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Glendale council pauses Velma Teague Library relocation, directs removal of library work from downtown contracts
Summary
The Glendale City Council voted unanimously to remove the Velma Teague Library relocation and demolition work from two construction agreements for the downtown campus reinvestment project and to bring redesigned contract language back to council for consideration.
The Glendale City Council on Jan. 14 unanimously directed the city manager to remove work related to the Velma Teague Library from amendment language in two downtown campus reinvestment contracts and to return revised contract documents for council approval.
The action affects Amendment No. 2 to the owner/design professional agreement with Holly Street Studio LLC and the preconstruction services agreement with Oakland Construction Company, Inc. Council Member Leandro Baldenegro moved to have the manager strip the library scope from the contracts; the motion carried on a 7-0 roll-call vote.
Council Member Leandro Baldenegro told colleagues he had reconsidered his prior vote after constituent outreach and asked the council to “end any and all research work looking into this, moving the library to the promenade.” City staff said removing the library scope now would require little or no payment to the contractors if no related work has been performed, and that staff would bring back an amended agreement that retains only the small non-library services needed for the wider downtown project.
City Manager Kevin Phelps and Engineering Director Don Besseler briefed the council that the contracts are written so scope can be expanded or reduced and that minimizing scope where no work has occurred should result in minimal cost. The city attorney’s office clarified that the mayor’s office submitted the request to place these items on the agenda; staff later said the change would be implemented by replacing the current amendment with a revised amendment (described by staff as an “amendment 3”) that omits library-related work.
Council members said they expect the council to receive a separate presentation on library options. Council Member Bart Turner and others said the council member who has a council item of special interest on the library will still be able to pursue that review; staff said a workshop on options will be scheduled so the public and council can review alternatives for the library going forward.
The council’s direction pauses the formal design and preconstruction work tied to relocating or demolishing the Velma Teague Library as part of the downtown reinvestment project and returns those decisions to the council for further consideration.
Ending: Staff will prepare revised contract language removing the library scope and return it to the council for formal action and public review; the council also expects a workshop to explore library options before any future contract or demolition decisions.
