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? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? roll call, board members. Johnson. >> A common maker being here. We care. Chair jumps here. 7 present know absent. Item number one, approving the minutes of the May 6, 2026 library board minutes. >> So I will take a motion from Councilmember Kim to approve minutes. Is there any discussion? >> Seeing none. All those in favor say Aye. I had was a post. Item number 2 authorizing the safe and in 6 7 in favor. None opposed. minutes are approved. number 2 authorize in the Saint Paul Public Library Agency to accept 3,000 150 3 million, 250,000 from the Department of
Housing and Urban Development for E. >> He denied slavery Reconstruction Project. Amending the 2026 in Public Library Budget. Great. A lot of the items on our discussion today can be accepting money, which is really exciting. So this is money coming forward for the Heights Library Reconstruction Take a motion from council vice President Yang to approve this item. Is there any discussion? So it's really thank you. chose to I'm very supportive of this item and just wanted to share that. I will pass the library every day. It's exciting and fun to just. >> See the daily changes to it. It's wrapped all around with very heavy-duty. I'm sure plastic wrap even and making it through during the rain. And so again, can't wait to see the many faces of the work and see it come go to go to the finish line thank you. thank you. Any other discussion. All right. All those in favor say Aye, aye. All those opposed. >> 7 favorite unopposed. Item is Item number 3, accepting a gift of And number 3 resolution public hearing 26 dash one. 29 accepting the gift of $80,461 from the friends of the same public library and amending the library's 2026 financing and spending plans.
This is really exciting. Thank you to the friends for for this money. ? >> Exciting to see in a big deal and we appreciate your partnership and all of your effort to help support the library. With that, I'll take motion from Councilmember Coleman to prove this item. Is there any discussion? Councilmember Justin item? Just a quick clarification. If is there public text, there's a public hearing. >> it flags at the last to I think. Yes. Okay with hearings. Thank you. Think okay here. Let's go back to we can go back to the previous one. So cn you read number 2 Yeah, but there's a public hearing here today. It's supposed that. Yes, very. It's resolution public hearing at 26 stash 93 as rising the Saint Paul Public Library agency to accept 3 Million. >> $150,000 from that Department of Housing and Urban Development for 8 Nights Library Reconstruction Project in amending the 2020 16 Public Library Budget. OK, thank you. Thank you. Because we're down to this will set a public hearing. So if you're here to speak on this item. This is their public hearing. Anyone here speaking on this item. All Thing said, we'll do make a motion. Hear a motion from counsel this for to close a public hearing and
approve this item on favor. Say Aye, aye. All those opposed 7 in favor. 0 post. The item is approved and I guess were still an item And this is also a public hearing. Something. there anyone here to speak on this item now is your chance. Seeing none. I'll take a motion from Councilmember Johnson too close a public hearing and approve. Is there any discussion help us a favor say Aye. Aye. It was apose. 7 in favor. None opposed. Item is adopted item for resolution. 26 dash 9.18, authorizing the public library agency to accept. >> Minnesota Department of Education Grant funds in the amount of 250,000 to support reconstruction of the Riverview Library and record the property declaration related there, too. The said that a public hearing, but this item is also accepting money in this one's for the Riverview Library of Commotion from council president maker to come end of his reign discussion. Those in favor say Aye, aye. Those posts. 7 in favor. None opposed item is adopted. Item. Number 5 is staff report. 26 stash. 98 Rondo Community Library update. >> So we've got a >> Rebecca Ryan and Marlee know okay to go here to give us a presentation on the run library projects.
Welcome. >> Thank you, Chair Jones, thank you. Councilmember changes day care the deputy director for public services. And this is my colleague and really not OK to the public services manager for the library. very lst minute presentation on the desk tap here for just a moment. And so tis presentation going to walk us through just current update the community engagement process that we did. Some show some updated building plans and talk about some update, upcoming events. So reiterating our first kind of project happening at Rondo. Was the initial funding of the $793,000. That was allocated by the city and the 2025 budget from the state public safety AIDS, specifically for a safety focused renovation of the entryway we have taken advantage of this closure pursue their transforming libraries. Initiatives that encourage spaces and then the play and learn spaces at at the same time and have also received a $500,000. State Department of Education Grant for Multipurpose community centers that wll support fades to meeting room and study us. So It is a complex project and that 3 things are happening at once. And so the safety and meeting room improvement projects pieces have gone to bed. We have a
boarded the bid and they are under currently in the process contracting with the So hopefully coming. Community engagement session and we'll be able to say was. I do want you to know that the plan learn construction bid will be coming out later in that's just much smaller piece of this project that specifically focus and play and there and improvements to base case. >> Not just going to before go customer requests and the plan part of the transforming libraries in. It's also my understanding that that's still everything will still be staying on schedule, even with doing that project at the same Yes, thank you. professionally. I think you're thank you so much have a question about the plan learn I appreciate asking making sure it's still within timeline. >> Can you point to where like the map exactly where the play and learn will take place are is that the play learned? It's going to be, you know, including all the space are to specific site inside of the changes councilmember updated schematic of the floor plan that they can do better of pointing that out to you later in program. But it is essentially where the children's area is right? >> OK, so still remain. There something we look OK? Thank
you. >> some actually go back one. Thank you, Rebecca. So I'm gonna talk a little bit about >> the engagement site and how we ensure that Rondo community members and staff. Had a real voice in the renovation project. So. Rebecca mentioned, we engaged around these 3 areas. These 3 key areas. So some updates to the entryway. >> Our tech rich spaces in our plan learned spaces. So for the entryway updates, we focused on creating a larger and more welcoming interests. And marketplace you can see in the purple sort of like where the marketplace will be. But that's sort of like. What we think of as like the core of the library. So where are your pick up? Your holds where there might casual seating where folks can kind of just hang out in the library. >> Make copies and things like that. We engaged around the Tikrit spaces so expanding our community meeting spaces with updated audio and video equipment. And then also as Rebecca tuched on the planned update. So it's basically an expansion and refreshing of the children spaces that incorporate early learning opportunities and play. >> Directly into design elements. So some highlights for you and what how we engage. So use multiple methods to collect feedback.
And engage our community and our staff. We email say about that. We email tech which questions to 1500 Rondo community meeting room users. >> So we just went back through our laws and folks that use the meeting rooms over a period of time. We emailed them directly with the questions we currently regularly email more than 5,500 Rondo community Patrons with Project update invitations to provide feedback and to attend events. So the folks that are just on our regular newsletter list. We hosted for coffee community Sessions specifically focusing on library programs and our space updates. We hosted focus groups with Rondo Elders in some of our homework center. Families. And then we also hosted 3 staff input sessions and we also collect that long-form surveys from the community. We received over 250 responses to the long form. A community surveys. And this is one of the ways that we engage folks directly in the library spaces. So this is a poster board that has some pictures of various types of study room configurations and community members and staff were able vote like a simple dot vote on what they want to see in the spaces. So everything from the style shares that they thought would be comfortable to how many
chairs will be in a study room space or how large a table would be or how many people could sit at a table comfortably. And as you can see, we've got a lot of feedback directly from staff and community on those that serve ace. And then I pass it back over t Rebecca for what we heard. So these are general updates about what we heard community. Then we are specifically asking about pieces of with Really people really wanted to make the space feel like of ivory. Exactly. When you walk in the So there's books. There's pomp, colors. We heard a lot about wayfinding, you know, rentals a large space. And if you're coming for that's the opposite end of the library. >> People just really wanted a better way to know where they're supposed to go, what they're supposed to do, restroom changes. Lots of thoughts about Kees. That's that's about wait and then a quiet space additions. had requests for Paris pays for Haitians face for just simply quiet space. >> And so and flexible spaces to accommodate the needs of soul. We have updated study spaces for individuals and small groups which has been a constant request, a ride over the years. And again, wayfinding for meetings for
holds pickup and more. >> Clarity on those public space. And then some of the feedback that we incorporated into the updated plans staff. We change the location and the number of single stall restrooms. We moving towards a multi style approach for long ago. >> But there some specific family restrooms and we change the location so that they Directly near the children's area. We added the outer kind restroom door on the entrance to the multi so rest and in response to some techniques, survey feedback. >> We ended a storage closet. And that meeting, didn't you take away operable lot. It really wasn't poviding the kind of papacy in town to seeing that people were looking for. We heard a lot about easy to use monitors and flexible tables and likely chairs. And so really excited to provide those updates. And most of our meeting rooms. >> And also include easy access to cleaning supplies in response to her family survey will children's area. Fortunately is big enough to accommodate Rondo parents request for full active play and quiet reading opportunities and the children's area. And generally people are looking for greater separation between the children And B think will be able to accomplish this with
this plan. Just a few direct quotes and let what we asked people what they responded with friends on line from service and I won't read those and And as I mentioned, this is a >> the update floor plan. And so we've taken the opportunity to just moves the teen area to make some changes to where the restrooms are located. Tad study rooms in quiet rooms. >> To icrease visibility. specificity of the things that you can do in the and that kind of like that the area. And then in the late queen where it says children in homework that it will essentially remain the play and learn space and the hallmarks entering meeting the next to it will be incorporated. They will remain the same. Just updated drawings of the lobby. It is set to end its be designed to look like. Steady And lastly, some timelines. As I said, we ordered the construction bid. We are on track to be reopened at Dillon University in late 2026. And we do have a plan to include a public art project will likely be a mural wall covering in the lobby. >> we will work on a call for artists slated for later in the summer. you for upcoming programs. So we're hosting the community of think session next Tuesday, June 9th and that'll be from 5 to 6.30, in
club room. C. >> Which actually adjacent to the library space or a space that we're using for the actual library Brown. And then we have a partnership with springboard for the arts where we're hosting 2 artists at 2 different location, 2 different locations. But we're hosting Brianna Williams at Rondo. And so she's going to start her program. Her. So it's essentially a artist in residence program where she'll be connecting with Rondo elders and scenes and trying to create connections through art and conversations and leading them through what our project. So the first iteration of that series is scheduled for June 13th 03:00PM to 05:00PM. And then we're going to start our Rondo legacy through the generations Series, which I'm really excited about. So again, it's a conversational style program that will span several months. And what words starting with conversations with elders and they will move through the series of conversations with different age groups until we get Rondo Youth. And so the and the result of that program is where we will have. We will position folks to understand more about the history of Rondo and the Elders and their connections to the community directly to the youth and how they envision the future of Rondo in the work that they're
doing in the community t Project Rondo forward. So super excited about that. And the first iteration of that one is going to be Tuesday, June 23rd from 5, 37, 30 and will be starting that conversation with Frank White who, goodness, I can't think of a name his book, but Love with the game. Yes. Thank you. Love the game. Yes, be talking about >> I'm sorry. Benny is going to be our facilitators of any Roberts from the executive director of the havoc you Brown. Community Center is I felt like he would be like that connective tissue for the program. So he will be the person that is facilitating the conversation with each presenter throughout the series. >> And just pausing for second comes to President Nixon had a question. Thanks, chair. Just I'm asking for 2 young friends. Are these intended to be for children as well as adults? They are family friendly. Yes. >> So I think it. Yeah. I think they are other family friendly. I don't know if I would say that they're specifically for children because children could attend. And I think that concludes our presentation and we are. put your questions if there any questions. Comments go to council present maker and then
ship thanks to just really excited to see this update. Thank you so much for it to questions you talked about putting out the bins for the planned learn space. I know that we have. We have renovated plan, learn spaces throughout libraries and wondering is there a reason why we had to do a separate but for this one rather than using the contractor we've been using? That's one question. And then the lobby picture and wondering, obviously assume that that's kind of from. Looking so looks a lot different than the landing. obviously wondering, is there any sort of security presence desk, anything for you get to the desk that we're seeing pictures there? >> We've talking a lot about what is that? Both the welcome and kind of way finding that you get when you walk into the library. picture doesn't do a great job Showing you get will be much closer to the entryway. And so what we're looking their safety specialists and other one. the continue roaming and interactive things. so not necessarily someone that like 3 right. When you walk in the and we're expecting staff and others to do that, it could be the safety specialist. But focus for them is to throughout the space. >> And then the question about
And we with this play and through the transforming ivory's. We've really updated the vision for what could be in our spaces we wear. think it's okay if I say we're planning doing first, but the opportunity to work and go when it's closed, one that we couldn't pass And so we do have. >> We didn't use like a specific contractor before when we did plan so we will be bidding. They will be much >> Smaller changes and improvements. Then, example, the safety improvements to the entry in the battered U.S.. >> And then popped to use the same contractor them. On all transforming libraries, plan learns basis going forward or does that need to be? I that prosecution and I believe we intend to use it for and I can get back to you and I don't I don't and it's going forward there and I can get back to you. >> questions, we have a question. Yes, thank you, Chair. Justin, thank you so much for the presentation. As reiterate, I appreciate comprehensive update. And, you know, there's been multiple series Hamas full tuch points along the way and been very transparent in terms of like what the plan is. And also and gauging Ali, my office, we really engaging rondell elders.
To that point, I know I'm excited to hear learn more out of the community. Update. But just in terms of like the engagement process, I'm just wondering, was there any questions related to safety? Because from my observation, when you're asking question around, well, coming to the feel welcomed, it's a different type of question you can when you walk in, are you safe? Do you see? >> Like when you're bringing your kids here, you know, what are the things that you kow, what are the factors? Are the dynamics play that makes you feel like this? A safe place for such a welcome place, which I think, you know, really caught early can be very different. it's really important that we prioritize people being welcomed, but just understanding that the dollars that dedicated to this renovation was safety related. Very specific to some of the safety concerns that we have seen across alley that corridor. But in major cities across the country, you know, dealing with our fit process and dealing with their unsheltered communities. I'm just pretty I'm just curious around just like the questions and engagement where they centered around just some of the dynamics in the issues that we've seen. And also if teens and impact the communities have been involved. I do think understanding that, you know, this is a historic
neighborhood. It's called the round of community is very driven and collaborative with many of our Rhonda leaders and elders. But when you go into know Rondo and for myself as a council member, I spent majority of my youth at round ally Berry. I'm just curious to know, like has there been any coffee conversations that were centered more so around, like the young people, the U and also those who are unsheltered. had. >> Boards posted at Reno at Halle throughout our community engagement process. We did engage with the youth that were coming into the library at this pace. We didn't specifically do teen engagement session. We did. I'm trying to think of how to explain it. I wouldn't say that. You know, unsheltered folks are in the library with us always we wouldn't necessarily have singled them out. But they would be included the various methods that we engage. People perhaps not through e-mail, but definitely we made sure to have both kind boards presenting potential designs and surveys in the space well as being able to attend any of coffee and conversations. That's my experience of those was that they wre pretty multi-generational audience that attended those despite having the
And then what I would say about safety >> I will double check. Pretty sure. We safety questions on forms. Survey. with that, we heard it throughout fedback throughout you know, when I have to wait for the bathroom and I'm not sure what I'm gonna walk into from the person who was there before me. But I'm not sure when I can't see what I'm walking out of the building into what actually I think Alex was telling me that one of our regular submitted a survey that talked about sometimes they don't want to sit grisly adults is I believe the phrase they use and the computers and so. >> It I you see it in the ways that parents are like. He was 6th grader separation between children and adults basis. >> We want the community agreements for had to act in a public space to be really clear and really fairly enforced across everyone in the library. For example. So we definitely heard about safety throughout the survey. is Presented in the changes in case updates that made. I don't know if it's it's kind of hard to see on this photo. There's a really small. Blue meeting >> Near sort of like the library help area in a sort of an adjacent to the very large meeting room. >> That will have class and
both sides. That was. And so when you're walking in and out of you'll be able to see through We specifically want have shades. So you can see what's happening outside on the street in a way that you weren't always able to before. So that's and then it's also a great case. >> example, or mental health professional may want to meet with someone and that. >> Pretty visible. Place that you don't have to travel very far. And I taxes? >> head follow-up to I am, you know, I definitely appreciate know this is a it's a really large undertaking in terms of no, but a limited amount of money in a very limited scope. You know what we can do? I'm you know, there's a lot patients and the public in terms of, you know, once the library is reopened, you know. The measurement is going to be like as the conditions have changed and understanding that the physical structure, library is not going to change the community dynamics and the kind of lived experience that many of our residents are. I'm going through in that neighborhood. But I just wanted to reiterate understanding that it was a very limited, but that was rethinking about design. No, what our spaces that we can actually have that are why not trauma informed space what our spaces that we can have as
resources for whether it's a county or the state or we think about, you know, someone was the top of caseworker get some type of resources, understanding that that's a integral part of our community now, right to ensure that those resources are available at Rondo, it being, you a acessible, you know, and section, you know, I'm I like the idea in terms of making sure like it's vibrant and visible in the windows and we have more technology. I think that's amazing. But I also want to make sure that a person who may be struggling in the same way that we've seen them struggle in the past at their walk through those doors. What's the culture and what is the support systems there in that does not exist. That Rondo water like what are like? The staffing are the navigators to hlp redirect some warning to get that type of support just because it's been a really public conversation in terms of what intended purpose of the library. And I think, you know, you're really capturing that well in terms of like, how do you know it's a library. One walk in, right? Use e-books. You see staff. But someone's coming in just looking for help, what are what is the redirection? Are the staffing are the the the space for them to Because I think some of the things say
this last part. Beautiful idea in terms of lactation. Credible idea in terms of having praying room because we want to make sure that w you know, I inviting to all of our community members would not want that to be. I wouldn't want. Those basis to be compromised if we're not able to actually manage, you know, I want to make sure their family comes and that they feel safe enough to, you know, like you selecting Janeiro, right? know that they do feel safe enough to pray and that there's not other behavior that's going on in those spaces that we did not intend to. But we also want to make sure intentional about preventing. >> Councilmember Billy, I think you just really stated. What is both beautiful and really difficult intent about running a public space that is pretty low barrier for most people i the ways that we need to be responsive to the people walking in the door. >> And the ways that we need to be in some cases quite firm and clear with what the boundaries of our library service actually are. What is? >> What is our job to help somebody access? All the referrals in the world? Are we going to be able to treat their mental health crisis on the spot we are now. And so then the question becomes, if that's happening. What are we
doing to engage with it? think, continuing to talk , I - about this with her colleagues at the city and at the county. As you mentioned, there's lots of resources out there. And if any city or county has figured out the perfect way to get people, the help they need when they need it. I would love to talk to them about that. But it still. What boundaries are u haul in? How are you holding them? Is ongoing conversation that frankly, we've always had that Rondo and we'll keep having always had folks coming in their case. there looking for a quiet place to meet and I'm excited that will be able to actually give that to in a way that seems private and not like their businesses can and what are the limits of library service Some are Johnson had question. Thank you, chair and I appreciate presentation as well. And just kind of taken the information. also appreciate the responsible 2 of the engagement efforts will have taken on. I was just wondering and for my own clarification for the safety specialists and I guess the service desk. I know you mentioned the lobby picture that it wasn't far back. I don't think is what the image shows. I'm also looking at the floor plan, though, and just seen it like a little bit further back and right at the
entry cause you specify a little bit about where they will be. And only ask that question because I think one of the engines will in the interim with my understanding, too, is that people can go to the restroom before really ever coming to the front desk and this image. It also looks like some folks could get access to the small adjacent meeting room without it as well. And so I'm just wondering, like, you know, hear you with you can actually see from the outside in what actually happening. But you don't have to go into fly very, very far. It doesn't like it the site plan because looking where the doors are, it's pretty much right by entry. A lot you could you just share a little bit about like how fr in the would have to go before you come in contact with library staffers, hundreds but safety specialist. And this mostly they will be positioned at the service desk, which is quite a bit closer. The old service task was more let's see if they can. Where this area is. We've moved quite a bit closer to the door. And we have some conversations to have with staff about. Proactive. Welcome into this space. You won't be able to walk into this room, our meeting rooms or default lacked and you need to have a reservation. So you
will need to calm and interact with staff. If you want to use that room, if you've had a reservation or you want to make one, you know, for upcoming time. So it won't be a an open space. >> What I'm excited about where planning to move our check out. >> Right here. Basically where the bathrooms used to be. And our holds pickup and like. >> Lucky day items will be right there in the lobby. So there will be quite a bit more library traffic just doing their kind. A regular business right in the entry way that I think. gives you a different vibe when you enter this space. >> I guess as a follow-up all the shares that with engines, kind of checking monitoring that. know, like a word when you walk into library here literally walking straight into the front desk with things buffs library. It's kind of the same. But the model an. Even if you're walking in your kind of we want, don't get too far without having contact with anyone and just thinking about like whether or some of the city's special us but have to even too. I think direct someone differently, maybe from they can direct walkway pass right into the children and homework area. I just want just share that has
like a feedback of my initial thought you know, you're going to have adults moving into the library way the first thing that they will see when they walk in its like in the back as the children or homework area, too. And so just if there is any sort of interventions that might want interact with staff. Yeah, and I think that's a good point. I had a thought to in the rendering that tey've showed. It's it's it's it does seem like it's for teir And it isn't looking at this. It's hard for me to tell. this is to scale exactly where they're at. But it looks like, you know, the with the couple of those service desks before you get to the entrance. So maybe we're talking like. 15 or 20 feet. I'm not sure. But I think that that will be helpful me when. If there were a scale so that the strongest or will actually see the space to see what that feels like. Yu know, I guess the question would be are, is there an opportunity for any kind of adjustment if needed? If we do think there's because feel like I hear what you're saying, is there too much open space. But when you walk in and when you get to the desk that might be causing problems or just maybe not exactly what is working well, and the