The construction of a new River Center Library and the demolition of the library’s current building on St. Louis Street are back on the Metro Council’s agenda, four weeks after the council unexpectedly deferred the items.
Another public hearing and possible vote will take place at today’s meeting on the two items relating to the new downtown branch—a once controversial topic library officials thought was put to bed years ago.
The council deferred voting Jan. 27 on whether to approve a lease agreement for the East Baton Rouge Library System to move into an 8,750-square-foot temporary location in the Kress Building at 447 Third St. The temporary space would cost the system $14,500 a month for 30 months while the new building is being constructed. It would cost another $161,000 to move the library from its current location to the temporary site.
The main sticking point is what some council members feel is the high price to rent space in the Kress Building and whether library officials searched for a better deal in another downtown location.
Spencer Watts, director of the parish library system, told the council at the Jan. 27 meeting that library officials scouted between 15 and 20 downtown sites, and have determined the Kress Building is the best site for a temporary location. Watts, in a statement, says the other downtown locations either are not available or cannot accommodate a temporary library branch.
Library officials also point out that the monthly rent at the Kress Building includes utilities, which they say saves about $2 to $3 per square foot each year. Utilities for the current branch cost about $90,000 annually.
“We think an important consideration is that as we move to the temporary space, we will be operating in a much smaller footprint,” Watts says. “While the lease rates in the downtown area are relatively high, there will be a considerable savings in operating costs due to this smaller footprint.”
The library system cannot move forward with the construction of a new River Center branch, a $19 million project, until the temporary location is set up. Metro Councilman John Delgado, who was one of the more vocal members questioning Watts about the rent amount, says as of Tuesday afternoon he has not yet seen the information provided by the library system, so he cannot say if the information alleviates his concerns.
Buddy Amoroso, the councilman who previously called it “fiscal insanity” to demolish the current downtown branch to make room for a new one, hasn’t changed his mind and says he will vote against the temporary location lease if a vote is taken at today’s meeting. Amoroso says he’s had friendly conversations with Watts, and respects him, but disagrees with the library director on this issue.
Also at today’s meeting, the council will hold a public hearing and possibly vote on appropriating $460,000 of programming access fees for phase two of the Metro Council chambers renovation; and whether to authorize Mayor Kip Holden or the chairman of the Baton Rouge Metro Airport Commission to increase parking and facility-use fees at the airport.
Officials from the East Baton Rouge Parish Emergency Medical Services will also provide a six-month follow-up report on medical services in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison; while officials from the Baton Rouge Area Chamber will give an update on economic development within the parish; and the council will officially ask the Parish Attorney’s Office to compile a list of the types of financial incentives available to try to attract a hospital to north Baton Rouge.
The council will convene at 4 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 222 St. Louis St. See the full agenda.
—Ryan Broussard
