Roll call, please. Johnson. Tre Jones here. Fat PRESIDENT To its use Councilmember Johnson and council member The The first item up on the agenda. Is the approval of minutes minutes. 26 Dash 6. That minutes for U.S.. 14, 2026. Wonderful for the first item I after meeting. Minutes will take a motion from a council PRESIDENT Maker to prove this item. Is there discussion? Council present maker? Thanks, MRS. Huge issues with the minutes. Don't know that we have agendas in front of us yet. And so of have them open to person over there. Just is looking our committee All those in favor
say Also closed. 5 favors are opposed units have been approved. The second item on the agenda is the staff report. Staff 6 dash the team, transforming libraries. Update. With your full and I will turn it over to director Hartman for this update. Chair just members of the Labor Board. Thank you. We moving out of planning mode into implementation mold with Tran, transforming libraries. So Rick, a state like and Ashley for going t give you all an update about what's moving forward this year in 2026. Thank you for that. Make a second, the library project manager. And here Josh, deputy director of operations Jatyra transforming libraries. And just like director happen said we are moving into the to the actual work of it. And very
exciting. So just a reminder, the transfer being libraries is the facility investment and trade live race. Hamlin. Having that. They had Riverview libraries and then also investments in infrastructure technology that spaces and and spaces and all So we're shifting from planning to implementation. And so we're actively engaged managing and completing our project. Just so excited. They're continuing a fundraising efforts through all of our avenues. We're listening to the needs of patients and staff balancing the priorities while maintaining focus on established. And Lance. To talk first about having to Bay is moving very quickly. The sign went up last week. Believe it was is so exciting to have that step like it now looks like a library. And we've got a couple of
photos here that show that Archway is is up in and cleaned up. So it looks no more page and move on. It. It's looking really beautiful sparkle wash. And then we've got really big, beautiful windows that are really helping me visualize the connection to the community. You see right outside the window and see. right across the way and like right part of the community. It's a mess that storefront being up to the street really does make a huge difference. The streets have garden fences and it looks like it's it's moving along. We're starting to paint right now. So we're getting some color. And there. it's going to be this is the time when the community is really going to be, I think to
the heart of something makes us gonna look done for a while. Now. And we know that we still a lot more work to make it into a library t get the bookshelves the furniture. All of that the library system's going. And we are moving very quickly and on our timeline that we're hoping for. So. Excited have that ready for the public and later and 6 so. As you know, we've been doing community engagement. We had the design and construction decadence complete the closed in MAY 2023. Ad so that the public is really have been waiting a long time for this library. Construction began MAY of 2025. And we're still saying that we're going to be open by late 2026. Open to the public. So moving from that to hey, and so excited to say that we have another project that is under way. The hidden
library is getting ready to and have its transformation happened. This photo is that good? This rendering is a good reminder of one of the big pieces of what's going to happen. Is that visual impact from the outside. People will see its ally brace from the street from the sidewalk and and be able have that visual connection for what happens inside. And here's another space. Another way to see that at we are going to be taking the whole building and every format where things are so that there can be loud areas and for play and movement. Has connection to nature so that the community can go outside and enjoy green space and some shade within that neighborhood that is really lacking green space and shade at a right there, right there. And then this new plan there in space
will be dynamic space on the other side of the building will have study rooms and a quieter in reading area. And so people have that flexibility. Space. The hidden heights timeline is that the design and construction documents are complete in DECEMBER of last year. And JANUARY, last month's opened up the bidding process and we're going to be awarding the general contractor bid. This week very soon. And so this is very exciting news. It means can move very quickly. So the spring we're going close in the lead right to the public the beginning. That construction this spring as well. We know that will learn more about the timeline once they do hire the general contractor. That we are anticipating
that by quarter for 27, we will be open to the public again. And the pass it on to Josh to talk about technology which like this. Yeah. Talk about the. Transforming libraries, elements that affect all of our location. So you've got that 3 major renovations and new construction at a lot of this. And then technology spaces and play and learn something that's happening every one of locations. So technology bridges, you recall is our effort to make sure that our libraries, Aaron environment, that offers people access to the technology as we often say to do life. What we're finding now as implementation is that is so much more than what you might think of just providing hardware like buying more computers by putting them in spaces ensuring we have Wi-Fi. It's really about creating the
environment where people can take advantage of what we have to offer the technology that they MAY be bringing into the space and using that. So what we want to ensure is that we're providing you access. If you bring your own device, we're providing you a comfortable study space or meeting room to use that technology. And we hve staff who can assist to using your own technology, using our technology with their expertise to ensure you're able to get done. What you need to get done. So a lot of what we're seeing is that's not justice. Like I said, by more computers, its facilities updates that help ensure one that are spaces that are existing. Are able to meet the needs of the community. So that's where we have a critic community meeting room, maybe upgrading the pa system. The Avian quit meant that we have
in there. We're adding accessibility features like hearing loops. So if people have hearing issues that can come in access that be able to engage in kind of often technologies for hybrid meetings so people can really take advantage of the space. But whatever their needs are. It's also adding study spaces where we don't have That's a constant demand. We hear from patrons is more areas where I can go and be by myself or with one other person. I can conduct a virtual meeting or I can just have a one-on-one meeting with somebody. So that's where we don't have those adding where we do have them making sure they're adequate to sound You can do what you need to do in there. You're not hearing everything that's happening in the meeting behind you. And so it's really just upgrading a lot of that and then making
sure these are all really evident and welcoming to people I come in. I know what's on offer. I know how to take advantage of it. I know how to reserve it. Their staff that can help you figure that. So what we've done already in 2025, it's update Merriam Park Library. And if you've been you have a meeting spaces down in the lower level and had the old operable partition wall that. Didn't really work that great. And if you had 2 meetings going at the same time, everybody is hearing everything. So they did one large meeting room and we've added some new technology here. We here we've also done some space so that it is going well and into community. People want to hear that space and take advantage of it. was it treated and we had
some sound proofing here at ces for professionalism it s you get a toilet flush when you're in meeting is a little more professional. We added to the system? They're really taking advantage of some of the technology like our meeting, bars and cameras function. We've all probably been part of a hybrid meeting effort that didn't go as planned to spend the majority of the meeting, trying to figure out who is where and how you can hear them. So we really focused on making that assumption. Jesse we had that he needs study rooms. I think it shows examples of those in the past. But those have been really great, really popular. And when now that balcony on the second floor, which formerly housed our Saint Paul Collection, which has been relocated. We'll talk about that another time. Great been
done with that. But that balcony is going to come. It really nice. Large community meeting space with some studies facing on the same ticket. Really desirable space and with hoping it's very popular. Upcoming for tech rich take a count. PRESIDENT Has a question. Thanks so much. Chair. What where does the sample collection move to Yeah. Chair just councilmember. So it's you know, Backes tax. We? We did a lot of space out of there. Staff were able to put that in there. Give someone a gun is a shunt to it as well as Azzam study tables and among the collections so that people can go in and spend more time. Particularly with materials that a reference only and not have to be checked out. If you'd like come, but we can
give a tour of it. It's it's a really nice to space. And so it's still accessible to folks. Just have to go into Yeah, we It's a project with some consultants who came in and did some collection assessment with us and helped us to and define how we could make that more accessible. That's one of the really big goals with that. Okay. Excitement. So we have to play So like I said, this is happening across all of our locations as well 2026 projects. I did. To me, way the Rondo Library, yu know, we've talked about the renovation that's happening there because of that project. We're taking advantage of this time to complete tech rich. And we'll talk about
playing a little bit in that space be able to work with the contract to design partner that we have able to. Get this work done where it's the least disruption possible. And we're not closing spaces while the libraries open. So what will doing there is updating multi-purpose room that are tweeting and a different and it's a new technology opening that up to a larger space removal. That operable Walter said he didn't marry him with community feedback. And again, like I said, hearing that we need more studies basis. We're going to be adding some studies basis to Rondo as well as another small community meeting room with a 68% community meeting. And that's almost Jly's case for partners and community members. So the more
opportunities we can have different different size meetings really advantageous. Nicholson, the new public meeting is going completed this year. So you're hitting good job. You can invite everybody there. And that you'll use that to host 2 meetings. You can beautiful space about co-working seating space would So that's the areas alongside Now want to play it. So playing learned is taking formally been just considered a children's space and turning that into a more dynamic and family space. Our goal is that this is somewhere here. Parents, very young children, tweens all have something that they can engage
within that space. So if I bring my children there. The very youngest have some play areas, things that are engaging around little bit older kids have books and materials that they can read and parents need to do work. And that's baseball the same time being able to monitor their kids. There's furniture that. Fits their needs. There's access to technology. Everybody has what they need in one place. In Twenty-twenty 6 is where we're really hitting the ground on these. We started last year with are designed for him to create a system wide design guide, which is a alliance, the philosophy of what we're talking about when we say playing So have the elements of design that we need to see in every space and in the options that can be
represented in each case based on the different community. It's that we patients. Sunday and then Hammond, bcause it's a new construction is going to fit with that play in philosophy, the subway or on libraries will be open late 2026. So really excited to host. Those is demonstrations basis for you all as well as donors to the fencing, public letters, capital. So some of the challenges that we're seeing and we've talked a lot about all these great opportunities. But there are a lot of challenges that are out here right As you all where shifting federal landscape week to week, we don't know decree is gonna be made about federal funding. That's coming to us. What impact tariffs MAY have on the cost major construction and materials. seen that play out already.
We're estimating forward in the future supply chain disruptions that can greatly impact our timelines. Funding gaps that we have. We still have a lot of money to raise toward Riverview Project, which is further out discuss here today. Ad capacity. We're adding a lot of major projects right now. You know, we've been in this kind of planning mode for a long time. Now. We're in the doing and its needs a lot of dedicated time and effort from Rica and a lot of other myself. And a lot of that is where team said. Trying to continue to move forward, ensuring that were not overloading anybody. Our Capitol fence, that's limited. You know, that's across the city. Whenever the ci the capital funds open up, we know it's a huge competition for everybody's projects, a small pool of money for what the
requester. And then the evolving Pattinson due to the public. We are continuing to pay attention to what patrons asked of us and how we can be responsive to that. This is a multi-year project began many years ago. So we don't want to continue to rely on something. MAY have heard a long time We want to continue to ask our patrons what their needs are hear from them through directed community engagement through interactions that our staff have with patrons and bring forward to us. And it sure that we're continuing to pivot responsive to that. In the mice were important. We've talked about this a lot here that we got told and we continue to hear this part is relevant. Evergreen think that libraries need to be places that are safe, inviting and affirming. You need to comfortable for people of all
cultures, abilities and communities. And these really are the places where people in our community come do life to do the things that they need to do in their day to day revived connection, particularly right now with other community members, access to information. We want to maintain ourselves That's a people to feel this is a safe space that I can go and do what I need to do and talk to people who will help me. Get That open it up. Any questions for Michael thinks. If you have Churchill's, I don't have any questions. But I really just wanted to take the time to commend. All of our staff public libraries and also the friends to community partners like our district councils. And in all the commissioners on our board here for their leadership in that the stunt, this Grand
project envisioned around transforming libraries. When I at picture you had of Hayden Heights Library. I mean, it just brings me so much, joy. It really does stand. The first thing I think about how many times I hear from m residents. I didn't know there was a library there, especially for people who just moved there. But even that they've been been there for a few years already, they also don't know it's a library because it's box building. White paint around no windows. Meet the library site is right there. But it is also not very visible to and soul. I've also heard from residents who have lived in the countryside for over 30 years and the state this year. If me that's like Regis has never gotten renovated the way that we needed to. And this like this is what this is a project for
It's a project for our residents and the East side as project for everybody in Saint Paul, who's coming to the east side to this. It and need a public space to go to into meat and to just be able be with their family and their friends. And it's so meaningful say I just wanted to really put ito perspective how impactful that project is going to be. And that I know that's that pop that on impact. It really is Neary the impact that we know that. But project going to have for many other committees to like with the preview librarian him amid we librarians. So wanted really say thank you to all of you. And when I think about my 5 years on the council here, just the amount of projects and the funny that's been secured to make those projects happen. It's been phenomenal. A me I I think for me
initially I would think it's going to take longer than those to to get those projects going. But actually, I happened and I think for would actually I would even be competency that sometimes it takes even longer for these sort of projects to actually get from point a all the way to point c. And so it's phenomenal. Seeing the community support behind all of this. The trust that's been built between libraries ad the pblic. And it really just goes back to incredible work that our staff are doing every single day. All of So I want to say thank you for that. And I'm really about all the plans for a chance fr me libraries and just looking forward to the work ahead. Thank you. Cause council PRESIDENT Make thanks. Chair. Just everything has worrying said and I can talk a little bit about the plans for Riverview and the timing and the funding. You changes can their and
we can You're looking at late 2027 likely instead the Riverview project. And, you know, that's the one do have the biggest gap and the funding that we need yet. We were able to successfully get some cip funding the last round. And we're hoping, you know, definitely going to playing again. I believe in 27 for some 20 28 capital dollars. We do have some dedicated funding from the friends of the Saint Paul Public Library. Their campaign is continuing, but that's the one where we have the most work to We will be hopefully beginning of next year able to do some independent work. I think I've talked about this a couple times with the a federal earmark that we had previously received. That's going allow us to do the roof. The roof replacement or repair. I
should say if we're able to use the old saying we will and some of the exterior mortar repair and water intrusion mitigation. Those can be done independently of the larger project to put the addition on the building. So we'll do that as soon as that's feasible in our project calendar, which is likely the beginning of next year. But think as we continue and work toward more funding for that, which is. I think like Murray could have said looking at every possible avenue that's going to be some more requests for congressionally directed spending and looking at state funds as well. Bonding that we can get through the legislature and then this cip dollars. So we're hopeful that we can get with either late. 27 early. 28 starts. Customers percent question that was comment and connected to what you just played with actually. So as a current neighborhood that has
championed by all my colleagues here on this council to establish Earth and community center that required local state, even federal dollars to get this done. I just want to lift up that I will, I guess, sort of return the favor. But recognizing to your point that everything poly across the city benefits from the and when we improve our infrastructure. But seeing that library renovation is being is one of the priorities and looking at the fact that it's a bonding coming in to make sure that gap gets filled and that we continue to kind of line or projects up in the shoots. Again, just similar to a summary. And I think the secret sauce to Saint Paul staff and all the great work that you all do and the projects that you bring
forward. And I seeing the mock-ups of the library is incredibly exciting. And so i do hope that neighbors are feeling the momentum behind what this project can look like. But also feel kind of like what it delivers for the community because I know for the north and the North and community Center just inherently change the way the folks moved to the neighborhood, the lead that the access resources, but also the way that they connect to their neighbors and so similar in the way that libraries are incredible space for for congregating getting to know each other. You lost in a book taking event or somewhere. I'm really, really excited and will be incredibly support of this project. The project sitting to completion will champion them along the way as well. So thank you for this is a great staff report has always been here that there is really, really good cool things happening in the city
during a really tough time. So I appreciate the update. Questions or comments. Well, I appreciate that comes PRESIDENT. Think that, you know what I'm hearing is were going to be opening a new library this year for an open a new library next year. maybe the after the after that. I don't I don't know exactly what analysts review, but that's so exciting. I heard in in. You know, the transforming libraries projects words, those 3 projects are these, you know, temperature in play and learn spaces are so vital to our communities, especially right now making sure that our neighbors have safe spaces together where they can, you know, connect with each other and just continue to do life is it's just, you know, what's
really keeping all of us going. And so thank you so much, too. If you director into Joshan Rico for all your help and all of your staff. And just to echo what my colleague said, that they were very committed to transferring libraries into these projects. We understand there are challenges and there's a large gap with Riverview. But we you know, we look to bring that same level of commitment to to seeing, you know, all the projects through to the very and so it really just appreciate want help really appreciate the friends of for all their support. We wouldn't be here without them. But this is really an exciting year coming here. Coming up to open the first of the transfer Libres projects that the him Midway Library. So thank you
so much for that. I'm gonna turn it over to director Hartman to tell us about about about Really briefly. That's all To just scared me for a in front of you is this year's Reed brave book. It's Bobi Sona by Ro-mina Carver. We've watched this program last week. As you know, every year we pick a young adult or a teen novel and we bring people together through the power of the story and the offer comes and visits schools and we do a public event. We'll be doing that. The first week MARCH this year, every year we select our titles in the summer of the previous year. So last year and the beginning of the summer. My team and I thought really hard about what does it mean? What will it mean to rebrand flee
in 2026? In Saint Paul. And we knew then that it was important to select a story about immigrants. But we could not have imagined that when we launched it this month MAY be launching in our current reality of Minnesota and we took some extra time just to make sure that as we launched it, putting it in the appropriate context. Bt still also believe that it's the library staff to raise up stories and to tell stories and 2 the together in community that reading is both Amir so that people can see their own experiences reflected and a window so that we can see and experience bills the lives of other people. Also, the author is thrilled to come She is looking forward revenge. Just looking forward to talking young people ad has already had every child's from a lot
of them. As you can imagine. So please, please share widely? I's it MAY not appear to be, but it is this beautiful. young adult fantasy, but it starts in a world very similar to the one that we're living in right now with families and with ice. And and also it gives us an opportunity to talk differently about who belongs and where belong 2. So I hope you are able to participate and share it widely. We're really proud of that. Thank you so I. I really enjoy participating the re program and you and your staff to an amazing picking what book that we're going read this year. And I you know, I don't know there's a better could have picked for this moment. So I'm really looking
forward to to the event coming up. And I know you shared the Dayton probably time some point. But doctor will be there. And then there's usually young people there to that are on panel is same program To just thanks for reminding me. I didn't actually say the specifics. It's Thursday. MARCH from 5.30, to 8 o'clock at that early to tell us library and I mayor will be there. I'll be there. Young people will be in conversation with the author and we're also could be live streaming that as we recognize that not everybody MAY feel they can attend in person. Also be doing a community meal as well and bringing folks together around the book and just to be together. Wonderful. Folks have about
a month to read this and I look forward to reading it. You can also check it out digitally on Libyan. You can listen to it, too, which I really enjoy being able to to experience lot of different ways to make sure that they get you can stream so everyone to get involved. Every brave again is one of favorite events programs like put on every year. So really looking forward to their more events, usually to right on top of that, that we'll get updates So nothing else to come before us. Appreciate everyone else is everyone's working participation. But we are adjourned.