2002-88• CITY OF CHANHASSEN
CARVER AND HENNEPIN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA
DATE: September 23, 2002 RESOLUTION NO: 2002-88
MOTION BY: Labatt SECONDED BY: Avotte
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING FULL FUNDING OF THE
NEW CHANHASSEN LIBRARY
WHEREAS, the Carver County Library Board/Carver County Board of Commissioners
and the City of Chanhassen signed a Joint Powers Agreement on June 15, 1981, supporting a
Library branch in the City of Chanhassen. Under this agreement, the city and county share
expenses associated with the operation of the library.
WHEREAS, on Tuesday, September 12, 2000, Chanhassen voters approved a
referendum in the amount of $6 million to build a new library in Chanhassen to meet the
growing demographics of the city and county.
WHEREAS, the County Library System, under the direction of the Library Board, has
submitted a 2003 budget for the entire library system in the amount of $3,169,529. This includes
$982,398 to furnish and equip the Chanhassen Library.
is WHEREAS, along with the operating and capital budget requests, the Library Board also
recommended significant increases in the number of staff for the Chanhassen Library and other
branches in the library system. The Chanhassen Library is currently open 51 hours per week. It
is staffed well below the national standard. When the new library opens, additional staffing is
critical to the ongoing delivery of services in a building that will increase in size from 3,000 to
34,000 square feet. Additionally, Chanhassen constituents became accustomed to having access
to the library on Sundays this summer when the Chaska Library was closed, and requests that
Sunday hours be reinstated. With the additional eight positions requested by the Library Board,
the library could be open 60 hours a week year-round and would meet the needs of all county
residents. If the staffing level does not increase, the library would need to significantly reduce
the current number hours it is open. This would impact all branches, not just Chanhassen.
WHEREAS, during August of 2002, the Chanhassen Library averaged over 40 library
customers, 66 checkouts, and 15 reference questions per hour. It is anticipated that this number
will increase by at least 4 times once the new building opens.
WHEREAS, Carver County's population has risen steadily since the 1980s. In that same
time frame, the circulation of materials at the Chanhassen Library has increased by 816%.
Citizens have come to expect more complete collections, including current technology that
provides access to the worldwide web, informative services and programs. This library is being
constructed by the vote of Chanhassen citizens to meet these demands.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CHANHASSEN CITY
COUNCIL recommends that the Carver County Board support the Carver County Library
Board's recommended budget for 2003.
Passed and adopted by the Chanhassen City Council this 23`d day of September, 2002.
ATT
odd Gerhardt, City Manager
YES
Mayor Jansen
Councilman Boyle
Councilman Ayotte
Councilman Labatt
0
Linda C. Jansen, Mayor
NO ABSENT
None Councilman Peterson