Library Park site plan and parks master-plan survey advance; consultants will refine options

Commissioners received an update on the Library Park site plan and the parks comprehensive-plan outreach at the July 14 meeting. An ad hoc committee working with Group 4 consultants presented tentative concept drawings based on a mix of in-person and online input and said consultants will issue an additional community survey to gather more feedback.

Key points - Consultants presented preliminary, loose drawings based on the city’s assessed needs and prior public input; the ad hoc committee continues to meet monthly. - The committee indicated the consultant team’s current assumption is to retain the original 1930s Carnegie building and explore new construction around it; full-site demolition was discussed but not agreed to. - A new public survey was released to solicit broader input; commissioners were asked to take and share the survey with neighbors to increase response rates. The consultants are collecting survey responses directly and will report results to the committee. - Commissioners noted the project is at a needs-assessment stage; staff said the assessment is a necessary step for later funding applications and that construction, if it occurs, would be years away.

Next steps - The ad hoc committee will continue monthly meetings with Group 4 consultants to refine concepts. - Consultants will compile the new survey data and present updated options to the committee and to the commission when available; staff will confirm whether the consultant presentation can be scheduled for a future commission meeting.

Attribution and procedure - The commission update and discussion were given by committee members and staff during the regular meeting; the agenda materials will include consultant updates and forthcoming survey results when finalized.