St. Albert city council approved an early stage plan for a new branch library, but isn't yet ready to move forward with respect to the library's location. Councillors accepted the branch library conceptual plan for information Oct.
St. Albert city council approved an early stage plan for a new branch library, but isn't yet ready to move forward with respect to the library's location.
Councillors accepted the branch library conceptual plan for information Oct. 3 and approved a postponed motion to update the capital project charter for discussion during budget deliberations this year.
“The conceptual plan represents the feedback received from the community as well as stakeholders,” said Coun. Tim Osborne, who is also a library board member. “I think it represents the changing role of libraries, as well.”
The plan looked at several size options and administration recommended the largest option of 22,000 square feet to meet the library's current needs as well as projected space need over the next 25 years.
The updated project charter will increase the price from a tentative $17 million to a tentative $17.5 million to be spent in 2017 and 2018. Those figures include all consulting and contingencies, but not the land where the library will be located.
The projected operating cost – including all staff, maintenance and programming – would be about $1.3 million per year.
Build St. Albert director Monique St. Louis explained to council the plan reflects the changing role of libraries,
“New libraries put people in gathering places,” she said. “They are transitioning to become a community hub.”
The space would be split to include roughly 20 per cent for collections, 25 per cent for social and study spaces, 25 per cent for programming rooms and a technology centre, and 30 per cent for staff and support spaces.
St. Louis said there are 13 library staff who work off-site of the current premises, and the additional space would mean all employees could be housed within one of the city's two libraries.
Council accepted the report for information, but several councillors raised concerns about cost and specific elements of the project.
Coun. Sheena Hughes expressed concerns about everything from the proposed green roof and the environmental certification to the physical layout of the space and even the shape of the bookshelves.
Coun. Bob Russell said he objected to how much parking space appeared to be in the plan, saying he didn't want the city “to buy a bunch of parking spots.”
St. Louis explained the plan meets the minimum requirements set out by the city's own bylaws.
Coun. Cam MacKay asked about the prospect of building the library as a public-private partnership or by leasing space, which St. Louis said was an option administration had considered. MacKay also questioned who the library was meant to serve.
“The focus from the project charter was on a family focus,” library director Peter Bailey said. “The branch being in the north of St. Albert where a lot of families are, I guess you could say all ages but it certainly includes a lot of children.”
Before the presentation even began, several councillors argued that even discussing the plan was premature until there was more public feedback.
Russell, the only councillor to vote in opposition to receiving the conceptual plan for information, put forward a motion before even hearing the report, arguing council should wait until November to get results from a public survey – especially as one of administration's recommendations had to do with the library's proposed location.
“How can you pick the location if you're not sure where the public will come down on this?” he asked. His motion to postpone the discussion until the first quarter of 2017 – after budget deliberations will have already finished – was defeated 4-3 with only MacKay and Hughes supporting him.
The proposed location of the library – and the cost of the land – is still up in the air.
After going in camera to discuss a confidential administrative report on the library's proposed location, council voted to reject that report's recommendations.
The information in the confidential report entitled “St. Albert Branch Library – Proposed Location” was made private in accordance with several sections of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, including one relating to disclosure harmful to business interests.
Council voted to reject those recommendations 4-3, with Mayor Nolan Crouse, Hughes, MacKay and Russell opposed.
