[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6046803,"mediaKeyId","3540823-27431b2b18baa9acdd2893f8c85fd457","parentId",3540823,"title","Rowlett library advisory board urges planning for larger facility as federal IMLS funding is uncertain","audioSeconds",2636,"startMs",482000,"endMs",3118000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3540823-27431b2b18baa9acdd2893f8c85fd457&start=482&end=3118","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3540823-27431b2b18baa9acdd2893f8c85fd457/thumbnail_482000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6046803/Texas/Rowlett-library-advisory-board-urges-planning-for-larger-facility-as-federal-IMLS-funding-is-uncertain","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6046803-34607453f78f30294253620724664177/orig.mp4?Expires=1771080625&Signature=ecOZtTs6akSxY61b7Z~iVzx1YMclUvKFEf6MXkw8w~wUOqYwfo~SohNHbCz~Gl6i-~7ppOEXMivX1Ifd4~uL8zrA~wuImgn5IGiNav3P3pUO5oSJ2P6sUq5ag3XbBCvSgxEJS75cZ87Ydll56LxRsN30z2m2dS-gT-P6K~k92IFKEzd8g1tCVipuZ15cTBWnOJRuJVnFN0LwjBZ2cQ2izwVK9vleGfCXnO3NE0eggGES~O0tQ8BpDIUEQJYytl3ufxWmeAPbCg-hXz-2gV-NtcNGoVeCVJ7--H-51TMHOo~wQyHpO4TH9GSQ18xnhHro~2eYtjxiAYrAoGwiKxGk2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rowlett City","date","2025-05-05T00:00:00Z","article","The Rowlett Library Advisory Board presented its annual report to the Rowlett City Council on May 5, reporting increasing library use and program growth and asking to be included in future facility planning as the city evaluates municipal complex options.

The board said physical circulation and visits rose in fiscal 2024, while digital checkouts climbed 14 percent, and requested a follow-up meeting in September to discuss library planning and branding. The library’s director also warned an executive order affecting the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services could reduce future grant and service funding for Texas libraries.

Erin Decker, chair of the Library Advisory Board, told council members the board continues outreach and benchmarking with nearby systems and wants “to be a part as we are exploring how this new library comes to be” and to meet again in September to discuss planning and design.

Laura, director of library services, said the library won the Achievement of Excellence Award from the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association for the 20th consecutive year and reported usage figures: approximately 167,000 physical checkouts and 67,000 digital checkouts in the prior year. She said the library averaged about 559 weekly summer-reading submissions and ran 79 summer programs with 4,737 attendees.

“The digital stuff, I think it is people are going away somewhat from books. We also added an additional ebook service,” Laura said, noting broader adoption of ebooks and audiobooks and one-on-one staff help for patrons using devices.

Board members and staff highlighted children’s programming as a driver of traffic, including story times, STEAM Squad and a reading-challenge program aimed at encouraging parents to read to pre-kindergarten children. Erin Decker said the board benchmarks other libraries and visited Frisco’s 158,000-square-foot facility as a reference point; by comparison, Rowlett’s facility is roughly 12,000 square feet.

On facilities, Decker reminded council of a 2020 facilities evaluation and the earlier architect recommendation for a phased approach. She said an initial concept based on full build-out exceeded council comfort, and a later, population-based proposal reduced the recommended size to about 40,000 square feet.

Council members discussed possible reuse of a city police/court building as a library site. City staff cautioned the municipal-complex planning process is still refining design documents and that a comprehensive conversation tying library space planning to the municipal-complex timeline will likely occur once design documents are brought to council in the coming months.

On federal funding, Laura described an executive order issued March 14 that named the Institute of Museum and Library Services among several federal entities targeted for elimination, which prompted IMLS staff furloughs and halted grants. She said the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) receives federal funding (about $11 million annually) that it passes to Texas libraries and provides services such as the interlibrary loan courier and consortium software, TechShare databases, and summer reading materials.

“We receive money from TSLAC in four different ways: through grant opportunities, through our interlibrary loan program, our TechShare databases, and summer reading program materials,” Laura said. She said Rowlett is “currently spending down two grants”: a Texas Reads grant for summer reading performers and supplies ($10,000) and a special projects grant for a Job Start program ($24,000). She also said the library had purchased about $20,000 in laptops tied to the Job Start grant and initially paused grant spending until TSLAC could confirm reimbursements.

Laura said the city received encouraging news May 2 that TSLAC would honor the two current grants, but that future funding remains uncertain while litigation proceeds. “We received word on May 2 that a narrow temporary restraining order was issued,” she said, adding that plaintiffs and defendants were ordered to file a joint status report by May 6.

Laura explained operational impacts if federal funding is reduced: the interlibrary loan courier and software and TechShare databases are subsidized through state and federal funding. She said the courier reimbursement roughly covers courier costs (city staff estimated the courier runs about $2,000 annually with a reimbursement near $1,800), and losing that support could require either local funding or a new consortium arrangement.

Council members asked about program take-up rates; Laura said the Job Start program began in January and had served “around 20 people so far” with plans to continue using the laptops for multiple programs. On timing for facility planning, staff said municipal-complex design documents are advancing and that a focused library planning conversation is likely six months to a year away once the municipal-complex process advances.

The advisory board’s presentation requested council involvement in planning and reiterated the board’s desire to remain engaged in design and policy discussions. Council members encouraged the board to remain involved and said staff should return with more detailed timelines and cost data when the municipal-complex work advances.

Ending: Council did not take any formal action at the May 5 work session; the board will remain on council’s agenda for future discussion and the library will continue to monitor legal developments affecting IMLS and TSLAC funding.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Rowlett City Council Work Session\tMay 05, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Rowlett Library Advisory Board presented its annual report to the Rowlett City Council on May 5, reporting increasing library use and program growth and asking to be included in future facility planning as the city evaluates municipal complex options.","taxTitle","Rowlett City, Texas","taxId",4116,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6046795,"Residents tell Rowlett council proposed switch to 2-cubic-yard bulk limit would not cover leaf and storm debris",377,121000,498000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3540823-27431b2b18baa9acdd2893f8c85fd457&start=121&end=498","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3540823-27431b2b18baa9acdd2893f8c85fd457/thumbnail_121000.jpg","/articles/6046795/Texas/Residents-tell-Rowlett-council-proposed-switch-to-2-cubic-yard-bulk-limit-would-not-cover-leaf-and-storm-debris","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6046795-5fa8994d1342c55f90b1ad5cdc64fc90/orig.mp4?Expires=1771080625&Signature=SwoYto6HIWW~5IBUDNKF032-3YM1FoRpAoyt1IwUWgpfECaGncfj8HKanx1Zu1ono2GlsH4THxsZ8WlfSBN80v~RweYGCu5Ebi9uuIS2XAxmHsIk1EK5Ek9veNB7nf9kJKAOjXtwhnT7A-77ps74O5ff844ZENVdBVxIQdQJ8WM5sFsOQnD9Cu84U~oabUi~qtzSuGD54rotR~RD2ASlIvl65kL3SbpL0K2UFbzycS52Fqx4OtxFYP2Do1tMl6ogjtgkjR69Ff1sCSSgDC3XNzWR8b4lRn2baGCAr4wQh9v7adhaKi4R2rS2vmeKD20nuuu-BK8IHJxapweOxExf5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two residents during the Rowlett City Council citizen-input period on May 5 urged council members to reconsider a proposed change to bulky-waste pickup limits, saying a 2-cubic-yard cap per pickup would not cover the seasonal volume from large, mature trees and storm debris.

Pat Karakostas, a Rowlett resident, said she attended the April 8 work session and left “blood boiling” because she felt concerns were postponed. Karakostas told the council the company Republic previously proposed returning with options and that on May 6 the council would see a proposal to return to once-weekly pickup while reducing the per-pickup limit from 8 cubic yards to 2 cubic yards.

“The big reason that 2 cubic yards does not address the issue is because of those trees,” Karakostas said, describing yards on her street as having 20 to 40 mature trees and estimating that a single yard can produce “30 to 60 bags of leaves” during seasonal leaf drop. She said the physical layout of her street prevents blowing leaves into the street or relying on neighbors to collect them.

Tim Karakostas, also a Rowlett resident speaking after Pat, said multiple homes on their block currently exceed a 2-cubic-yard limit and that storm-damaged limbs would create even larger volumes. “If I were to go out front and just do a little bit of trimming on my trees … I’d easily see 2 cubic yards,” he said, adding that storage space for bagged debris is limited for many residents.

Residents asked council to consider seasonal exceptions or lower additional-pickup fees; Pat Karakostas described the proposed $12-per-cubic-yard additional-pickup fee as “exorbitant.” Both speakers requested council consider options for the spring leafing period and late fall leaf drop rather than a strict 2-cubic-yard cap year-round.

City staff and council did not take action during the public-comment period; the speakers identified the topic as a discussion item on the council’s May 6 agenda. The council’s work session did not include a formal vote on the solid-waste contract or pickup limits during the May 5 meeting.

Ending: Public comments will accompany council consideration when the agenda item appears; no formal council action was taken during the May 5 work session.","Two residents told the Rowlett City Council during public comment that a proposed change to once-weekly pickup with a 2-cubic-yard monthly limit would be inadequate for homes with large, mature trees and could impose unfair costs.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6046798,"Rowlett council reviews Wet Zone concession upgrades and proposed cooler fee; members lean toward resident discount",662,3565000,4227000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3540823-27431b2b18baa9acdd2893f8c85fd457&start=3565&end=4227","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3540823-27431b2b18baa9acdd2893f8c85fd457/thumbnail_3565000.jpg","/articles/6046798/Texas/Rowlett-council-reviews-Wet-Zone-concession-upgrades-and-proposed-cooler-fee-members-lean-toward-resident-discount","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6046798-79323e09b87ea782fa830a83b3e929f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771080625&Signature=Y8QQtLc3Jne5k4TV9pd4ji7c5KAE5tN0FrQjxEmK3g7en4YL0JZXwVJbhTzCAqIn4Thh2SEfysMGty9sNpz17wIV2kfpPMJXW28hRNXbMZE8La-IOffL2QljW-ytPpQb6g9opdOveITqqRemKomK8LBUmzfAVKYh4CeT5HzZ2voWGGIK18QvviMOPwSghRqA1FMIqd-lorGB3AZnqlUhDsetzDoBET40Yy~W~y-D-dngHFid-SrZUYIQfJ7qjjYDSKmt2t0OlvNsr0tIR95GCGJ~y1la7~B~AtV-1X47~~ydq-HVzTHamq~8kiswT5Hcst4WmKuF7C1amGFlfok8jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff briefed the Rowlett City Council May 5 on recent work at the Wet Zone concession stand, ongoing operational losses and a proposal to charge a fee for coolers brought into the water park to help offset costs.

Britney Farr, presenting on behalf of parks operations, said the concession stand needed substantial repairs and upgrades and that the city spent roughly $15,000 on facility and technology improvements; she also reported product purchases of around $40,000 annually by the city’s vendors and small operating losses in recent fiscal years.

“We’re proposing a fee of $10 per cooler per day with a 48-quart maximum,” Farr said, explaining the proposal would help “offset the lack of revenue that we’re not getting by people bringing in their own food” and to recover a portion of the recent investment.

Farr told council that concession product costs over the last two years totaled about $40,000 per year and that the concession operation lost roughly $4,000 in FY2022 and about $3,000 in FY2023 (figures exclude labor). She listed operational improvements planned for the season, including operating both concession windows, adding an additional point-of-sale system and kitchen printers, and relocating security cameras.

Council members discussed fee design and enforcement. One council member suggested a resident/nonresident differential, proposing $5 for residents and $10 for nonresidents; another said the city should avoid preventing families from bringing small snacks or birthday treats. Council members asked staff to define “cooler” in an FAQ and to exempt baby food and similar items.

Council and staff also discussed season passes. Staff described existing day-pass and season-pass pricing ranges for the park and proposed a season-pass companion that would include cooler entry; council members discussed season-pass pricing equivalent to four to five day visits (staff gave illustrative figures of about $25 for a resident season cooler companion and roughly $45–$50 for nonresidents as examples).

On enforcement, staff said an attendant would inspect coolers at entry and that the allowable items and size limits would be defined in park FAQs. Farr said the fee would be set by council resolution if council directs staff to pursue it; staff noted municipal ordinance/resolution is required for any fee changes.

No formal vote was taken May 5; council expressed a sense of consensus for a resident/nonresident fee split and asked staff to return with a draft resolution and clearer operational definitions, pricing options and projected revenues. Staff also said they will collect baseline data this season to evaluate the fee’s impact and adjust next year if needed.

Ending: Council did not adopt an ordinance or resolution at the May 5 work session; staff will return with pricing options, definitions, and data to inform a future council resolution.","City staff detailed a recent $15,000-plus upgrade to the Wet Zone concession stand, said concession operations have been losing money, and recommended a cooler fee to help offset costs. Council members signaled support for a resident/nonresident fee split and companion season-pass options.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Rowlett library advisory board urges planning for larger facility as federal IMLS funding is uncertain

Residents tell Rowlett council proposed switch to 2-cubic-yard bulk limit would not cover leaf and storm debris

Rowlett council reviews Wet Zone concession upgrades and proposed cooler fee; members lean toward resident discount