WHEREAS, all County residents should have access to excellent library services responsive to both current and future library needs and it is recognized that the current funding and governance structure of the Minneapolis Public and Hennepin County library systems is not optimal for the accomplishment of this goal;
WHEREAS, a Committee on the Future of libraries in Hennepin County (“Committee”) was created pursuant to Hennepin County Board Resolution No. 06-11-616R1 to examine possible solutions to existing and future library funding and governance issues in the two library systems and make a recommendation regarding the same;
WHEREAS, the County Board on April 10, 2007, voted to approve the recommendations of the Committee (Hennepin County Board Resolution No. 07-4-114R2) as set out in the Committee’s “Guiding Principles for the Consolidation of Library Services in Hennepin County;” and further voted to support, as part of its 2007 legislative program, legislation to enable the consolidation of the Minneapolis Public and Hennepin County library systems; and
WHEREAS, on May 24, 2007, Governor Pawlenty signed into law legislation enabling the consolidation of the Minneapolis Public and Hennepin County library systems (Minnesota Session Laws 2007 Regular Session, Chapter 121) (“enabling legislation”); and
WHEREAS, the governor vetoed the funding legislation that would have permitted the library consolidation to proceed in the most timely and efficient manner; therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners directs the County Administrator or his designees to undertake the steps necessary to assess and transfer real and personal property and address financial obligations; and
BE IT RESOLVED, that the cost of the legal and real estate work shall be shared equally between Hennepin County and City of Minneapolis/Minneapolis Public Library, not to exceed $650,000; and
BE IT RESOLVED, that the County Administrator or his designees be authorized to begin the work and to engage the consultants necessary to accomplish the real estate requirements, and that the County Administrator or his designees be authorized to execute contracts for these purposes in amounts not exceeding $100,000 each as deemed necessary; and
BE IT RESOLVED, that additional decisions regarding proceeding to complete the library consolidation will be made at a future date; and
BE IT RESOLVEDBE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners directs the County Administrator or his designees to proceed with discussions with the Minnesota Planetarium and Space Discovery Center Board and staff related to the potential of including a Planetarium in a consolidated system of the Minneapolis Public and Hennepin County library systems.
RESOLUTION ADOPTED ON 06/26/07
