Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 22, 2005 Phoenix works on housing City Council By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune PHOENIX — Having left itself homeless in recent months by giving City Hall property to the county for a new library site, the City Council will decide in the coming weeks whether to pitch in some $35,000 to provide itself a temporary home. Friends of the Library supporters and board members recently proposed a partnership with the city that would benefit both the library and City Council by providing a larger library and a temporary council chambers all in one. Having approved a deal this summer to swap existing City Hall in exchange for the current city library structure and $262,000 toward construction of a new City Hall, council members planned to put city offices in the old library and in portables. The City Council, however, is virtually homeless. While Mayor Vicki Bear said the Council had been invited to meet temporarily at one or more area schools, the agreement was required to be renewed each year. Advertisement Planning Commission member David Lewin approached the council recently to point out that "short term" for the financially strapped city could mean anywhere from three to 12 years. Friends President Robert Mumby said with an additional $35,000, a proposed library meeting room could be enlarged by some 150 square feet. The partnership would increase capacity from one small meeting room for up to 50 people to a larger room for up to 60 that could be divided in two as needed. The Phoenix Library is one of a dozen in Jackson County being replaced with funds from a $38 million bond passed by voters in May 2000. While construction costs are up significantly — from $140 per square foot in 2000 to $227 per square foot currently — Mumby said the partnership would "still be a pretty good deal for the city" in terms of a temporary home vs. renting space. With construction costs increasing for county libraries, the city will soon be faced with skyrocketing construction costs. Estimates gathered in recent years showing a 12,000 square-foot City Hall costing just under $2 million are likely now closer to $3 million, meaning fund-raising for a replacement City Hall could take longer than expected. "The city, unless they do a lease purchase or get a bond measure, which is unlikely, they’re going to have to wait at least seven years or more to get a new building," said Mumby. "If they wind up having to wait seven to 10 years, this would be a good way for them to have a dedicated meeting room ... also, for the community, there is a great need for more meeting space. It’s a good deal for everyone involved." Council members polled at a recent meeting appeared to support the proposal but decided to table the issue for an Oct. 3 meeting. To accommodate the design process, Mumby said the council would have to make a decision then. The proposed library design will be unveiled beginning at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 13 in council chambers at City Hall. Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected]. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Advertisement s