380 replies to this topic

[jake]

QUOTE

who does need a reasonable building for a library, a building that is larger than the one it presently is in.... not a cathedral

Ah... ignorance is bliss, isn't it? Something tells me you have never visited the current library. It is shamefully inadequate for such a growing city.

By the way, coffee bars are becoming more and more popular at churches, libraries, etc. because they actually generate money. A cup 'o joe does not cost much to make. I for one am more of a traditionalist and feel they have no place at church, but libraries are a decent fit considering you see places like Borders books connected to Starbucks, etc.

[waterbaby149]

Yes not only have I been in the library - I have used it
But I have also used other libraries that are now have limited hours because the counties, cities, etc. cannot afford to staff them on a continued basis - is that not the story with the main library in Sacramento
it is with the main library in Auburn - these places are not that far away

[Terry]

I know I'm probably in the minority, but as to coffee bars in bookstores or libraries........please, no. I don't care for the smell of coffee in the first place, but to have to smell it the entire time I'm in a bookstore or library, it gives me a headache. I know some people really like it, but for those of us who don't, it can be overwhelming.

[ducky]

I notice everyone is focusing on the stone monuments and not the fact that the entire ballfield is dedicated to Marshall Farley. The community got together and said we dedicate this small piece of Folsom to you, Mr. Farley, since you made the ultimate sacrifice and didn't get to return home to play the sport that you loved. This is why I support the save the park petition. I believe it should remain a community decision. I also think it is wrong to build in the park. If nobody agrees, then we won't get enought signatures, the people will have spoken and it doesn't cost the city a dime for me to collect signatures. If we are successful then I think it is important to know what residents really think about the site.

The park site advocates that like to point out inaccuracies haven't bothered to point out that the $8.5 million price tag for the jewel in the park has now risen to $9.9 million (before change orders). The city newsletter also doesn't mention this but it does mention they are going to be building a new field at Theodore Judah. How could building a new field be cheaper than maintaining an existing field with lights and restroom facilities? Where will the parking be on Dean? The joint-use idea with the field also concerns me because the school district has trouble maintaining the fields they have now. If you want to see a true eyesore look at the field at SutterMiddle School by the track.

I am finding as I am collecting signatures that people really liked the fire station location and are much more concerned about the resources and hours of the library than having a view from the inside. Ahnold, the access problem to the fire station could easily be corrected by making the entrance at the signal of Wales to city hall a right turn from the driveway to the existing parking next to the fire station. I also think the coffe cafe would have greater success at the fire station because they would attract customers from visitors as well as staff from city hall. The building could also be designed for a second story as city needs grow.

[Ahnold]

ducky: It's been a while since I saw the old fire station site plan, but I'm pretty sure the parking you mentioned would have been obliterated to make room for the library building. Again, that was one of the silliest things about that plan - they wanted to ramrod it onto that site and destroy a perfectly good access road and parking simply to give a reading room a questionably nice view over an open space (one dotted with power poles and dead trees - oh, and a prison). Plus, I don't think just paving over to connect to Wales light magically would make that safe and accessible. There isn't much room in front of city hall, and to add another leg to that intersection would make for some potentially scary conflicts at times of the day. That is why the Stafford site seems better to me.

I know there are some here that find the traffic volumes in the area too high, but the point has already been made that peak library time is different than peak commute time and no, the traffic is not horrible out there every hour of the day by any rational measuring stick. The Stafford site provides a safe, controlled access and a lightly traveled access road. From a traffic point of view the Stafford site is superior to the fire station site, but we should wait for the traffic study that they are doing to confirm that.

[ducky]

Ahnold

I disagree that the right turn would make for any scary traffic problems. Also perhaps since the old fire station site plans were geared to a larger 30,000 to 40,000 square foot structure that parking area could be saved. I could insult BSA Architects and say maybe we should find a new architect if they couldn't take $9.9 million and make the fire station into a pretty terrific 23,000 to 26,000 square foot library now that the plans have been scaled down but I doubt they were ever presented with that opportunity.

[Ahnold]

Ducky:

Points well taken. Have to say I was not impressed with BSA. I'd be willing to see their concepts for a smaller building, but they really need to re-think this concept of destroying a perfectly good access drive and existing parking. And no, the right turn will not create 'scary' traffic problems, but it would complicate the access to the civic center and increase the likelihood of an accident. But this is probably all academic, seems like the ship has sailed on this site.

[waterbaby149]

Thank you Ducky - good points made - and Ahnold don't shoot the firestation location down - Ducky has made some very good points that the cc should take into consideration - there is also the property behind the firestation that can be incorporated into the plan - there are options - the cc is refusing to discuss them and for some reason continue to push our city park on us -

[Candy Apple]

They were discussed. The public was invited to attend the meetings.

[Ahnold]

Is the fire station site truly still on the table?

[waterbaby149]

It will be if the recall or library issues get put on the ballot
or unless the cc starts opening up the channels of communication

Candy... we have discussed previously the so called open meetings - glad u can stay up so late or don't have to work the next day

[Candy Apple]

I did not refer to the City Council meetings.

I referred to the open public meetings where private professional library consultants asked questions of the public in attendance and filmed the questions, answers, and discussions. These were held during the day and at 7:00 in the evening as I remember.

[Nina Phillips]

What a good reason to rethink the library site; much discussion on the topic.

Is the fire old station still an option for the site of the new library? It's still there isn't it? As long as any proposed site, old or new, is not inhabited, it is still an option. Regardless of what the City tells you, it's not over until the fat lady sings. There is still much work for them to do to get the library placed on the Farley Memorial Field, so we're not giving up.

Those of us who live in the original Folsom want our park's present appearance preserved. Why don't one of you who live in the new Folsom suggest that the library go in your park? What a novel idea. You too could have multitudes of people hanging out in your neighborhood. The unfortunate thing for us, multitudes of people already hang out in our neighborhood. So as far as many of you are concerned, what's a few hundred more.

Oh, and Linda Holderness, waterbaby placed emphasis on points in the veterans' code for the lay person to understand the verbiage without trying to interpret legalese, and move and remove is intended to mean the same thing.

And Candy Apple, what an interesting concept, "private professional library consultants." I wonder how much our illustrious City paid this fabulous group to do the best that they could to create probably the largest controversial issue in the City of Folsom. Furthermore, there are a lot of issues going on with respect to this City, and if those concerned attended every City Council meeting, every private professional consultant meeting (as if we are informed of all of the meetings before they occur), with respect to what's going on in Folsom, and address nearly every issue on this web site that exists, there wouldn't be time for anything else. Also, you continuously state, "if you had been at a meeting," how can you possibly know if any one of us were at any given meeting at any given point. Are you so pompous that you think you know everyone and everything? I'm starting to think so.

There are more people in this City than one realizes that are against the library being built on Farely Field for more reasons that one. All reasons must be concidered before this issue is put to rest. Those of us who have been in Folsom for a long time have seen this place turn into a cement jungle, and have watched it happen relatively quitely. It has come to a point for a perfectly good reason, that it is time to rethink the placement of the next part of the jungle.

[waterbaby149]

Good points Nina - go girl!! As a long time resident I am sure you have seen many of the changes to this City and the various acts of the cc
The cc should take note of the recall - at this time the libarary site has had 6757 hits, that is more than any other site - the other site taking alot of hits is the firefighters - the other wronged parties by our great cc - then back in December, 2003 there was a site on the Recall which got 3121 - very interesting for a subject said to have no interest

Any of you who would like to sign the recall petition and/or the petition to put the relocation of the library on the ballot - please feel free to stop by the VFW Post at the end of Forrest Avenue or call the post at (916)985-7911 and provide us with your name and address and we will deliver petitions to you

The firefighters are supporting the recall (wonder why) and turning to their brothers who do live in Folsom (because they work for Sac Metro and make more? or have a contract???) to support the recall

The recall is gaining constant momentum and while 2 of the cc are up for election in November - the message needs to be sent to one and all

And those of you who do not know - we now have one candidate running - Doug Udell who has the support of the malcontents!!!!!

By the by - spelling any better for you Candy.... must be a boring life when that is all you can comment on!

[camay2327]

PLEASE NOTE:

Next week Tuesday night at the regular meeting of the Folsom City Council (6:30 PM)

UNDER NEW BUSINESS: Late in the evening again:::

11. New Business:

a. Re-use Recommendations for Fire Station #35

Anyone wondering what is going to go on there should be there to find out. I guess if you have suggestions for what should go there you should be at the meeting, even though it is the last item on the agenda. It seems like when anything like this happens it is late in the meeting so most of the older people will leave.

That is my opinion:::

Cal