Library board backs outdoor classroom; soil study and cost estimate still pending

The Los Alamos Library Board voted to support the library’s proposal to build an ADA-accessible outdoor classroom on the green between the library and the Betty E. Hart Senior Center, board members said during their meeting. The board’s support was a formal motion and passed by voice/roll-call with the majority in favor; one member was absent.

Library manager Gwen presented the plan and said the project is “intended to be a lightly developed, outdoor classroom space, that is ADA accessible with seating for up to 60 people,” describing a covered platform roughly 20 by 30 feet, built-in seating for 20–30 people, and additional space for about 20–30 portable seats. Gwen said the library received 224 responses to a community survey and that “71% said they would use it.” She also said the current estimate for the project is about $400,000 but that staff expect the figure to change after a geotechnical (soils) study.

The board’s support was framed as an endorsement to continue design and move toward construction planning; members repeatedly emphasized that a soils report and utility-locate work are needed before final costs or a contract can be set. County staff explained the soils work will include two to four borings to check for bedrock and that an earlier local installation experienced unexpected rock that required structural changes.

The proposed site is the tree-shaded area between the library and the Betty E. Hart Senior Center, just south of Oppenheimer Place. The current design calls for a permanent shade pavilion with louvers, removable shade sails over tiered built-in seating to the side, crushed-gravel surfaces for flexible seating, and added plantings to help buffer sound toward Oppenheimer Place. The design also proposes electricity and outlets for programmed events; staff said those outlets would be turned off when the space is not being used for library- or senior-center-sponsored events.

Board members and staff discussed ancillary issues that will affect scope and cost: irrigation for new trees and shrubs (to be included in construction documents), drainage considerations, phasing (staff suggested the platform/stage and some landscaping would be logical first-phase elements), and furnishings. Staff described several furniture concepts under consideration (bistro tables, Adirondack groupings and two handicap-accessible picnic tables) and noted the number of freestanding seats shown in design mockups will likely be reduced.

Funding for the project was identified as coming from the Community Services capital improvement project budget allocated for ADA improvements by the town council a few years ago. Gwen and county staff said the project will proceed to final design only after a soils report and utility-locate work inform foundation and structural requirements; until the geotechnical report is complete, staff cautioned cost estimates remain preliminary.

In other board business during the same meeting, the board approved last month’s meeting minutes by voice vote.

Votes at a glance - Approval of prior meeting minutes — Motion to accept minutes (mover and seconder not specified in the record). Outcome: approved (voice vote). Vote details: not specified in transcript. Note: this was a routine approval of minutes. - Support for library outdoor classroom plan — Motion: “the board support the library's plan for open outdoors space.” Mover: Frances (library board member). Second: (name not specified). Outcome: approved. Roll-call indicated support from multiple board members; one member (Michelle) was absent. Staff noted the board’s approval is a support motion to advance design and studies, not a final construction authorization.

What happens next Staff will arrange a geotechnical (soils) study and a utility locate to confirm subsurface conditions and buried utilities. Those reports will inform final structural design for the pavilion and a firm construction estimate. Staff also said landscaping/irrigation and an irrigation plan will be developed in the construction documents. The library plans to present the project to the Parks and Recreation Board and will continue incorporating community feedback into the final design.

Speakers quoted in this account are identified by their roles as recorded in the meeting.