[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6319512,"mediaKeyId","2361124-ff14b996fd61b3a41c0f200b3e0abbe6","parentId",2361124,"title","Library renovation on track; city plans April 14–May 14 temporary closure and service adjustments","audioSeconds",300,"startMs",1345919,"endMs",1646075,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2361124-ff14b996fd61b3a41c0f200b3e0abbe6&start=1345&end=1646","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2361124-ff14b996fd61b3a41c0f200b3e0abbe6/thumbnail_1345919.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6319512/Escondido/San-Diego-County/California/Library-renovation-on-track-city-plans-April-14May-14-temporary-closure-and-service-adjustments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6319512-190dfa85232c1e6faf954170038c902a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771115460&Signature=C7lwhs83D6JR3faYmT-glEwrUGLrO--BjRtvwUNb3Js7qNiQFgfOmN0fRewbM2OOQyJ5IXCMBPFq50AyS9RfbdtBuzHpzM85YwkyXWoSgFoBA0zaUtqoqgUA1TPPJMgbNihOFBzExkBAD2Lz1G413bRVZERGwa6GZ3DR7ihlNJgykY89Y82A9q5zrAH0FoNZwADItvlgaRKOiTc55e0hTOqZbSo3X4g1tVCOEU7~O~NfZqRlyFWBgWmc5guZWm1bPgkFk-PTGe-g69Cn4i2JaNVbxq2LocaSBkxnlO6LSDcjPA2h96EvrX7dDDCpAXfFFipGnQ-d1LA6ZARL0vW6Ww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Escondido","date","2025-02-13T00:00:00Z","article","Ed Vasquez, project manager for the library infrastructure grant project, told the board the renovation remains on schedule: plan-check comments have been reduced to three items, the city expects to advertise the construction bid from Feb. 19 to about April 10, with bid evaluation mid-April and a council award as late as May 7. Vasquez said the current schedule provides a 10-month construction window and that, if awarded, the contractor would be expected to start in June.

As part of the schedule, staff said the library would temporarily close to prepare collections for relocation and move activity. Staff and the board discussed planned dates and services: the city plans to move materials and begin temporary relocation activities April 14 and anticipates reopening May 14; the last day the library will be open before the partial closure is April 12. Staff cautioned the dates could shift depending on construction or procurement changes, but described April 14–May 14 as the working target.

Communications and service continuity were key topics. Economic Development Director Jenna Pruchenik and library staff said the city will launch a public communications campaign in early March (website, social media, printed materials and press releases) and that trustees will be provided a preview of the materials before public release. Staff discussed placing book drops at two mall locations (front and back) during the temporary relocation and noted the Pioneer Room could remain open for limited services. Staff also described multiple options for patrons to return or access materials during closure: letting patrons retain items without fines, keeping existing drop boxes until moved, using Linked Plus (regional interlibrary loan) more heavily and offering a limited “hold and pickup” selection at the temporary storefront similar to previous COVID-era operations.

IT, infrastructure and parking were identified as potential schedule risks. Staff said either relocation site would require new network infrastructure; the mall site likely requires a larger IT installation to serve the full collection and staff. Trustees asked about parking-lot upgrades that are needed for code compliance before reopening; staff said the public works director is leading that work and that council may be asked to allocate funds or approve a budget adjustment on March 19 or during the contract award process.

Board members pressed staff to shorten the one-month closure if possible. Staff said they will hire professional movers, coordinate with Information Systems to expedite technology setup, and work with mall management to place book drops and negotiate hours; they also said some logistics depend on finalized floor plans and blueprints that the mall owner and city planning must provide. Vasquez reported the team is still working through plan-check responses but remains hopeful for the advertised schedule.

Staff also discussed the library’s digital services during the move. Trustees directed staff to accelerate the planned Hoopla eligibility changes (a March 1 target was discussed); staff said reaching the March 1 date is doable but would require a narrower communications push and that the board should expect trade-offs between speed and breadth of outreach. Staff said OverDrive and the Palace platform would be emphasized to supplement access while physical services are limited.

Financially, trustees reviewed the library trust balance and discussed using trust funds for unfunded items tied to the move; staff said several items remain unfunded and that the next community workshop will focus on that list and potential Friends/Foundation support. Staff scheduled an early-March workshop before the board’s March 13 meeting to resolve outstanding unfunded items and communications details.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Audio - Library Board of Trustees - February 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Project manager reported plan-check and bid schedule on track for a summer construction start; the library is scheduled to close April 14 for relocation work and reopen May 14, with staff planning communications, book-drop placements and contingency services including Linked Plus and other digital options.","taxTitle","Escondido, San Diego County, California","taxId",2842,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6319516,"Trustees back temporary relocation of Escondido library to North County Mall",1286,28924,1315515,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2361124-ff14b996fd61b3a41c0f200b3e0abbe6&start=28&end=1315","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2361124-ff14b996fd61b3a41c0f200b3e0abbe6/thumbnail_28924.jpg","/articles/6319516/Escondido/San-Diego-County/California/Trustees-back-temporary-relocation-of-Escondido-library-to-North-County-Mall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6319516-7d5259b1919f3d7b519abe8a259b382e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771115460&Signature=Hkjw~21iYCJrqUkZCslrcHw7pec75xeLz0vMlRj74T9HRYpiXJEatdsYKR8eLbOHHF9cawjG7GFqklmqIGLMvsStaWWX~xJwWfHpWv0H4lmujhNiB3Wy69Cxc7XBHjTPHjJtgKKc6dCf~P9li9dPbbwXsYVH07lE8vlfcL341NScwFPpMK0Bcj9ELiDeBTW90UDo6aq7nEyLL0Kip7DHC2R9Y5ixWsciU5UxmYCitrCSChWbEZ7~8ON8w7rmT9sKzarL9lh6hDjhXDNGolAYzUp7TULd194wAJi3w87V9iRt2uYIXbHs7UOD7ZcI-MKxweLfRZTypp9qWmzZtV1F5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Escondido Library Board of Trustees members voted 5-0 to recommend a temporary relocation of the Escondido Public Library to a 50,000-square-foot space on the North County Mall’s third floor, the site formerly occupied by Forever 21 next to the food court.

Staff presented three options: the Center for the Arts (CCAE) museum space (9,695 square feet), a storefront on East Grand Avenue (about 13,500 square feet), and the North County Mall site (about 50,000 square feet). Francisco Vargas, a management analyst in the city’s Economic Development office, told trustees the mall space is “move in ready” and can accommodate the full collection, staff and the Friends of the Library bookstore. Vargas said staff’s recommendation was to move forward with option C at the North County Mall, “the site, formerly occupied by Forever 21 located next to the food court.”

The staff presentation included preliminary cost estimates the city described as conservative starting points: the Center for the Arts option was listed in the materials as $5,500,000 (the presentation also listed $510,420 per year “at a minimum” for that option), the East Grand storefront at roughly $550,000 per year plus tenant improvements (the building would require seismic retrofit and code work), and the North County Mall option at about $540,000 per year. Vargas also listed initial moving bids of about $50,000 and estimated rental or furniture needs (book carts and related rentals) in initial quotes near $50,000 per year; costs for marketing/wayfinding and some IT equipment remain unknown.

Trustees asked about accessibility, services for people experiencing homelessness, mall hours and security. Staff said the mall has public transportation access and that mall doors can open earlier than standard store hours, which may allow library hours to approximate current service hours; mall management had not yet finalized policies affecting patrons without stable housing. Staff reported a freight elevator with direct access to the storefront and said the mall’s general manager did not object to the Friends of the Library selling books at the location. Staff also noted a remaining question about whether the mall structure on the third floor can support the full weight of the library collection; the city will make that a negotiation point with the property owner.

Trustee John moved the board’s recommendation to pursue option C; Trustee Tyler Baker seconded. The motion carried 5-0. Staff said the board’s recommendation will go to city council in closed session so staff can hear council negotiation points; staff will then negotiate a lease with the landlord and return final numbers and a negotiated lease to council. Jenna Pruchenik, Director of Economic Development, told the board staff anticipates bringing a negotiated lease to council and will return with final costs; staff set March 19 as the council closed-session date for lease negotiation direction.

Next steps identified by staff include obtaining mall blueprints and detailed layouts to finalize space planning (including where the Friends bookstore and children’s and adult sections would sit), negotiating tenant improvements and IT/data drop needs, resolving security and ranger-presence questions with mall management, and clarifying which costs the independent Friends of the Library would be expected to cover. Trustees requested the city provide the board with the planned public communications before it is released.

Votes at a glance: Motion to recommend the North County Mall temporary location (Option C) — moved by John (Trustee), seconded by Tyler Baker (Trustee); outcome: approved 5-0.","After reviewing three temporary sites, the Escondido Library Board recommended moving the library collection and services to a vacant North County Mall storefront formerly occupied by Forever 21. The board voted 5-0 to endorse staff’s recommendation; staff will take the recommendation to city council for negotiation and lease approval.","actionData","errors"]

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Library renovation on track; city plans April 14–May 14 temporary closure and service adjustments

Trustees back temporary relocation of Escondido library to North County Mall