Russell Library / City Hall Feasibility Study Committee

Russell Library/City Hall Feasibility Study Committee Minutes July 25, 2023 Members Present: Steve Nelson Phil Pessina Sheila Jones Eamonn Wisneski Anthony Mangiafico Joseph Samolis Ramona Burkey (Russell Library Director) Benjamin Florsheim (Mayor of Middletown) Henry Myerberg (HMA2 Architects) Kellin Atherton (member of the public) Call to Order Meeting called to order at 5:04 PM by Co-Chair Anthony Mangiafico Point of Privilege Co-Chair Anthony Mangiafico recognized Co-Chair Phil Pessina on his future retirement from City service Public Comment on Agenda Items NONE Approval of Minutes of June 27, 2023 Motion made by Steve Nelson to approve minutes of the April meeting, second by Phil Pessina. Unanimous in favor. 4. Unfinished Business 4a. Timelines/Deadlines- The Russell Library administration applied for a reimbursement grant that would entirely fund feasibility work. Director Burkey indicated that it is uncertain whether this would be approved, but that it was a very thorough application. Mayor Florsheim spoke in favor of the approval process and amount sought- it made sense for the Feasibility Committee to start with a lower amount, but the committee has identified spending needs for a thorough study and it would not make sense to go back for additional funding a third time. Phil Pessina thanked the Russell Library administration for the thorough reimbursement application. Brief discussion regarding any other alternative potential funding sources to reduce or entirely eliminate city funding for the Feasibility Committee. 4b. Sites: needs, viability, and configurations- Co-Chair Anthony Mangiafico recognized Henry Myerberg to present on feasibility study progress. The committee reviewed the established hierarchy of needs for the Russell Library, with space needs used as an illustration of how the longer list of possible sites had been narrowed down. The committee then discussed how proximity would be an important consideration, both for customer ease in accessing the library and also as a means to complement and activate areas with planned or existing development. The committee discussed parking needs relative to the hierarchy of needs and potential to share parking with other entities, and how adjacencies to other areas would play a large role in this determination. Based on the hierarchy of needs, Henry Myerberg and the committee examined a number of sites suggested to the committee as an exercise in helping further prioritize and examine the stated needs. The committee looked at various sites as thought exercises, including locations on DeKoven Drive, Main Street, and Newfield Street. These thought exercises generated more considerations discussed by the committee, such as whether potential parking structure (whether above or below ground) could be suitable for library use. Brief discussion on how these thought exercises are useful even when examining less tenable sites to examine benefits and issues with various types of potential projects, such as new construction versus renovation of existing buildings, and the role proximity and adjacencies would have on Middletown in future generations. 5. New Business 5a. Project budget status update- Director Burkey briefly updated the committee on the project budget status, which was also discussed earlier. 5b. Next phases of study: funding and consultant, catalyst/activation- Co-Chair Phil Pessina said that, in future meetings, the committee would further narrow the focus from the dozens of suggested sites the committee had already examined to the most feasible sites. He said that the committee will place more emphasis on parcel availability, activating areas, and maximizing adjacencies. The committee will need additional information from the City regarding proposed development in order to maximize adjacencies and help determine property availability. The committee discussed parking access, particularly in reference to riverfront/downtown locations, and how public transportation could help all city residents access the Russell Library. The committee discussed the need for urgency considering discussed timelines and the desire to conduct as thorough a search as possible. 5c. Approval to pay HMA2 invoice- Eamonn Wisneski moved to approve payment of the HMA2 invoice, and Steve Nelson seconded. Unanimous in favor. 6. Additional public comment- Director Burkey said that the current Russell Library has urgent facilities issues, including recurrent flooding requiring remediation, past-end-of-life mechanicals, and overall aging issues. Director Burkey said that the community should swiftly decide the next phase of library services in Middletown in light of these urgent issues, but also be sure to move forward deliberately to ensure the best library for Middletown now and in the future. Kellin Atherton recognized the library administration and the committee for the work done thus far, and stated that observing the discussion convinced him that a few of the discussed sites are not viable compared to other, more promising sites. He urged the committee to narrow their focus away from sites that are too far from the downtown/riverfront area, any sites requiring extensive building retrofits as not cost effective, and any existing buildings with present facilities issues not confusing to future library use. 7. Adjournment. Eamonn Wisneski moved to adjourn, and Steve Nelson seconded. All in favor. Meeting adjourned at 6:55 pm.