HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005 03 28 Consent 209 Cost of Constructing a Seminole County Branch Library in the Winter Springs Town Center
032805_ COMM _ ConsentJ09 _Library_Study
COMMISSION AGENDA
ITEM 209
Consent X
Informational
Public Hearing
Regular
March 28. 2005
Regular Meeting
Mgr.1--- / Dept.
Authorization
REQUEST: City Manager requesting the City Commission to approve a supplemental
appropriation from General Fund Reserves in the amount of $5,000 to fund preliminary
design and cost studies related to the potential construction of a Seminole County Branch
Library in the Winter Springs Town Center.
PURPOSE:
This agenda item is needed to develop information relative to the City's potential portion of the
cost of constructing a Seminole County Branch Library in the Winter Springs Town Center.
CONSIDERATIONS:
At the March 14, 2005 City Commission meeting County Commissioner Randy Morris made a
presentation on a probable referendum on the question of expanding the County Library System
that would construct a 40,000 square foot branch library in Winter Springs. The City has long
recommended construction of the library in the Town Center as a civic focal point and economic
generator for the Town Center.
Surprisingly, Commissioner Morris suggested that it was his desire to have each community
getting a new or expanded library to donate the land for the new facility. He also appeared to
indicate that Winter Springs should be prepared to fund any extraordinary cost associated with
locating the library in the Town Center.
These comments do not appear to make sense for the following reasons:
1. How would it appear if we were to ask the residents of Winter Springs to pass two
library referendums, a county-wide referendum to build libraries, and a City
referendum to buy the land for the library? This will all but assure failure of the
referendum.
032805_ COMM_ Consent_ 209 _Library_Study
2. Why should the City have to pay any additional funds related to locating a library in
the Town Center? County staff has already recognized that land is going to be at a
premium in each city.
3. The County spends millions of dollars in economic incentive programs for economic
development projects in other cities. The Town Center is our City's economic
development project. Why wouldn't they be willing to make a contribution to the
success of the Town Center through construction of the library in the Town Center,
even though it may result in some difference in cost as compared to the other
locations?
The only significant cost that I can think of is the need for structured parking if that may be
needed, and I underscore "may", which as yet, has not been determined.
In order to prepare ourselves for these eventualities we need to conduct some preliminary design
studies to determine how much land will be needed in the Town Center to construct the library,
and if any unusual cost will result from construction in the Town Center versus a site located
outside the Town Center, such as structured parking, multi story construction, etc.
FUNDING:
A supplemental appropriation of $5,000 from General Fund Reserves will be needed to fund this
study.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Commission approve a supplemental appropriation of $5,000 to fund
preliminary design and cost studies related to the possible construction of a branch library in the
Town Center, and authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with S.R.I. to perform
the study.
Furthermore, it is recommended that the City Commission authorize the Mayor to notify the
County Commission of its concerns relative to cities being required to fund land acquisition for
the libraries and funding in extraordinary cost associated with the construction of the library in
the Town Center.
ATTACHMENTS: None
COMMISSION ACTION: