Minutes_Library Board of Trustees 2 9 12Carnegie -Stout Public Library
Board of Trustees
Special Meeting Minutes of February 9, 2012
The Board of Trustees of the Carnegie -Stout Public Library (C -SPL) met in the
Aigler Auditorium at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 9, 2012.
Present: President Paula Connors, Vice President Mike Willis; Board
Secretary Frederick Miller, Trustee John Anderson - Bricker
(entered at 5:36 p.m.), Trustee Diann Guns; Trustee David
Hammer; Director Susan Henricks; and Recorder Denette
Kellogg
Excused: Trustee Jenny Harris
City Staff: Laura Carstens, Guy Hemenway, and David Johnson from the
City Planning Services Department
Guests: Members of the City of Dubuque Historic Preservation
Commission (HPC) David Klavitter, Christine Olson, Mary Loney
Bichell, and Joseph Rapp; and Dan Lange, Lange Sign Group,
1780 Illinois, Route 35N, East Dubuque, Illinois 61025
1. President Paula Connors called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. and the
agenda was adopted. City Staff and Guests were introduced. Connors
reported on the scheduling of this joint meeting for both the Library Board
and the Historic Preservation Commission to review the Library's exterior
signage. Due to a lack of quorum the Historic Preservation Commission
(HPC) would not be holding a joint meeting with the Library Board but the
four Commission members present would provide input to the Library Board.
"Moved to adopt the meeting agenda of Thursday, February 9,
2012."
Motion: Guns
Second: Miller
Vote: Aye — 5; Nay — 0
Anderson - Bricker entered the meeting at 5:36 p.m.
2. Library Exterior Signage Review — Guns, being the senior member of the
Library Board, provided the background and history of the process for the
exterior signs design and installation and noted that the City Council
requested that the Library Board and Commission meet in an attempt to
reach agreement on possible changes to the signs that would be satisfactory
to all.
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Guns reported that, as part of the Library renovation project in 2009, the
Library Board and Staff wanted to bring the exterior signs up to date with a
focus on visibility as well as a design to fit the historic Carnegie building. The
previous signs were in poor condition and had a more contemporary
appearance. Guns reported on the unanimous decision by the Board to
approve the design created by Lange Signs. A grant was awarded to fund
the signs from the Dubuque Racing Association (DRA) and the Friends of the
Library. Guns expressed the desire on behalf of the Board to collaborate with
the Commission to come up with a mutually agreeable solution. Guns
reported on the Library Board's first offer of compromise to change the paint
color of the signs.
Guns asked the HPC members for input on working towards a compromise.
Klavitter, Chair of the HPC reported on the set of standards set forth for the
commission to follow and commented on the design of a "monument" sign
as being a better fit for the library building. He referred to the Federal
Building as having a monument -style exterior sign. He understands that
visibility is important to the Library. He reported on the HPC's
recommendation to City Council for the signs to be changed to eliminate the
columns and replace them with a stone or concrete base no more than
twelve inches above the ground and repainted to match the color of the
building. Klavitter reported on the HPC's input in regard to Lange Sign not
getting the proper authorization to install the signs. Klavitter noted that
Lange Sign has reported they would "make it right ".
Guns reported that the recommendations, if followed, would give the Library
signs of similar design for the ones replaced, negating the goal and purpose
of having the new signs.
Connors reported that the Library Board would like to see a compromise on
the issues that does not incur additional expense either at the Library's or
Lange's expense as the design was approved by the Library Board and with
the funding by the DRA and Friends of the Library. Connors noted the
favorable comments about the signs by patrons. Connors reported that one
compromise the Library Board would agree to would be changing the paint
color.
Carstens provided the current signage measurements. The Commission
noted the concern that the sign be seen and agreed that the current height
could be accepted by the Commission.
The Board again reviewed options and indicated it is willing to change the
color of the sign, and take the cap off, and would like to know what
compromises the HPC is willing to make. The Commission repeated its
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recommendation of removing the columns and replacing this design element
with a solid concrete or stone base. Connors asked the Commission if it
would consider the columns being changed in width and design to better fit
the scale of the building. Klavitter said he could not speak for all
Commission members but that he believes this would be a consideration.
Lange reported that they want to work with the Library to achieve what they
want. Guns reported that, when purchased, the signs were everything the
Board wanted and approved.
The Board agreed to a proposal offered by Dan Lange to develop various
modifications to the design in respect to the columns as far as sign and
width, and will also provide a design of the poured concrete slab. The Board
suggested that another attempt to hold a joint meeting of the two groups be
considered prior to the City Council meeting in April 2012 to discuss a
resolution.
3. Library Board Adjournment - The Board adjourned at 6:47 p.m.
"Motion to adjourn."
Motion: Hammer
Second: Anderson- Bricker
Vote: Aye — 6; Nay — 0
F/V2^ t Psei,
Frederick K. Miller, Board Secretary
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