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Library awaits vote on LeVenue
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: August 14, 2014

The Valley Center City Council could vote as early as Sept. 2 whether to move forward with the library's plans to expand into the LeVenue building in downtown Valley Center.

Though its Sept. 2 meeting agenda is not set, the city council is expected to continue discussing the LeVenue decision.

The library board is scheduled to present to the council estimates on how much building improvements, including ADA upgrades, would cost.

Amy Stamm, president of the library board, said an architect was hired to work on the list of improvements. The board also plans to have a licensed contractor put estimated pricetags on the projects.

The board had previously given the council a list of improvements. However, the costs were estimated by the LeVenue property's owner, who is a contractor. The council wanted a third party to provide cost estimates.

Stamm also said the library board had received pledges for additional funds to pay for renovations, something the council said was missing from the library's original proposal in June and July.

Council members wanted firm cost estimates before it makes a decision on the sale.

The library board wants to purchase the LeVenue building so it can expand from its current facility at 321 W. First. LeVenue's owner is asking $495,000 for the property. The library had originally estimated it would cost about $71,000 for the initial phase of renovations before it could open in the new space.

The library board said it has enough money to purchase the property, but would have to raise additional funds for the renovations.

Stamm said the board also has received recent donations toward the renovation.

Some city council members worried about the age of the building at Main and Park and whether it would be expensive to maintain.

The city council and the library board also must discuss who will own the property. It's unclear whether the library is prohibited from owning property, although the city is the library's taxing entity.

City Administrator Joel Pile said there are a variety of opinions about which group can own property. It appears the issues must be ironed out by the council and the library board before determining whether the city would be responsible for major maintenance and insurance costs. The city pays those expenses at the library's current facility.

Meanwhile, the city council is expected to take up the city budget at its Aug. 19 meeting.

The council is considering a 2015 spending plan that calls for a roughly 1.7-mill increase in property taxes.





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