Norman Public Library Board Meeting

Norman Public Library Board Minutes June 18, 2018 The Public Library Board of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, met in the Room A/B of the Norman Public Library (Central Branch), 225 North Webster Avenue, Norman, OK 73069 on the 18th day of June, 2018, at 4:30 p.m., and notice and agenda of the meeting were posted at the Norman Public Library at 225 North Webster 24 hours prior to the beginning of the meeting. Note: bold formatting indicates action items. ITEM 1, being: ROLL CALL Present: Chairman Mauldin, Vice Chair Kimberling, Engel, Foote, Turner, Moran, and Bird Absent: McCutcheon, Ringus ____________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 2, being: INTRODUCTION OF STAFF AND GUESTS Library Staff: Caroline Dulworth, Central Branch Manager; Mike Pearson, West Branch Manager; Tara McLeod, Children’s Department Manager; Aaron Pence, Computer Training Center Manager; Rosa Cantu, Shelving Supervisor; Nancy Littlejohn, Circulation Manager; Cylinda Richardson- Martin, Customer Experience Manager; Joshua Peck, Information Services Manager; and Kelly Sitzman, East Branch Manager Pioneer Library Staff: Lisa Wells, Executive Director City Staff:Shawn O’Leary, Director Public Works; and Terry Floyd, Development Co-Ordination ____________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 3, being: APPROVAL OF MARCH 12, 2018 MEETING MINUTES Vice Chairman Kimberling made the motion and Moran seconded to approve the March 12, 2018 meeting minutes. The vote was taken with the following results:  AYE: Chairman Mauldin, Vice Chair Kimberling, Engel, Foote, Turner, Moran, and Bird NAY: None ITEM 4, being: SPECIAL PRESNETATION BY SHAWN O’LEARY, P.E., CFM, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, CITY OF NORMAN: SIDEWALKS AND OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION NEEDED TO SERVE THE TWO NEW LIBRARIES Shawn O’Leary began with an introduction of himself and the public works department which facilitates transportation and storm water. Norman Forward projects fall under Development, however the City departments are working very well together. This can be a challenge with each department being fragmented and having its own area. Mr. O’Leary provided a map showing the new central library and James Garner Ave. James Garner Ave improvements are the only road project as part of Norman Forward. This used to be called “Front Street Project” until renamed. When completed, this will connect traffic from Flood & Robinson to downtown Norman. The street runs parallel to the railroad tracks and will connect at Flood Street. Phase I is being completed now, which is to have the portion in front of the new central library completed in conjunction with the completion of the building. The intersection is moving to Acres due to the quiet zone initiative and for safety. Phase II construction will be implemented and construction started in 2021 due to Federal transportation gram projects, which will save the City half of the cost of the project. This will allow for a $6,000,000 project to only cost the City $3,000,000 but will require a delay for those funds to be opened up. Legacy Trail as a walking, biking, and hiking trail will tie in together and be parallel to James Garner following up to Robinson St. The idea is to provide “multimodal” transportation, allowing for buses, cars, bikes, and pedestrians. Legacy Trail is on the Priority List of the Greenbelt project, another example of a Greenbelt Project currently underway are the East 24th to East 36th bike and hike trails to connect to Lake Thunderbird. Public ADA compliant sidewalks will be added to North side of Acres in front of new central library. On an additional map provided the East Alameda Street Project was shown which shows Ridge Lake Blvd to East 48th St, in front of and to the East of the East library branch, which will change the road to 4 lane and more bicycle and pedestrian friendly and overall multimodal. This project was approved in 2012 and will also begin construction in about 2021. On a third map provided the was an aerial view of the site of the East library branch with an overview. Previous Alameda Street widening projects ended at the location of the library. Sidewalks will be added to connect across the library frontage. Because this is a high speed area there is a need to reduce speed and make it safer for pedestrians. Yellow hash marks on the road should you be completed next week. This is mostly a striping and painting project which will also provide for more distinct turn lanes into the library and fire department drive in. Handicap accessible ramps will be added at each intersection. Flashers, triggered by pedestrians, may also be added. Currently the traffic is not there to justify full traffic signals. This also buys time so that the intersection did not have to be closed at the same time the new East library branch was to be opened. Planning for this library and fire complex has been ongoing since 2010. A recycling center will also be added North and East of the Library coming in from the same drive and managed by Norman Utilities. It will have its own space instead of just being placed in a parking lot. This should be a quick project in Fall 2018. It will be a self-service type of facility but designed with fencing and other considerations to catch any blowing trash. A $13,000,000 project to widen East 24th from Lindsey St to Robinson St will kickoff in the Fall and will be completed Fall 2020. It includes on-street bike lanes, 4 lanes of vehicular traffic, and sidewalks. This is also a project to be completed in phases, with the Southern piece from Lindsey St beginning first. Considerations were made for Regan and Kennedy schools for walking. Caroline Dulworth added that finding safe transportation for those students is a concern for the library. Terry Floyd addressed questions that currently the revenue is not there for ridership on CART on this part of town. Mr. O’Leary continued that CART also has a master plan and each added route increases funding requirements. CART, the Cleveland Area Rapid Transportation, is an agency of the University of Oklahoma, not a City agency. However the City does contribute a $2,000,000 federal grand and an additional $500,000. The trend at the Federal government is not to increase funding for local government at this time. ITEM 5, being: SPECIAL PRESENTATION BYT TERRY FLOYD, DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR, CITY OF NORMAN: UPDATES ABOUT COMPLETION OF THE EAST BRANCH LIBRARY AS WELL AS OTHER NORMAN FORWARD PROGRAM PROGRESS Terry Floyd began with dates in mind for the East library including June 28th 10:30AM a dedication for the art piece “Prairie Wind” and July 20th 10:00AM the grand opening of the East branch. The Norman Forward library ad hoc group will be called together in a week or so. At the East branch nearly all of the certificate of occupancy items have been complete and there is a series of furniture deliveries to be made. The central library goal is to be “boxed in” for exterior work by Fall 2018. Building contractors meet with intersection contractors at the same time to complete simultaneously. The working title for the central library’s art piece is “Passages”. The skateboard park that had been on site has gone to 3 other parks and there is a proposal for a new Andrews Park skate park. Literally and figuratively there is a lot of energy in the area. Library staff also added updates about the projects. 2 out of state hires have been brought in, staff has been busy filling up the East branch with technology including a new sorting machine, self-check, and iPad vending machine. Books will be delivered July 2nd. Lisa Wells made special acknowledgment to Terry Floyd for his dedication to both the city and the library. ITEM 6, being: NORMAN FORWARD ART PROJECT REPORT: VICE CHAIR CARLA KIMBERLING The Central library art project is moving along – the artist was from England but dedicated to using local contractors. In the future if a piece is damaged or needs to be replaced local manufacturing will allow for that. Working title for the art piece is “Passages”. Since the project was reviewed by the Public Arts Board which is part of the public record exact demonstrations and pictures have not been made available yet. As a reminder, this art piece is part of the 1% for arts initiative for Norman Forward. The 1% is based on the construction costs, but is not out of the library budget or the construction budget. ITEM 7, being: NORMAN PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFF REPORTS AND UPDATES a. Central, West Side & East Branch Updates 20 days in the summer reading program 2,000 new students have signed up. To encourage sign up and returning at the end, the school with the most returned participants will receive a $2,500 donation toward their music program. Funds are provided by the Friends of the Norman Public Library. In previous years there have been a large number of sign ups but fewer returned. By removing the goal feature the hope is to have more returned students. Recently the West branch hosted Extreme Animals, having 251 people present, so very successful. b. Featured upcoming NPL programs and events Handouts provided with details about specific events. Readers Extravaganza – teen over 100 and adult about 80-90. An author will be coming in to talk about growing up in a segregated school will be coming in to speak, and also won the Oklahoma non-fiction writer of the year award. Sam Noble free day with a library card (from anywhere) will be Saturday June 30, 2018 10:00AM-5:00PM and NPLS staff will be on site. In late July there will be the Dog & Cat days of Summer which will include an obstacle course, adoptions, and green screen photos. Last year there was about 50-60 dogs. Lead guitar workshop – West 7/14/18 and 7/28/18 Weekly folk Fridays – West Mike Hosty 7/29/18 and Edgar Cruz as performers – West Bullet Journaling- West 7/16/18 Tween STEAM- West 6/19/18 Internet Security- West 7/13/18 Social Media Security – West 7/20/18 Stop Motion Animation- West 7/24/18 Rockin Games – West 6/20/18 Musical Instrument Playground will be Monday July 2, 2018 at 2:00PM at the Central library. Python coding boot camp will begin Starting August 28th, Tuesday-Friday How to Start a Food Service Business and will have a food truck there 6/28/18 Fake News! 6/27/18 Teen movie making Movie to celebrate LBGT pride month Cookbook Swap Instapot cooking Identity Theft Employment Business Law 6/19/18 Time Management Workshop 7/26/18 ___________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 8, being: OLD BUSINESS None ____________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 9, being: NEW BUSINESS None _________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 10, being: BOARD COMMENTS Question from Moran regarding the online chat feature of the NPL website, if it is responded to by Norman library staff. Caroline Dulworth answered that it is. ____________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 11, being: COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC None ____________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 12, being: NEXT MEETING Hoping to meet for the next meeting September 17, 2018 at the new East library branch. The goal is of the 4 meeting each year that 2 would be conducted at central, 1 at West, and 1 at East. ____________________________________________________________________________ ITEM 13, being: ADJOURNMENT Engel made the motion and Moran seconded to adjourn. The vote was taken with the following results: AYE: Chairman Mauldin, Vice Chair Kimberling, Engel, Foote, Turner, Moran, and Bird NAY: None ___________________________________________________________________________ Passed and approved this 17th of September, 2018. Tim Mauldin, Chairman