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Leon Valley council delays decision on deteriorating library annex after staff details damage and costs
Summary
Councilors heard that the library annex is age-worn, not ADA-compliant and has a leaking roof; repair quotes ranged from about $6,500 to $8,700 while demolition and a prefab replacement were estimated roughly near $300,000. The council voted to postpone a decision to Nov. 18 to review capital-plan materials and friends-of-the-library input.
The Leon Valley City Council on Tuesday postponed a decision on what to do with the library annex after a staff presentation laid out extensive structural and accessibility problems and a wide range of repair and replacement costs.
Melinda Mortz, the city's public works director, told the council the annex sustained storm and hail damage and that an interior ceiling had collapsed, prompting an inspection. "The lowest quote we got for the roof was 6,500," Mortz said, and she described a mid-range estimate "about $8,700." Mortz also told councilors the building is not ADA-compliant and that demolishing the annex and buying a portable building to replace it could run "under 300,000."
Mortz said the annex had been a sales building originally and that its hallways and bathrooms cannot accommodate wheelchairs. She recommended taking the building’s condition into account when reviewing the capital improvements list the city manager will present in January.
City Manager Dr. Caldera and other staff urged councilors to consider the annex in the larger capital-improvement planning process rather than commit reserve funds immediately. Dr. Caldera said department directors must submit updates for the city’s capital improvements plan by Jan. 6 and that staff’s goal is to present prioritized infrastructure needs at a Jan. 24 town hall.
Members of the council and volunteers who run the library’s book sales described the annex’s ongoing use and revenues. A Friends volunteer said the monthly sales generate about $1,200 to $1,500 annually and stressed the annex also stores archives the library would like to display.
Councilor Bolton moved to postpone action until the council’s Nov. 18 meeting so members could review the library director’s fuller presentation and hear from the Friends; Councilor Heil seconded. The voice vote carried.
The council did not adopt a repair or demolition plan Tuesday; staff will return with the capital plan materials and the library’s presentation at the Nov. 18 meeting.
