2004-01-20 - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 accessible. He said it would free up the existing library building downtown which could be used for our burgeoning court system. Mr. Lynch said he wants to see work done soon on the exterior of the building. Ms. Richards said she is most excited about the idea of a cultural center, though she said she has no pre - conce ption of the better choice of the three scenarios. She said she would like to see the building full of life at all times. Mr. Caravati said redevelopment of the site will necessitate many partnerships. He said he likes the idea of going forward with a similar process as the Task Force used and feels that proceeding in an open way is important. He said formation of a pursuit group will be important. Mr. Schilling thanked the Task Force and said he found the history of the school remarkable. He said h e looks forward to oral histories about Jefferson School. He said the report helped him understand Jefferson School pride. Mr. Schilling said he would like to discuss changing the procedure as recommended by the Mayor. Mr. Cox thanked the Task Force fo r their time and perseverance. He said this project can be a catalyst for other development. He said he is interested in having greater details about the recommendations. He said he likes the idea of coupling the cultural center and the library. He sai d he fully supports nomination to the national register, and said any short - term work should be done in accord with those standards. In the mid - term he said he feels a cultural center would be possible. He said that a library might be realized in the lon ger term, perhaps two to five years. He said a lot of information is not in the report and Council is anxious to get that information. He proposed that Council pose their questions in advance of the work session in small meetings so they can come to the work session ready to make decisions. Mr. Lynch asked when the windows will be painted and said he hopes it can be done in time for the Jefferson Alumni Association reunion in September. Mr. O'Connell said proposals are out to look at the cost and sche dule. Ms. Richards said she thinks the process outlined is fine, but she does not want Council to reinvent or duplicate the work of the Task Force. She said Council should respect the Task Force's work and commit to following one of the scenarios. Mr. Cox said it is Council's obligation to see more in - depth data. Mr. Schilling said he appreciates Mr. Cox's thoughts on the process, but is a little uncomfortable, given the distrust of Council previously expressed by Task Force members and others in the community, about the idea of private meetings. He said other Councilors may miss out on questions raised and interactions with other Councilors. He said he found the original idea of the work session far more effective. Mr. Cox said he has no problem w ith the small meetings being public, but said he feels more time is needed prior to the work session. Responding to a question from Ms. Richards, Mr. Cox said he would propose that Councilors meet individually or in pairs with Mary Means, staff and repre sentatives of the Task Force. He said the public could sit in on the meetings. Mr. Caravati said he feels the more we do together the better we are. Ms. Richards said she thinks Councilors should submit questions to the appropriate resource and then h old the work session. She said she is not sure Council should be prepared to make decisions at the first work session. Mr. Cox said that he for one would like to participate in small meetings open to the public, and said other Councilors can do so if th ey wish, singly or in pairs.