To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
SUBJECT:
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Space for the Rio Dell Branch Library
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors receive the staff report and provide direction to staff to take the necessary actions required to negotiate either an acquisition or a lease for the Rio Dell Branch Library.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Library Fund, ADA Compliance Fund, General Fund
DISCUSSION:
The Rio Dell Library is currently located in a facility owned by the Rio Dell Fire District and leased by the library. The county's 2016 consent decree with the Department of Justice (DOJ) identified several barriers that prevent this facility from meeting requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). However, the Rio Dell Fire District has cited limited financial resources to remediate these barriers. Therefore, staff has begun identifying options to either remediate these barriers, or to relocate the Rio Dell Library. Pursuant to the consent decree, the barriers consist of providing an accessible route to the ramp, alterations to the ramp and providing compliant handrails and wheel guides at an estimated cost of $127,000. Based upon construction cost estimates, the Rio Dell Fire District has stated that it does not have the financial capacity to make the aforementioned modifications. The Rio Dell Library is located at 715 Wildwood Avenue in Rio Dell and the county currently pays $250 per month for 900 square feet of space with circulation numbers of 12,316 items per year. The branch location offers a range of services such as internet connectivity, children's reading and craft programs and book sales.
Staff has begun searching for possible alternative locations of branch library services within the city limits of Rio Dell and the neighboring community of Scotia. Some potential alternate locations include a potential DANCO multi-family housing development, available space at the local chamber of ...
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