Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: jULY 19, 2022
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: eric J. levitt, City Manager
PREPARED BY: meg mcwade, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
STEPHEN BISE, CITY ENGINEER
kELLEE fRITZAL, cOMMUNITY dEVELOPMENT
jUDITH bOOTH, lIBRARY DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: HUNT BRANCH LIBRARY UPDATE
SUMMARY
On July 5, 2022, City Council directed staff to return with an update on security, construction and tenancy of the Hunt Brach Library. Staff has prepared a presentation and will answer any questions at the July 19, 2022 City Council meeting.
CITY MANAGER SUMMARY
City Council directed staff to pursue negotiations with Heritage Future and Arts Orange County (ArtsOC) on the future use of the Hunt Library facility in June 2020. The City Manager, Community Development Director and Library Director had a very positive meeting with Heritage Future and ArtsOC. Based on that meeting, the parties agreed that the City would seek proposals for the future operation of the Hunt Library and agreed that that ArtsOC would remain a good potential partner with a future operator of the facility. Due in part to the pandemic and the City’s fiscal constraints, the City needs a partner to enter into a lease arrangement for the partner to take on the costs of the facility as well as a private public partnership. The skill sets and expertise that Heritage Future would bring focus on programming and may not fit some of the other needs of the City for the Hunt facility. Based on the public input report and what the City needs in the partnership, staff and the City Manager recommend City Council pursue a new informal Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Tenant / Operator that will meet the community needs and provide the needed services.
In addition, City Council directed staff on July 5, 2022 to return with an update on Hunt Brach Library security, construction and tenancy. Staff has prepared the attached presentation and will attend the meeting to answer any questions.
The City has obtained two grants (the final one recently confirmed) to refurbish the historic structure with the goal to activate the building through a public-private partnership.
This agenda item provides two updates to City Council and one request for action. Richard Stein, Arts OC, will present an update on the Community Outreach performed related to the future activation of the Hunt Branch Library. Fullerton staff will present an update on Hunt Brach Library security, construction and funding.
In conclusion, even though the City Manager requests that City Council authorize moving forward with either an informal or formal request for proposals for a partnership to potentially work with ArtsOC, I cannot emphasize enough the value the City has already received from the work to date by ArtsOC and Heritage Futures and I appreciate their work to this point with the City.
RECOMMENDATION
Direct staff to initially pursue an informal Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Tenant / Operator that meets the needs of the community and provides first-class service of the City-owned site at 201 South Basque Avenue, alternatively known as the “Hunt Library” facility. (This would initially entail reaching out to local entities who may be a good fit for the partnership and have or have the ability to create the financial resources to make this a successful partnership.) If the initial informal request does not bring back a potentially successful partnership, then City Council directs a formal RFP.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENTS
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statements:
Fiscal and Organizational Stability
Infrastructure and City Assets.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City received $5 million in funds from the State of California Budget to pursue modernization and overall facility improvements to the site. The City Manager anticipates construction completed by the end of the fourth quarter of 2023. The financial ability to operate presents a critical component of facility operations. The base operations of maintenance and utilities could cost as much as $5000 to $10,000 per month.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Hunt Library is a historic facility donated to the City of Fullerton in the 1950s by the Hunt Foundation and holds significant cultural and historic value for the community and its residents. The site operated as a library for several years, but ultimately became a cost prohibitive financial burden. The site closed in 2013 due to the City’s fiscal constraints.
The closure resulted in adding the building to the City’s list of excess properties and potentially selling the building at one point. The City preserved the site after community groups voiced their concern and appreciation for the site and the City began a multi-year process to pursue methods to revitalize the Hunt Library and bring it back to its former glory.
Architect William Pereira designed the building in a mid-century style which resonates with many of the other architectural cornerstones of the community. The National Registry of Historic Places listed the site on its registry in 2019.
The City created a Library Ad-Hoc Committee which envisioned repurposing the site to provide a variety of compatible and creative uses. The Ad-Hoc Committee envisioned a facility that brought out the community in sharing knowledge and learning, encouraging curiosity and serving as a hub for activities, programs, events and classes.
The Committee directed staff to release a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a tenant / operator. A total of eight candidates responded to the RFP and the City deemed two of those candidates unqualified. The City entered into a lease agreement with Grace Ministries International (GMI). While the nonprofit provided programs, the site, unfortunately, remained underutilized and encountered multiple vandalism incidents.
The City pursued negotiations with Heritage Future and ArtsOC on the future use of the facility in June 2020 at the direction of City Council. The City contracted with ArtsOC to survey the community. Staff considered the result of 36 stakeholder interviews, three visioning sessions and over 800 responses to surveys in developing the plan for the Hunt. The report also included floorplans for usage and programs in line with the interests of the two organizations. All parties agreed in a recent meeting that the City should pursue a new partner for the operations of Hunt Library.
The City has completed significant due diligence in working with nonprofits, various groups and stakeholders to protect and ensure the future of the Hunt Library. Given its significant historical value and community significance, staff requests City Council take action to move the process forward.
The City’s Public Works department has entered the second phase of facility updates to the building which includes modernizing the interior Information Technology systems as well as completing ADA compliance on the site and parking lots.
The attached draft RFP incorporates many of the focus areas identified throughout the Ad-Hoc Committee process as well as specific qualifications staff hopes will improve the applicant pool for this process. The new RFP specifically outlines the applicant’s financial qualifications and provides clarity into flexible site use while retaining community interests. Furthermore, the site provides the tenant the option to lease and utilize exterior space adjacent to the site, including parking lots and a dog park area, used for various programming purposes and creative site use. The RFP explicitly lays out tenant improvements so all applicants understand the expected improvements required of them when leasing the site. Improvements vary by the ultimate final site usage.
While staff has isolated specific sections of the facility for library-like usage, the tenant may repurpose the rest of the site may for their needs. The RFP specifically includes flexibility and creative use as the tenant will operate and maintain the site.
The following outlines some of the major areas of the draft RFP:
Financial Strength – Source and Uses of Funds, Program Budget, etc.
Experience Managing 10,000 Square Foot Facility
Coverage of All Utilities and Operating Costs
Site Operation and Regular Working Hours (Open to Public Weekly) Clear Floor Plan of Proposed Site Vision and Use
Detailed Work Plan
Property Management Approach (Vandalism Mitigation and Security) Historical Site Maintenance and Preservation History.
The Hunt Library remains a historically significant cultural site which the City should preserve and the entire community should utilize.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 – Hunt Library Revitalization Project Report Attachment 2 – PowerPoint Presentation
Attachment 3 – RFP
Hunt Branch Library Update
July 19, 2022 - Page 3