Replacing downtown library, central fire station are City Council's top priorities

Replacing the downtown public library is at the head of the City Council's list as it prepares to make decisions early next year about five key flood-damaged city properties.

Nearly as important if not as important is replacing the central fire station, council members suggested in comments at last night's council meeting.

The other three key buildings are the city's animal shelter, which is now referred to as the “animal care and control” facility; City Hall, which is called the City Services Center; and the Public Works Building, which is called the City Operations Center.

Council member Kris Gulick noted that the library replacement project is one that has received state I-JOBS funding, one portion of which requires the city to use $5 million in funding within three years. Gulick said that was one reason to make the library a priority.

Mayor Kay Halloran was among council members who agreed, but she added that she also wanted to know if the Fire Department had any response-time issues that might support moving on the fire station project.

Earlier in the day, City Manager Jim Prosser noted that the city was still waiting on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's approval to let the city build the new fire station at a different site than the flood-wrecked site at 222 Third St. NW. The city already has received such approval for a new downtown library.

Council member Tom Podzimek asked the city staff to provide a map that showed “preferred” building sites for both the library and the central fire station. He worried about speeding fire trucks near children at a library.

The preferred library sites include areas near Greene Square Park and a site between First and Second avenues SE and Seventh and Eighth streets SE.

The city is in negotiations with PepsiAmericas to purchase two entire blocks - between Fifth and Sixth avenues SE and Sixth Street SE and the railroad tracks - on which it intends to build the long-delayed Intermodal Transit Facility project and on which a new library and/or a new City Hall could be built if the council so chooses.

City Manager Jim Prosser said no big decisions about city facilities would be made until after the new council is in place on Jan. 4.

Mayor-elect Corbett this week emphasized that the library and central fire station were his priorities, and he said any talk of a new City Hall was at the bottom of the list when flood victims, flood-impacted businesses and the local economy all are struggling to get on their feet.

Council member Monica Vernon said she wanted the council to devote time to the architecture of any new city building. The design of the buildings has the ability to provide “great inspiration” and can be key to attracting new businesses and people to the city, she said.