UpdateThe City has officially procured the Copper Ridge Site for the new KPL facility.  Additionally, the City acquired an adjacent parcel from the State of Alaska to accommodate parking for KPL as needed.

Proposition 1 as passed by city voters August 24th, 2010  allows  the City to complete negotiation and procure the Copper Ridge site for the new KPL. 
The City expects closing on the Copper Ridge site on or before October 8, 2010.

Special Election Results
September 23, 2010 Special City Council Meeting Agenda
Septmeber 23, 2010 Special  City Council Meeting Minutes

In February 2010: The Foraker Group Pre-Development Program facilitated an extensive site selection process with the Feasibility Committeeto identify and recommend an acceptable site for a new library facility.  It was agreed that the site should support a facility that was “right-size”, fiscally sustainable, achievable and affordable to the community.

STEP 1: IDENTIFY LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS
The first step in the site selection process was to identify the minimum lot size required based on the agreed upon Space Program and;

  • Average set backs
  • Required parking spaces, a van space, and bus pullout
  • Future expansion capability

The exercise resulted in a minimum lot size of 50,000 SF for a single-story facility and 32,000 SF for a two-story facility.

STEP 2: REVIEW ALL POTENTIAL SITES
Next, the Committee reviewed a preliminary list of all the potential sites in Ketchikan that were available and met minimum lot sizes.  Site suggestions were obtained from the following sources:Site Selection Historical Chart

  • Sites recommended in the August 2008 City RFP responses inclusive of  time extension and second solicitation
  • Sites considered in the 2004 and 2007 design process
  • Sites identified by a volunteer local commercial realtor, engineers and the Feasibility Committee

On February 25, 2010: The Feasibility Committee met and narrowed the possible library sites to six sites.  After a February 28, 2010 field trip to inspect all six sites, the Committee then narrowed the selection to four sites.

STEP 3: NARROW SITES DOWN TO BEST OPTIONS
On May 17, 2010: Provided with in-depth information on each of the four sites, the Committee independently scored and ranked the sites based on a full list of criteria identified to support the new library facility.

Scoring results varied little from committee member to committee member.  The Committee agreed to eliminate one site from consideration.

Site Ranking

Site Attributes

STEP 4: SITE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Committee came to consensus to recommend three sites as acceptable, and identified the Copper Ridge Site as the preferred property for a new library facility.

Copper Ridge Site Heckman Street Site Skinner Sales Site

Ketchikan Library Project Cost Comparison Summary

R&M Memo: Site Consideration Issues

STEP 5:  CITY COUNCIL ACTION ON SITE RECOMMENDATIONS AND SITE PROCUREMENT

On April 2, 2010: The Ketchikan City Manager forwarded a  memorandum to the City Council to adopt a motion to concur with the recommendation of the Committee regarding:

  • Site selection for the construction of a new Ketchikan Public Library    
  • Directing the City Manager to commence negotiations for the acquisition  of Lot 1, Copper Ridge

The City Council passed a motion:

  • Deferring consideration of concurring with site recommendations to allow for additional  public involvement in the site selection process
  •  Deferring directing the City Manager to commence negotiations for the acquisition of Lot 1, Copper Ridge

The motion to defer was based on some Councilmembers’ concerns that further public involvement in the site selection process was needed prior to a final decision being made on where to locate the new library facility. 

April 21st Council Meeting Agenda

April 21st Council Meeting Minutes

In response to this request, the Committee and The Foraker Group Pre-Development Program conducted a public forum on May 3, 2010 to:Library Flyer

  • Present the site selection process and criteria used in selecting the three sites recommended to the City Council
  • Solicit additional site suggestions for the new library

May 3rd New Library Public Forum Meeting Minutes

The Committee conducted a meeting to receive additional public input on May 9, 2010 and reviewed one new property:

May 3 Email Correspondence Regarding White Cliff Site

May 7 Memorandum: Nominated Site for New Library

Recognizing interest in a downtown site, the Committee also reconsidered two other library site proposals:

The Grant Street property, former Main School site

Renovation of the Centennial Building, the current location of the library and museum

The Committee also reviewed:

More refined site design for a new library facility on the Copper Ridge site

After thorough study and review, the Committee voted unanimously to forward the three sites previously selected through The Foraker Group Pre-Development Program site identification and selection process to the City Council.

The Committee again recommended the Copper Ridge site as the preferred site and provided the City Council with the following justifications:

Building size was determined by review of local needs and Alaska best practices for library construction.

A single-story facility gives maximum operating efficiencies for:

  • Staffing
  • Service
  • Security
  • Minimizing construction and operating costs

The Copper Ridge site has the lowest:

  • Proposed acquisition cost
  • Estimated site development and Infrastructure cost
  • Burden on taxpayers

The site allows for dedicated library parking of 22 spaces all adjacent to the library:

  • Handicap parking
  • Staff and patron parking
  • Library van parking

The site is adjacent to:  

  • A neighborhood of about 130 households
  • A pre-school
  • Two elementary schools
  • A middle school
  • A recreation center and new swimming pool site

The Third Avenue Bypass makes the Copper Ridge site accessible to patrons coming from the north and west ends of town. The Copper Ridge site conforms to the process necessary to obtain 50/50 matching funds and private foundation funding.

May 9, 2010 Public Forum Meeting Notes

Recent City and Community Action Related to Library Site:

On May 10, 2010, the Ketchikan City Manager forwarded a  memorandum to the City Council with a motion to concur with the recommendation of the Feasibility Committee regarding:

  • Site selection for the construction of a new Ketchikan Public Library   
  • Direction to the City Manager to commence negotiations for the acquisition of Lot 1, Copper Ridge.

On May 13, 2010, the City Council adopted the recommended motion.

May 10, 2010 Memo to City Council

May 13, 2010 City Council Meeting Agenda

May 13, 2010 City Council Meeting Minutes

On June 3, 2010, The City Council approved a motion to authorize the city manager and city attorney to enter into a formal option agreement at a cost not-to-exceed $10,000 with George Lybrand for the purchase of Copper Ridge Lots 1 and 5.

On June 17, 2010, the City Council approved Resolution No. 10-2336 which proposes an amendment to the City Charter that would require a new city library to be located within city limits and shall not be restricted to city-owned property or to any specific area bordered by certain streets.  The resolution also states the proposed amendment be submitted to the qualified voters for approval or rejection; and establish an effective date.

At the same meeting, City Clerk Suiter advised that a petition filed in her office regarding a Charter change designating a downtown area for a new public library was determined to be legal and contained sufficient signatures.

Clerk Suiter informed with the passage of Resolution No. 10-2336 earlier in the evening, it was her intent to put the citizen initiated ballot proposition for a special election scheduled for August 24, 2010.