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Parks & Rec OKs adding library
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · April 17, 2014
The Parks & Rec Commission voted unanimously April 10 to plan for a new library with a community/recreation center project on Pedersen Valley land.
The move comes before an April 24 public input meeting to create a basic design for the Pedersen Valley project. The charrette will open with some starter drawings which, through public input, will likely morph throughout the day into a baseline concept.
Library Director Nick Shimmin noted that the two city departments could have “an adjacent or conjoined facility.”
Parks & Rec Director Melissa Russell said the parks commission is still comfortable with information they collected in a 2011 study on community/recreation center needs.
“But we’ve had no formal vote,” she said.
The charrette is set for 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 24 at City Hall. It will be run like an “open house,” where visitors may come and go throughout the day; no one is required to stay for the duration of the meeting.
Russell said the designers will display updated drawings at noon and 7 p.m.
If the charrette produces a combined building, then parks and rec and the library can combine spaces, like restrooms and community meeting rooms, Russell said.
Russell said the library and recreation/community center would have “separate staff,” but amended that statement later when responding to a question from the audience, adding that there could be times when Shimmin or assistant librarian Becky Knoche are both out and someone is asked “Could you sit at the desk?”
“Becky and I do shared programs,” she said. “We help each other out and I anticipate that will continue.”
Library Board President Dan Stevenson said the plan is for both a library and parks and recreation staff.
“Every once and awhile we may need a helping hand,” Russell said. “There’s always staffing issues.”
Shimmin noted that the library and recreation/community center will likely have different hours; he then went further to point out that may necessitate a building design that allows for different entrances, especially for off-hours use.
Shimmin said a combined building would also need for the two city departments to work out an agreement on how to share responsibilities and management.
Parks & Rec commissioner Mike Fryauf made the motion to include a library in the Pedersen Valley plans; commissioner Beth Noe seconded the motion. Commissioners Liz Seydel, Cory Nalan and Shane Staker all voted in agreement.
The parks & rec commission and library board then discussed blanketing the community with meeting notices and reminders to attend the April 24 charrette, from ads in the newspaper to messages sent home with schoolchildren.
“I’m excited,” Russell said of the project. “I want all opinions, not just ‘yes’ opinions.”
Shimmin said that when library commission members toured the North Liberty facility, which puts the library and parks & rec under the same roof, they were stopped by retired people who told them “Tell your people they’ll love it!”
The charrette is also part of the larger parks plan, which tries to map out how all West Branch parks, including the future Meadows subdivision park, are developed or improved.
Russell asked Brian Boelk of HBK Engineering, which is heading up the parks & rec design process, if he could provide construction estimates.
“The No. 1 question will be, ‘How much is it going to cost?’” she said.
Boelk said he could produce a dollar range for features and amenities.
Resident Liz Wildenberg de Hernandez, who was sitting in the gallery, said that would be helpful.
“I think people are willing to invest in this, but conservative with their cash,” she said. “We need to be transparent on the cost side.”
Resident Kristen Nalan asked about the possibility of the city being interested in purchasing Fox Run Golf and Country Club.
Russell said no.
“At this time, there is no plan for the city to buy the golf course,” she said.
West Branch City Council member Tim Shields asked if there was a “break ground date” for this, or any part of the parks & rec plan.
“We’re already ten times further than ever,” he said. “This gets a frenzy going.”
Russell said the parks & rec commission will likely set the phasing schedule in June.
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