HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-12-01 - AGENDA REPORTS - LIBRARY UPDATE (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Heidt & City Council Members
FROM: George Caravalho, City Manager"U
DATE: December 1, 1998
SUBJECT: LIBRARY UPDATE
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council receive the report regarding library facilities, and discuss the City's role in this
area.
BACKGROUND
At the February 24, 1998, City Council meeting, the Council discussed the need for an
expanded library facility in Canyon Country. On April 8, a report was given to the Council
on the issue, and at Council's direction, staff spent the next few months working with
County representatives regarding the issue. City and County staff members have explored
several possible sites and funding mechanisms.
The Need for Library Facilities
Current County library facilities in Santa Clarita include:
Canyon Country Library 5,050 square feet (built in 1970)
❖ Newhall Library 4,842 square feet (built in 1957)
❖ Valencia Library 23,966 square feet (built in 1972)
The total square footage of the existing facilities is 33,858. Using the County's standard
rate of .35 square feet per capita, the City should have more than 50,000 square feet, and
the entire Santa Clarita Valley should have more than 60,000 square feet of library
facilities. By looking at these numbers and listening to residents'. concerns, there is
obviously a deficiency in both the Newhall and Canyon Country communities. The County
has estimated that an 18,000 — 20,000 square foot facility will accommodate the needs of
the Canyon Country area, based on projected 2020 population figures.
The City's Role
Although this report details options whereby the City could step in and assist the County in
locating a new library facility in Santa Clarita, it is important to stress the impacts of such
a policy-making decision. The following six points address that issue:
1. The County receives a dedicated share of property tax, an annual parcel tax, and a
development mitigation fee to build and operate libraries.
Agenda Item:
2. The County does not have the funding available to build or lease a new library facility,
and has even indicated that they lack the funding to stock and staff an expanded facility
in Canyon Country.
3. The City has received no funding for, or role in, building or operating libraries.
4. The community has made it clear that a larger library in Canyon Country is desired,
but the only way that a new library facility will be built in Canyon Country in the. near
future is if the City makes a substantial financial contribution.
5. The City has limited resources, and there is already competition for funding important
infrastructure needs such as roads and parks. By directing funds to a library facility,
the other needs suffer.
Options
At the direction of the Council, staff has identified several options regarding a library
facility in Canyon Country.
Option #1: Weston Development. Site - located
across the street from Canyon High
School, on the North 'side of Nadal
Street, is a 32 acre parcel that has been
mentioned in the past - as a possible -
library and/or park site.
Pros:
- Site is City -owned.
Located in close proximity to the
High School.
Cons:
County does not consider it an acceptable site for a facility.
Due to the topography, grading the site for a facility would be extremely
costly.
Location does not facilitate ease of use by the entire Canyon Country
community.
Option #2: Sierra Vista Jr. High Site - the Hart
School District is considering allowing
the construction of a new Boys & Girls
Club facility on what is now Sierra
Vista Jr. High multi -use field. A
library facility has been mentioned as a
possible addition in conjunction with
the Boys & Girls Club.
Pros:
t• Site is near the Junior High, which
would promote its use among
students.
Location is closer to the Soledad Canyon Road corridor, and therefore
more accessible to the general populace.
Cons:
❖ Site is closer to Whites Canyon Road than the Weston Property, but it is
still west of the population center of Canyon Country.
Potential loss of athletic field space.
Option #3: Existing Vacant Commercial — in the past, the Council mentioned the
possibility of the County leasing a vacant commercial storefront in the area
and converting it to a library.
Pros:
:• Several commercial centers in the area would be large enough to
accommodate a library.
Location chosen could be accessible to the entire Canyon Country
community.
Cons:
<• Renovation costs, including furniture, computers, equipment, and
technology infrastructure would make this an expensive option.
d• Would not be able to develop an identity or long-term location.
Option #4: Expand Existing Facility - renovate
and expand the existing facility on
Soledad Canyon Road.
Pros:
E• Location is in the middle of the
Canyon Country area, and the
property is owned by the County.
Cons:
Access - to the site is extremely
difficult.
❖ According to the County, the site is not large enough to provide space for
a facility that meets future needs.
Option #5: New Commercial Center — at the
Economic Development Study Session
on September 29, the Council expressed
an interest in working with the owner
of the vacant property across from the
new Edwards Complex to develop a.use
complimentary to the. theater and
beneficial to the Canyon Country
community. Staff approached the
owner with that goal, and the idea that
this would be a favorable location for a
new library facility. The owner is interested in making the library an anchor
to the commercial complex, and has met with staff several times to discuss
the possibility. Conceptual plans have the library facility as a stand alone
building on the east side of the property as a tall profile, single story
architecturally interesting building.
Funding
Since the County does not have the capital to build such a facility, and has
indicated to staff that they probably would not be willing to lease, financial
involvement of the City will be necessary in two. capacities:
A. In order to facilitate the developer adding a library to the complex, the
City would have to perform, or fund, public improvements and other
fees, which may total up to $500,000.
B. The City may also need to direct up to $3 million towards the project
to further lower the lease rate and allow for the purchase of the
library at a later date. This additional expenditure may be
reimbursable through the recently passed Library Development
Mitigation Fee of $566 per residential unit. Furthermore, since the
facility would serve both residents of the City and the unincorporated
area, County staff has indicated that development fees collected in
both areas may be included in the reimbursement.
Pros:
Location is very accessible to Canyon Country residents.
❖ Site is centrally located, and offers the opportunity to further create a
"center" of Canyon Country.
❖ Promotes livable cities concept — inclusion of a public building within
commercial center.
❖ City participation in the project would facilitate the development of a high
quality commercial center in Canyon Country.
Cons:
S• As with the other options, this would require a substantial investment on
the part of the City.
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