Dear City Council Members, I was dismayed to just now learn that you are still considering the Main Library construction project, as I was under the impression that that was no longer on the table. As I wrote in an email sent at the end of August, I strongly urge you to graciously turn down Mr. Arrillaga's current library offer. While free money is tempting to accept, I do not believe that this particular deal is in the best interests of Menlo Park at this moment in time. I am concerned that moving forward with this project will further postpone and/or displace other city priorities that have already been established and are in motion (or soon to be). Presumably, these priorities have been set taking into account the needs and input of our citizens. My family uses the public library frequently, and we appreciate both it's offerings and its very existence. That said, while an updated and expanded library would be wonderful to have, our current library is certainly sufficient. This is not a pressing need or priority area for our town, and it pushes out other much needed projects--including projects that directly impact the safety and wellbeing of our children (among other things!). Further, I am deeply concerned about several of the 7 staff recommendations that in the staff report. Specifically, I am concerned about the shift in staff and the need for additional resources for a project of this size and scope (recommendation #4). What will be cut out in order to accommodate this new project? I am deeply wary of and concerned by staff recommendation #7: "Increase the City Manager’s contract award authority from $66,000 to $250,000 and waive purchasing requirements for all contracted services required by the Library System Improvements Fund to expedite the project." This seems reckless and irresponsible--oversight and checking systems exist for a good reason. And recommendation #6 is of concern as well: shifting $1million into a library fund from our general budget means $1 million dollars less being spent towards our city's previously established and agreed upon priority areas and goals. Further, I am not a resident of Belle Haven but it seems to me that allocating a mere $140,000 to cosmetic improvements--while better than nothing--is insulting and offensive in the face of a $30-40 million upgrade to a perfectly adequate facility across town. I feel strongly that moving money and staff resources away from our town's current priority areas in order to fund the rest of the library project is wrong both for process reasons and because it's not addressing what we need to focus on most right now. Thank you for your consideration. Respectfully, Rachel Rosner Menlo Park Resident Received on Tue Oct 10 2017 - 14:07:44 PDT
