Signal Hill City Manager Charlie Honeycutt in a phone interview recalled that the plans for a library date back to at least 1998. He confirmed that he will, within the next couple of weeks, be meeting with the architect to review the plans that were set aside a few years ago and determine if they will need to tweak the design before it’s complete. After that, the city manager added, they will finish the construction documents, plans and specifications that will be put out to bid and then they will ask for proposals to construct the project.
In his telephone interview, Honeycutt seemed delighted at the prospect of a new facility.
“I think it’s just going to be a great addition to the community,” the city manager said, as he described how the purpose of the library had fundamentally changed over the years.
“[It’s] not just a place to go check out books,” he said, adding that it’s a place where individuals can study and enjoy author talks and other community events and programs. He noted that the new building will have a history museum area and more public computers, and it will be a venue for community programs hosted by the Friends of the Library and for mixers hosted by the local chamber of commerce.
The path to gathering community support, especially getting access to the money that would pay for a large project was not an easy one for the City of Signal Hill and its then redevelopment agency. There was already bond money that had been set aside for the project, however, Gov. Jerry Brown had announced several years ago that the redevelopment program would be dissolved.
Honeycutt confirmed that the bond money had been untouched, and the successor agency had been responsible for making interest payments on the bond funds. As the Signal Tribune reported last month, in September, the State Legislature approved SB 107, a bill that would allow the successor agency to use the bond money.
[aesop_image imgwidth=”400px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Library2.jpg” credit=”Courtesy Robert Coffee ” align=”left” lightbox=”on” caption=”This conceptual graphic from 2012 offers a potential look of a new library in Signal Hill. Plans to build a facility are underway, and the city manager will be meeting with the architect within the next two weeks to review the design and make any needed updates.” captionposition=”left”] Honeycutt confirmed that more than $8.8 million is sitting in a bank account. About $7.6 million of that money will be used for the library’s design, construction and furnishings. The estimated $1.2 million covers the cost of issuing the bonds and keeping a reserve on hand for a period of time to act as insurance for the repayment, he said.
There will be more work ahead. The library is currently located in a building that had housed the city’s old fire station. The city manager added that during the construction, the library will be moved to the community center to offer basic services while the former building is demolished and a new building is constructed.
City Councilmember Tina Hansen is especially happy that the City is much closer to building a new library. In a statement to the Signal Tribune, Hansen recalled her personal connection to the library. She described the library as a place of refuge for her when she was growing up.
Hansen had led the design committee, which offered input on the needs of the new facility a few years ago.
She said she appreciated the city staff who recognized the community dreams of the library.
“They didn’t stop,” she said, “until the State finally understood and agreed that the library is not just a standalone project but an entire civic center improvement.”
Hansen praised the library.
“My hopes are,” she stated, “that this library becomes a refuge for our community plus provides the latest in technology and a view of the history of our community in the art and displays that we will use in our interior and exterior design.”
