Agenda - 10-20-2015 - 6a - Minutes

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14 1 2 8. Reports 3 4 a. Southern Branch Library Siting Criteria, Process Update 5 The Board considered allowing the Manager to initiate discussions with the Carrboro 6 Town Manager on property acquisition options for the 203 S. Greensboro Street property. 7 Bonnie Hammersley said due to complications with the Butler property in early 2015, 8 staff reevaluated the list of possible sites. She said all sites have been reviewed and one site 9 does meet all the criteria. She said staff is recommending that this property be considered and 10 allow the County Manager to negotiate discussions with the Town Manager since it is a 11 Carrboro owned town property. She said she has been meeting in parallel discussions with the 12 Carrboro Arts and Innovation Center (CAIC). 13 Jeff Thompson gave an illustration of the properties. 14 Commissioner Rich said the 203 Greensboro Street property and the parking lot are well 15 utilized and asked if Carrboro is willing to give that site up. 16 Jeff Thompson said yes. 17 Commissioner Rich asked if the plan is to build a freestanding building. 18 Jeff Thompson said yes. 19 Commissioner Rich asked if there is a plan to keep people from parking in the new 20 library parking lot. 21 Jeff Thompson said that could be addressed in discussions. 22 Commissioner Rich said she would like to have this information early on. 23 Bonnie Hammersley said she has had discussions with the Town Manager, and she said 24 there is a belief that the Town and County can partner together to increase the parking for both 25 the library and the community. 26 Commissioner Rich said she wanted to be cautious moving forward regarding the 27 parking issue. 28 Commissioner Dorosin said after the Board meeting in June, there were other sites 29 mentioned, much to the dismay of Carrboro. He asked if there was an update from the 30 Manager as to how the situation was resolved. 31 Bonnie Hammersley said in June that there was concern from Carrboro that the 32 County's priorities were leaning toward the CAIC. She said since then there were 33 conversations among staff and elected leaders to make amends, and she said the County is 34 keeping Carrboro as informed as possible. She said it was first thought that two sites would be 35 proposed, but after great review it was determined that only one site was a viable option. She 36 said the Town was informed about this process as it went along. 37 Chair McKee said some of the concern stemmed from the addition of sites that the 38 Town was not expecting, and once this was clarified to the Town, these concerns were 39 alleviated. He said the Town would be clearly communicated with moving forward. 40 Commissioner Price clarified that the Town put forth this site as a possible option and 41 said she liked this property. 42 Commissioner Jacobs asked Bonnie Hammersley if the property would be given free of 43 charge. 44 Bonnie Hammersley responded that those discussions would be taking place with the 45 Town Manager. 46 Commissioner Rich asked if the plan is to build a freestanding library, or if there is a 47 possibility for a multi-story, multi-purpose building. She said the property is a prime location 48 and using it to its fullest extent seems wise.