City Council Study Session Agenda and Packet 2008 04 08

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1990: Moved into the building at 950 Spruce Street, utilizing 10,000 square feet of an existing office and retail space 1994: Expanded approxirnzrtely 3,400 square feet, taking over the entire building at 950 Spruce Street August 7, 2006: Doors opened at the new, 32,500 square feet library building at 951 Spruce Street In 2002, the City contracted with a planning and architectural firm in Denver, Humphries Poli Architects, to conduct a needs assessment for the Library. The results of the study were published in June 2002, and include recommendations by a nationally renowned library-planning consultant, Dick Waters. After determining the library needs, the Louisville City Council decided to place two tax questions (property and sales taxes) on the November 5, 2002 ballot, asking the voters to decide on a $23.1 million recreational and cultural facilities package that included a new library building ($8.2 million), an expanded Recreation anti Senior Center, and an outdoor aquatics facility. Due to various economic and political issues, the voters did not approve the ballot questions (2A and 2B) in November 2002. In the spring of 2003 the City hired the National Research Center (Boulder, CO) to conduct a telephone survey to gauge voter opinion about the Library and the results were presented to City Council at a study session on May 13, 2003. The results of this survey indicated a high level of satisfaction with the quality of life in Louisville and individual neighborhoods. As a follow-up question about quality of life, the survey respondents were asked a series of questions about their support for and opposition to the construcl:ion of a new library building. When asked about the size of the then current facility, two-thirds thought it was too small, a third believed it was just right, and none responded that it was too big. More than 85% of respondents said they would strongly or somewhat support a new library. However, those numbers predictably dropped when the next question included information that the ne`v building would require a new tax, with both strong support dropping and strong opposition increasing. When the third question specifically cited the figure of increasing property taxes by $65 per year on a $300,000 home, respondents strongly in support of a new building did not change their minds, but the strongly opposed sector increased to 19%. The Library Board of Trustees President, Library Director, and library campaign advocates requested a further breakdown of the data and carefully studied the support for varying levels of property tax increases. It was estimated that a $37 increase in property taxes on a $300,000 house was the breaking point that would allow winning support for a tax increase for a new library building. With this information in hand, the City Council placed a new ballot measure before the citizens of Louisville to raise property taxes in order ?to build a new library facility. The measure passed on November 4, 2003 with a 57% voter approval rate. Its successful passage was due in large part to a dedicated and passionate group of library advocates. In early 2004, the City issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for architectural design services, eleven proposals were received, five firms were interviewed, and Humphries Poli Architects was selected to design the new library building and parl~ing structure. The City also issued an RFP for a CMGC (Construction Manager/General Contractor) to build the library and parking garage. Adolfson and Peterson, Inc. was selected after interviews were conducted with four general contractor finalists. 7