Ridgewood Public Library Responds to Questions Regarding Library Renovation Concept

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Blog Staff Note, the unedited version of the questions of Director Nancy Greene gave at Wednesday’s Ridgewood Council Meeting.

April 24, 2019 – Mr. Dani’s questions to the Village Council regarding the Library May 1, 2019 – Library responses

What stage is the project renovation at? Project’s current stage: Schematic concept. Key factors leading the project to this stage:

• The existing Ridgewood Library was last renovated 21 years ago Elements of the facility are nearing or past their useful life

• Public libraries must evolve with their communities. Ridgewood Library is now #1 in public programming throughout NJ – more oriented to both people and technology.

• The State of NJ has set aside $125 million in grant funds to improve public libraries.

The Library Board recognized these factors and has completed the initial schematic phase of planning, producing a concept and rough cost estimate. This concept is still subject to substantial change based on two key factors:

• Community suggestions – Please join us Saturday, May 11, 1pm – 2pm

• Available funding – 3 avenues to pay for project costs

o NJ Public Library Construction grants could pay up to 50% of costs o Private donations o Municipal funding

Regarding the central staircase in the middle, this is big structural change, he seems to believe it will cost a lot. What is the cost of this?

The cost of the central staircase was estimated by the Library architect as $335,828. The cost has not been broken out by a 2^nd cost estimator. All project elements can change based on final design and materials used.

Regarding Auditorium, one plan was to increase the size; some trees would have to be eliminated

• An earlier concept, no longer under consideration, contemplated a wider Auditorium.

• The current concept just squares off the rear wall and preserves the large pine trees between the Library patio and Village Hall.

Do we really have to make the auditorium that much bigger?

It would be helpful to have a larger, easily divisible auditorium where the Library could:

• Accommodate a larger audience for big special events

• Easily divide room to hold 2 simultaneous meetings or discussion groups.

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Estimate for the library was 8M. 4M from State, 2M from donor and library is still asking the VC for 4M. The math does not add up—-4+4-2 = 10M? Residents asked why the library is asking for more money, still no answer.

Project cost & funding – using $8M example (our est is closer to $7.6 M) Roughly speaking –

Cost – If future project cost were $8 M Funding goals – Status NJ Grant, Public Library Construction: $4M NJ State needs to issue

regulations for 1:1 matching grant from approved $125M pool. Library future Capital Campaign goal: $2M Committee now In planning Library would request from VOR: $2M Village funding not yet requested Total $8M

If grant produces less funding, Capital Campaign goal would increase.

In 2018, the VOR Finance Office had calculated the cost of a 20-year bond to the average Ridgewood taxpayer (home value $700,637):

Averaged over each of 20 years –

• $2 million bond = $16.58 per year

• $4 million bond* = $33.17 per year

Mr. Dani – Library is still asking Village for a 4M commitment? Village would be asked to guarantee required funds not yet due from Capital Campaign.

Example of funding process based on Library’s last major (1998) renovation.

• The Village of Ridgewood dedicated $500K bequest and authorized the project.

• The Library architect had completed the in-depth phases of project development

and estimated the likely costs at about $4M.

• The Library’s Capital Campaign was collecting cash donations as well as pledges

extending up to 5 years. At time to go to bid, CC had banked $420K.

• Full funding commitment for project was required to move forward and go to bid.

• Therefore, VOR Ordinance 2555 authorized the full funding amount needed,

less dedicated funds and donations already deposited in the bank.

• As 1997 & 1998 project costs were incurred, Capital Campaign pledges were

also being paid, enabling the Library to pay significant project costs.

• Ultimately, Capital Campaign payments toward the project totaled $1.7M

The Village bonded the balance – which was substantially less than the full amount they had authorized. Continued on next page _{Page 2 of 3}

Continued from page 2: In 2019, we anticipate that the funding process would be about the same – except now, $125M in NJ State Grant funds have been dedicated for to construct/renovate public libraries

In order to proceed with the project, at some point the Village would need to authorize the Library to move forward with further project planning.

Village approval would also make the community much more likely to donate to the Capital Campaign. The Library Capital Campaign Committee would establish/announce a realistic goal.

Eventually, as in 1996, the Village would probably need to make a commitment to fund the full project cost, less whatever amount is actually guaranteed from grant fund awards and capital campaign deposits.

When construction begins, the Library would pay project bills with available State Grant and Capital Campaign funds.

He did not hear from anyone in the audience who approached the podium that renovations needed to be made. Regarding the plan for the auditorium, no one in the audience spoke of a need for that.

For the April 24 Public Council Meeting, the Library’s focus was to celebrate National Library Week. Residents were invited to share a personal story about how the Library has made a difference in their lives. We had explained that talk of a potential renovation could come at a later point.

The plan that was brought to the VC, the library was asked to come up with a plan B; residents have not seen a plan B. Was the plan shared with council member individually at a meeting? The public has not seen a smaller plan.

The Library Board has agreed to invest no further in architectural studies, until we have more information about potential funding from the NJ State Grant as well as local sources. If it becomes necessary to reduce the project cost, the Board may eliminate the proposed Auditorium improvements/expansion, and possibly other elements of the project will be reconsidered as costs and funding are further developed.