rehabilitation and attendant cost.
Ms. Ripley replied the firm's interest is not to promote one site
or another, but only to help the City make its decision and obtain
a library; and stated that the library could stay in the Carnegie
building during renovation; however the construction period would
take longer, and that probably would take more money than simply
relocating into a temporary building.
Reverend Wilfred Hodgkins, Alameda, stated retaining the Carnegie
as a library and adding parking and other facilities is excellent;
City Hall and Carnegie building were built near the turn of the
Century and access to the Civic Center Complex should go between
the two buildings; and urged Council's favorable consideration.
Gertrude Woods, Alameda, stated she respects the Carnegie but the
mass behind it would be horrendous; and estimates on rehabilitation
and accommodation are highly suspect.
Josephine Bixler, Alameda, stated she wants a new library and wants
to make sure it accommodates the handicapped; stated the Carnegie
aisles are too small, and she does not believe there is any way to
make the new Carnegie library accessible.
Dora Pierce, Alameda, stated she lives at Anne Diament Plaza, and
would like a place to park in the street; she has great difficulty
bringing in her groceries and would like to know if another space
for the handicapped can be installed in front.
Special Meeting, Alameda City Council
August 4, 1994
President Withrow stated the City Manager will look into the
matter.
Gerhard Degemann, Alameda, stated he believes Mrs. Bixler can be
assured the new library will be 100% accessible; a library needs to
be in our historic Civic Center; a new library on the Naval Air
Station is unthinkable; he would like the Carnegie building
retained as a library, and its character maintained.
Ed Cooney, Alameda, Chair, Mayor's Committee for the Disabled,
stated his observations are from one who has lived a lifetime with
reality of disability and public perception; the feasibility study
is based on perception; our mission is high quality public library
service; in the meantime, accessibility should not cost anything;
we should be sure plans meet goals of free service and free access
to citizens.
Tony Daysog, Alameda, stated all issues should be looked at; people
can telephone and tap into books online; in 10 years, the issue of
space will not be as important, and the issue of the emerging
nature of the library should be considered.
Dave Plummer, Alameda, stated the architects have done an excellent
job; the cost of the rehabilitation of the Carnegie ten years ago
was reported to be about $300,000, and 3 years ago - $1,200,000 so
there is a need to move quickly; he agreed with Mr. Daysog
concerning technology and smaller accommodating buildings; and
stated perhaps we should think about scaling down, and using
existing properties.
Daniel Corcoran, Alameda, stated the City often procrastinates; his
point is that something should be done now; making it possible for
disabled to get into the main part of the library so business could
be done from that point, would be good.
Michael Hellman, Alameda, addressed access for the disabled, and
reviewed certain aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA), including some solutions to problems.
President Withrow stated he considers the accessibility of a
building and the aspects that lead to it, to be a part of the
feasibility, and an issue.
Herb Walt Severns, Alameda, stated the information superhighway is
here; and if College of Alameda could allow us [citizens] to take
books out, we could downsize our library.
Wil Garfinkle, Alameda, questioned need of so many parking spaces
unless staff parking is included; stated library addition can well
be designed around, and conform to, the historic facility; access
for disabled should be provided now; and if the library moves to
Special Meting, Alameda City Council
August 4, 1994
Linoaks, the Carnegie must still be retrofitted.
President Withrow noted one issue for clarification, that access to
the Carnegie facility, he assumes, is not an issue members of
Council can discuss.
The Assistant City Attorney confirmed that it is not to be
discussed, as it is not agendized.
In response to Councilmember Lucas, Mr. Turnbull discussed the
value to the community of a historic building, as opposed to a new
facility.
Councilmember Appezzato stated Carnegie building and City Hall are
landmarks, and, when rehabilitated, will be cornerstones of
revitalizing Civic Center; he is inclined to support the
rehabilitation of the Carnegie building as a Library, and if that
is not done, he is inclined to rehab it for some other use,
discussed the parking garage and costs involved; stated if proposed
parking structure with retail outlets along the perimeter is built,
an underground garage at the Carnegie would not be needed, nor the
purchase of Santa Clara property [adjacent to the Carnegie] and the
cost of building the Library from $17,000,000 to about $13,400,000;
noted the Linoaks is bringing revenue into the City, and can become
a senior center or some type of housing complex beneficial to the
City, or be sold and the money used to help rehabilitate the
Carnegie Building.
Vice Mayor Roth stated Councilmember Appezzato has a point
concerning the garage and the Santa Clara property; what concerns
him is that the City has a grant application in Sacramento and if
the bond issue passes in November, the City is likely to receive a
significant amount of funds for the Linoaks; he will not vote for
either [site] tonight because more time should be allowed for
citizen input and to consider some of the items presented by
Councilmember Appezzato; he will support tabling the matter, and
have it come back on the agenda later, preferably after the
November election, to see what the State does.
Responding to Councilmember Lucas, the City Manager explained the
background of the grant application, noting the application
concerning the Linoaks site is with the State for their approval;
and six months preparation time is needed to develop the plans and
application if Council decides to go forward with the Carnegie
site.
Councilmember Appezzato stated this is a world class city and we
need a world class library; he moved to allow the City Manager to
proceed with plans for the Carnegie building for bond money; stated
the parking garage can be agendized later but he would like a brief
comment from the Library Board, in the near future, if they are
Special Meeting, Alameda City Council
August 4, 1994
willing to support a bond issue, if in fact all else fails; he is
prepared to send it to the people for a vote, if necessary.
Councilmember Lucas agreed with moving on this issue and treating
the parking separately and that being on a busline reduces need of
parking to some extent; and reducing costs to $13,000,000 would
increase chance of funding in Sacramento.
Vice Mayor Roth stated he is asking to hold off and get some
answers; if parking is eliminated, that may violate our own laws;
and that needs to be looked at; questions need to be answered and
the public needs to know what Council is talking about.
Councilmember Appezzato clarified his motion is that he will delay
a site specific selection; he is prepared to vote very soon on the
Carnegie site; his motion is to direct the City Manager to prepare
the necessary paperwork to support the bond issue and not delay
that; perhaps parking garage should be agendized soon; and before
Council picks the site, he would like the recommendation from the
Library Board whether they will support going to the voters with a
bond issue to build a Library.
Responding to President Withrow's request for clarification,
Councilmember Appezzato stated if we fail to get the [grant], then
maybe we take the matter to the voters in November, 1995.
The City Manager in response to President Withrow, stated a lot of
competing interest exists in the lot relating to the proposed
parking structure, the Alameda Theater, Longs, the Video Store;
perhaps we would need to show how we could incorporate the need of
parking for the library in this structure and still preserve the
integrity of the application for the library grant in one package;
so possibly in two or three weeks staff could bring back
information and allow people additional time for review.
Councilmember Appezzato re-phrased his motion, stating: first, the
City Manager move forward on plans for the Carnegie site as our new
library, in order to meet the requirements of the bond issue the
State is preparing; 2) we adjust the parking garage [proposal) on
Longs' [site] because if six movie screens are placed in the old
theater, some parking will be needed; we look at the parking garage
as a possibility to reduce the cost of the Carnegie by $2.5 to $3
million; and we ask the Library Board to provide a recommendation,
soon, on a ballot initiative to pay for the Library, even if the
State does not.
Councilmember Lucas seconded the motion.
President Withrow stated he would like to add, that when staff
comes back, some of the questions Council raised tonight be
addressed, for example, the mass of the structure, library science
Special Meeting, Alameda City Council
August 4, 1994
and delivery of library services in terms of projected and
alternate plans; he stated, given druthers between the plan for the
Linoaks and this plan, there is no question but that the City would
benefit by having the Library at a historical site and having a
Civic Center focused around some history, and retaining history;
another item is the issue of the seismic upgrade, what are we
getting when we seismically upgrade; the risk of a seismic upgrade,
having an earthquake and losing our $13- or $14,000,000; and
inquired if that could be added to the motion.
Councilmember Appezzato answered affirmatively.
The motion carried by the following voice vote: Ayes:
Councilmembers Appezzato, Lucas, and President Withrow - 3. Nayes:
Vice Mayor Roth - 1. Absent: Councilman Arnerich - 1.
Councilmember Communications
None.
Adiournment
President Withrow adjourned the meeting at 9:35 p.m.
Res ectfully submitted,
DIANE B. B. FELSCH, CMC
City Clerk
The agenda for this meeting was posted in advance in accordance
with the Brown Act.
Special Meeting, Alameda City Council
August 4, 1994