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Home My WebLink About11-22-1975 Library Commission Minutes SANTA CLARA COUNTY LIBRARY C05LMISSION MINUTES NOVEMBER 22, 1975 The Special Meeting of the Santa Clara County Library Commission is called to order by Chairwoman Lettis at 11:15 a.m. at Saratoga City Hall, Crisp Conference Room, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue, Saratoga. A quorum is present. 1. ROLL CALL Commissioners Present Commissioners Absent Jean Gomes Connie Abele Josephine Guerrero Ruth Nelson Elisa Martinez John Robertson Myrtle Lettis, Chairwoman Masel Sheehan Larry Tyler Others Present Barbara Campbell, County Librarian Pamela Hook, Saratoga Regional Librarian Jim Hendrickson, Assistant City Manager of Saratoga Rodney Diridon, County Supervisor Gladys Armstrong, Los Gatos-Saratoga AAUW Joe Martinez, 6820 Rosanna, Gilroy Jim Isaak, Saratoga Library Commission Ruthe Tyler, GGG Dolores Lopez, Friend of Library, Saratoga Mary Moss, Saratoga Library Commission Ann Miller, Saratoga Library Commission Ginny Brobst, Friends of Saratoga Libraries George Whalen, 14140 Victor Place, Saratoga Margaret Whalen, Friends of Saratoga Libraries W. R. Kanne, GGG Vera Helsenrath, AAUW Joan Lambert, Friends of Saratoga Libraries Cobley Sitney, Friends of Saratoga Libraries The Chairwoman states that this is not a public hearing, that it Is a special meeting called to consider the matter of a change in location of the Saratoga Library site requested by the City of Saratoga and referred to the County Library Commission by the Board of Supervisors. Immediately preceding this meeting the Commissioners and others have toured the various sites in question. A letter dated November 4, 1975 from the City Manager of Saratoga requests that the Board of Supervisors approve an amendment to the lease agreement which lists the site location as, "...property located on the West side of Saratoga Avenue oppo~;ite the McFarland Avenue entrance, in the City of Saratoga, ..." The letter further notes that the City Council on October 29, 1975 moved to terminate negotiations for this site, that two alternate sites were considered at public hearings (one being at the inter- section of Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Cox Avenue and the other being on Saratoga Avenue, adjacent to Sacred Heart Church) and that the Council moved to relocate the l'ibrary site to Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Cox Avenue. Jim Hendrickson, Assistant City Manager of Saratoga, indicates on a map where the various sites are located in relation to population density and notes this was a factor in the Council's decision. He mentions that both this site and the property adjacent to Sacred Heart Church are City- owned property and that the property adjacent to Sacred Heart Church is in the geographical center of the City. Mr. ttendrickson displays schematics of the proposed structure as it could be placed on different portions of each of the sites. Commissioner Gomes asks if the building plan being shown is the one to be selected whichever site is chosen and Mr. Hendrickson replies that all entities involved in that decision, including the Board of Supervisors, have approved the schematics for this structure. ~lq~ere is some discussion on cost e.~t::in~t~.>:; ~nd Mr, tk~ndrickson :~t:atc,,; that all initial estimates have not been discussed with the City Council but should be within a few weeks. Miss Campbell and Commissioner ~%fler both mention distances from - 2 - existing and proposed sites in relation to mileage and time. Commissioner Tyler states he does not feel the distances are critical since surveys have shown that most people drive to libraries. Miss Campbell expresses her concern for the safety of patrons and staff and particularly emphasizes the need for parking areas to be close to the library. Commissioner Gomes indicates she does not think Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Cox Avenue is a good site as there appear to be too many problems but favors the site adjacent to Sacred Heart Church on Saratoga Avenue. Commissioner Guerrero thinks consideration should be given to the letter from the architects concerning the fact that the site adjacent to Sacred Heart Church would require minimal redesign and that there is no fill problem and states she would favor this site. Commissioner Sheehan also expresses a favorable reaction to this site for the same reasons. Mr. Hendrickson states that at the public hearing interest was expressed in both sites and that the City Council selected one as its recommendation. Chairwoman Lettis mentions that it appears the Commissioners do not feel they can recommend the approval of the change to the Saratoga-Sunnyval( Road and Cox Avenue site. Commissioner Tyler states he does not feel he is ill a position to make a recommendation at this time and suggests waiting until the City Council comes up with cost· figures. During discussion, Miss Campbell mentions that the Commissioners can express their concern about the site to the Board and request alternatives be reconsidered. Supervisor Diridon arrives at ].1:50 a.m. On motion of Commis:~ioncr Gomc.~;, ~,;ccon~tod by Commission~,r (~u~,].'rcvo, .it is unanimously agreed that the Commission does not feel the Saratoga- Sunnyvale Road and Cox Avenue site to be an appropriate site for the Libtar an(] that the Commission recommends to the Board of Supervisors that the - 3 - Board meet with the Saratoga City Council to consider alternate sites. i ? During question of the motion, Commissioner Tyler expressed his concern E about supporting the motion as he felt there should be more information from the architect. A letter from the architectural firm of Spencer Associates stating that a site analysis for the alternative library sites, Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road site and the Central Park Site (adjacent to Sacred Heart Church), leads them to recommend the Central Park Site and the reasons stated therein were brought to his attention. After consideration of this letter, Commissioner Tyler stated this satisfies his concern and he could support the motion. The Chairwoman requests that the letter from Spencer Associates to the City of Saratoga be appended to these minutes as Exhibit A. Commissioner Shoehah notes that the letter is dated April 21, 1975. Supervisor Diridon, when asked for comments, states he is present as an interested observer, that he will listen very closely to what the Saratoga City Council has to say but will not ignore the Commission's wishes. Commissioner Guerrero suggests that, if they have not done so, the Board of Supervisors and the City Council tour the sites in question. As the December 1, 1975 regular Commission meeting has been cancelled, the next meeting will be a Special Meeting held on December 8, 1975 at 7:30 p.m., 70 West Hedding Street, San Jose in Basement Conference Room No. 7. The meeting is adjourned at 12:].0 p.m. Res}.-,ectfuily submitted, Elizabeth Brennan Secretary - 4 - ' H I B I !P "A" · 4 J-- April 21, 1975 Bah Bayer City M~mager City of Saratoga / / 137'/7 Fruitvale Avenue / Saratoga, Calif. 95070 f " · I i Dear Bob: ~,.,___________~ The enclosed site analysis for the alternative Sorcrtc~? Library sites ( the Central Park Site and the Saratoga-Sunnyvale Read Site ) lead us to recommend that the Central Park Site [~e chosen for deveiopmen~ of tile Saratoga Library. The following \ reasons illustrate why we have come to this ccnclus[on: I. Minimal redesign of the exTsting floor plan would be required to develop on this site. 2.The existing orchard fits well with the original' concepts for the site landscaping of the building. Landscape costs, would be minimized. 3. The location of this site adjacent to the civic center, adjacent to a future park, and close to the junior high 'schoot and West Vol Jey Collegemake it part of the central community focus of Saratoga. This emphasizes the sense of place, is definitely a compatible use and expa~lds H~e idea o£ civic cartier without sacHflcing the scale ot: e~ther the library of the civic center. 4.Access in th?s location is excellent from both vehicular and pedestrian standpoints. 5. The City already conlrols ttqs land. 6: There is no problem with fill material on this sire. 7. Use of solar collectors would be easy on this site. 8. This site offers good vistas both near ( to the creek ) and far ( to the foath[l'ts ). We also feel that the Central Park Site is better than the site now under consideration at Cox Avenue and Saratoga Avenue. Particularly in tJ~e context of Saratoga heritage, as a community focus and as,a desirable natural setting, we'recommend that the Central Park Site be chosen ~or the Sa~a~o~ja L;b;ary. ' Very truly yours, SP-~~ASSOCIATES JoMW. Stypula JWS:sj VVllllAM tl. BLJSSE, AIA m JOHN W. sTYPU[A, AIA m ilARRY w. RODDA, AIA m GEOFFREY H. B[RTIISIN, AIA ttUGIi i:. Kt:NN[DY ' SIGRII) LORENZEN RUP? IELDRIDGE T, $rINCfR, f.A.I.,~ ......... n .... 54~ tll(;1t S'T?,EET m PAL() ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94301 . TEL[PHONE (415t 1Ztl-L'2t~i~