Minutes_Library Board of Trustees 06.23.25City of Dubuque
City Council
CONSENT ITEMS # 1.
Copyrighted
September 2, 2025
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings for August 18, 2025; Historic
Preservation Commission of July 17, 2025; Human Rights
Commission of July 8, 2025; Library Board of Trustees
Minutes of June 23, 2025; Library Board of Trustees Update
of July 24, 2025; Long Range Planning Advisory Commission
of May 21, 2025; Park and Recreation Advisory Commission
of July 8, 2025.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 8 18 25 City Council Minutes
2. Historic Preservation Commission Minutes
3. Human Rights Commission Minutes
4. Long Range Planning Advisory Commission Minutes
5. Library Board of Trustees Update
6. Carnegie -Stout Board of Trustees June 2025 Minutes
7. Park and Recreation Commission 7.8.2025 Meeting Minutes
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Carnegie -Stout Public Library
Board of Trustees
Meeting Minutes of June 23, 2025
The Board of Trustees of the Carnegie -Stout Public Library (C-SPL) met in the Lacy
Board Room at 4:02 p.m. on Thursday, June 23, 2025.
Present: President Victor Lieberman, Vice President A. Alanda Gregory, Secretary
Andy Bland, Trustee Greg Gorton, Trustee, Diann Guns (departed 5:37 pm),
Trustee Christy Monk, Trustee Pam Mullin, Library Director Nick Rossman
1. President Lieberman called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m.
"Moved to adopt the meeting agenda of June 23, 2025."
Motion: Gorton
Second: Monk
Vote: Aye — 7; Nay — 0
2. Approval of Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes of May 22, 2025."
"Moved to approve the Board Meeting Minutes of May 22, 2025."
Motion: Mullin
Second: Guns
Vote: Aye — 7; Nay — 0
3. Approval of Board of Trustees Relations Subcommittee Meeting Minutes of May 22,
2025."
"Moved to approve the Relations Subcommittee Meeting Minutes of May 22,
2025. "
Motion: Monk
Second: Mullin
Vote: Aye — 7; Nay — 0
4. Board President's Report:
A. The Board reviewed the Communication with the Dubuque City Council for May
2025.
B. Presentation and thank you for outgoing Trustee Greg Gorton.
"Moved to receive and file the Communication with the Dubuque City
Council from May 2025 and the presentation and thank you for outgoing
Trustee Greg Gorton."
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Motion: Monk
Second: Gregory
Discussion: Thank you to Greg Gorton for eight years of service to
the Board of Trustees.
Vote: Aye — 7; Nay — 0
5. Motion to Receive and File Informational Items:
A. Library Director's Report Summary and Update:
1) Library Financial Report Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 — Rossman reported that
May brings us to 92% through the fiscal year. We have spent 84% of our
budgeted funds so far.
Revenue collected at 110% of projected budget.
2) Library Use — Rossman reported a 7% increase in circulation statistics and
a 9% increase in visitor count compared to May 2024.
The library saw a 7% increase in computer and Wi-Fi usage compared to
May 2024.
Patrons used curbside pickup for 80 visits in May.
Rossman reported there were 2,798 Hoopla downloads in May. (Hoopla is a
web and mobile library media -streaming platform for audio books, comics,
e-books, movies, music, and TV.)
As part of regular maintenance and in accordance with accreditation
standards from the State Library of Iowa, the library purges unused library
cards every 18-30 months. In May, 7,283 library cards were removed from
the library's database that had not been used for more than five years and
fees owed to the library were $10.00 or less. This also resulted in a little
more than $5,000 in likely uncollectable funds waived. It is very unlikely
many of the fees would be tied to lost or damaged materials.
3) Library Programs, Partnerships, and Grants Report - Rossman provided the
following report:
Rossman reported there was a nice turnout for the Art @ your Library
reception for June and July featuring artists from the Key City Creative
Center.
Rossman reported there was good public engagement with more than
300 individuals at the Dubuque Pride Festival and the estimated
attendance was more than 3,000 people.
2
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Information was provided a copy of House File 856 which signed into
law in May by Governor Reynolds. Discussion included needing to
look at the Library's strategic plan for any potential language changes
to comply with the new law.
The Board of Trustees reviewed the City Council Goal setting
documents with some discussion including the hope for potential free
parking options near the library as part of the City's new smart parking
plan.
Rossman reported a request to use unspent FY 24 money to repair
the library's boiler stack was approved by City Manager Mike Van
Milligen. City Engineering had been contacted regarding the available
funds of $163,500 to solicit help in getting the project moving forward.
4) Library Space Needs — Trustee Monk reported that FEH Design
completed some preliminary plans for potential projects. Documents were
provided to the Board of Trustees outlining the following five groups of
projects with approximate, estimated costs:
1. Patron flow and staff area rework on first floor ($133,440)
o Reconfigure main circulation and staff desks for improved
efficiency and patron flow.
2. Makerspace expansion and computer reconfiguration ($526,464)
o Significant renovation expanding the makerspace and
rearranging collections, computers, and periodicals.
3. Teen area & staff work space reconfiguration ($146,888)
o Removal of current circular desks and reconfiguring space with
improved study areas and layout.
4. Youth play area reconfiguration ($107,925)
o Enhance youth area with more interactive spaces, seating
improvements, and safer play areas.
5. Study and meeting rooms in coffee bar area ($209,625)
o Convert underused coffee area into meeting/study pods and
flexible social space.
Priority considerations from Trustees focused primarily on the Makerspace
expansion and first floor patron flow reconfiguration. Trustees discussed
the balance between expediency of project completion and minimizing
disruption for access to library services and use of the building for the
public and staff.
Next steps include Board of Trustees identifying at July 2025 meeting to
determine the appropriate method to complete bid documents
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5) Department Updates — Rossman provided highlights of the past month for
Adult, Circulation, Information Technology, Marketing, and Youth
Services.
B. Comment Cards — None.
"Moved to receive and file the informational update from the
Library Director including the Library Operational Expenditures, Revenue
and Budget Financial Reports; and, Library Use Report, Marketing
Report, Library Programs, Partnerships, and Grants Report, and, Library
Department Updates."
Motion:
Mullin
Second:
Gorton
Vote:
Aye— 6; Nay — 0
6. Action Items (Action):
- A. Library Expenditures FY-25: Operating Expenditures May, Period 11 — The
Board reviewed the detailed expenditures reports.
"Moved to approve the library expenditures for FY-25 May, Period 11."
Motion: Mullin
Second: Gregory
Vote: Aye— 6; Nay — 0
7. Library Board Adjournment — The Board adjourned at 5:45 pm
"Motion to adjourn. "
Motion: Mullin
Second: Gregory
Vote: Aye— 6; Nay — 0
Diann Guns, Board Secretary
Date
0
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