A floor plan of the 60-percent expansion preferred by Sitkans at the meeting.
Despite a promising budget picture, Sitkans are opting for a smaller library expansion than originally envisioned. At a planning meeting this week (Wed 5-2-12), residents overwhelmingly favored increasing the size of the local library by only 60-percent, even though the state might foot all or part of the bill for something bigger.
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Around 40 people attended the meeting, which featured a presentation from Juneau architect Paul Voelckers.
Voelckers showed residents four different floor plans for the library remodel, representing an increase in size from 30- to 80-percent.
Public Works director Michael Harmon told the group that participation in the state’s funding pool for libraries was critical. The pool will pay half of the cost of the project – if it is at least a 30-percent increase in size.
He said participating in the state library program actually made expanding the library more attractive than doing nothing. Just to maintain the current building, Harmon said, will take over $2-million in repairs.
“It’s pretty substantial. The remodels you would do on the roof, windows, insulation, and lighting, and all the things you’re going to have to do to that building no matter what, with all our own funding if we pass up the state funding. That’s a huge deal for the community when we rely heavily on outside funding for our infrastructure.”
Bringing in state support was his “dog in the fight,” said Harmon.
The question before the public Wednesday was – with the state throwing in half the cost – how big to go.
Last fall, a feasibility group convened to imagine Sitka’s ideal library, given the size and use of the collection, and the changing role of the building as technology center, and civic space. The process, guided by the non-profit Foraker Group, resulted in a proposal for an 80-percent expansion of Kettleson, in an all-new building.
That proposal, called the “Foraker plan,” did not have many fans Wednesday night. A large majority of those present preferred going smaller, and designing the addition to blend with the existing structure.
Architect Voelckers did not advocate for any particular plan, but he tilted toward 60-percent by finding some fault with his own concept for the larger floor plan.
“My personal sense is that the 80-percent with the renovation is feeling a little fussier in terms of some of the interior flow of spaces.”
Voelckers also had reservations about the 30-percent proposal, mainly because it would connect into existing mechanical systems in the building. The larger expansions would require replacing all those systems. Voelckers thought that made sense.
“There’s no point in doing a massive expansion, spending millions of dollars, and not essentially set it back to a new building. You’d be doing yourself a disservice.”
Harmon and municipal engineer Stephen Weatherman also ran through their “due diligence” figures. They showed financial projections for building an all-new library at other locations in Sitka, like the old city shops or the turnaround, and all were significantly more expensive – even with state matching funds — than doing a major renovation on the existing site.
Even though the alternative locations were hypothetical, many in the audience bristled even at the idea that Kettleson would move.
The audience also expressed dissatisfaction with a hypothetical at the other end of the spectrum: keeping Kettleson just the way it is.
Cheryl Pearson is a former director of the library.
“If the decision is to do nothing, then 10, 15, 20 years from now a new library is going to have to be built, or something will have to be done, and the cost will be so much higher. If you look at what it cost to build the fire station: You couldn’t build nearly as much now with the same amount of money. I think that’s an important factor.”
The meeting organizers handed out red stickers to the audience, with instructions to place two stickers on a first choice plan, and one sticker on a second choice. Participants placed a total of 41 stickers on the 60-percent plan. The runner up was the 80-percent Foraker plan with 10 stickers.
Lynnda Strong was one of the people putting stickers on the 60-percent plan.
“Too bad we didn’t have even more people. But I think it’s important that the public get involved with this because this is the public library. And I think they really need to have input from both adults and kids.”
The next step is up to the governor. The total cost of the 60-percent library expansion is estimated to be about $6.6 million. The state capital budget has $5.7 million listed for Sitka’s library – a direct appropriation, and not part of the state’s library matching fund.
If the appropriation escapes a governor’s veto, Sitka would have to raise just under $1-million of its own money to get the project rolling.
If the appropriation is vetoed, Harmon says the city will apply for a fifty-percent match out of the state library fund.
In either case, Harmon says his department will hold further public meetings to finalize a plan and funding strategy.
