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Murrieta council approves $8M plan and construction contract for children’s library expansion
Summary
Council approved construction and financing for a 4,500 sq ft expansion of the Murrieta Public Library children’s area, fully funding the $8.02M project with a state grant, interfund loan, Measure T funds and private commitments; groundbreaking is scheduled for Sept. 4.
Murrieta City Council on Aug. 19 authorized the construction contract and financing strategy for a planned 4,500‑square‑foot expansion of the Murrieta Public Library’s children’s wing.
Staff described the project scope — a north‑side expansion that includes a 1,300‑square‑foot multipurpose story time room (divisible into two rooms), expanded children’s stacks, remodeled tween space and new restrooms and staff offices — and presented renderings of interior and exterior spaces. Staff said the project will keep the library open during construction and will activate surrounding outdoor spaces for programming.
On financing, staff said the city received a $1.5 million California Library Building Forward grant that required a 50% local match; the plan includes a proposed interfund loan of $3.5 million at 1% for 30 years, $752,813 from the library development impact fee (local match) plus other library DIF funds ($802,300), and up to $1,075,000 from Measure T reserves. Staff reported private commitments totaling roughly $388,400 to date, including a $25,000 donation from Dan Lee presented at the meeting. With those elements the total project funding commitment was stated at about $8,024,138.
Staff said the city ran a competitive bid and selected RC Construction as the low, responsive bidder; pending council approval, a preliminary groundbreaking ceremony was scheduled for Sept. 4 with construction starting in mid‑September and an estimated construction duration of about 12 months.
Council heard public support from library foundation and Friends groups and moved to adopt the financing package, award the construction contract, and authorize related contract amendments; the motions carried unanimously, 5–0.
