Branch_Planning_Timeline_90s-on - Boise Public Library

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Boise Public Library
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Director: Kevin Booe

Branch Planning Timeline - Yesterday, today & tomorrow

Planning for branch libraries in Boise officially started ten years ago, when the City Council adopted an initiative to create a Master Library Facility Plan. Click on each year below to see more detail, or scroll down for the full timeline.

1996 - 1999: Community input is gathered as preliminary step to developing a Master Library Facility Plan
2000: Consultant is retained to develop Master Facility Plan, including additional community input. Council adopts Master Library Facility Plan and approves building four new branch libraries
2001: Sites are approved for two branches; architect and engineer are selected for branch projects
2002: Sites purchased for two branches, but judicial confirmation looks unlikely; City Hall scandal breaks, and project is put on hold
2003-2005: Project remains on hold until revived by Board in late 2004. Bond election is proposed and approved by Mayor and Council
2006: Bond fails, despite majority vote. New options are explored, and a scaled down, phased plan is developed that includes two leased facilities
2007: Mayor Bieter and Council approve moving forward with first phases of a new plan. Work begins on two neighborhood branch libraries in leased storefront locations.
2008: The Collister and Hillcrest libraries open; work begins on the Library! at Cole & Ustick.
2009: Boise opens the LEED-certified Library! at Cole & Ustick, the first library built by the City "from the ground up".

Historical Library Facility Planning Timeline: 1996-2006

September 1996 - November 1999: Community input is gathered as preliminary step to developing a Master Library Facility Plan
September 1996	City Council Adopts Strategic Initiative to Create a Master Library Facility Plan
January-April 1998	The Library Studies and Examines the Possibility of Operating a Public/School Library at Timberline High School, but recommends against it, due to security issues and incompatible missions.
November 1998	Library staff, the Library Board of Trustees, and citizens participate in a Library Futures Conference designed to provide a vision for the future of the Boise Public Library.
September 1999	Mayor and Council Approve Budget Request to Retain a Library Building Consultant
October- November 1999	Feedback on Library Services and Needs Collected through Community Survey
2000: Consultant is retained to develop Master Facility Plan, including additional community input. Council adopts Master Library Facility Plan and approves building four new branch libraries
January 2000	City of Boise Selects PROVIDENCE Associates, Inc. to Serve as Building Consultant to develop building program for the Main Library
February- March 2000	Richard Waters Visits Boise and Meets with Key Community and Library Opinion Leaders
April-May 2000	Mayor, City Council and Library Board Retain PROVIDENCE in an expanded role to Develop a Master Library Facility Plan
April-May 2000	Town Meetings and Focus Groups Held to Discuss Library Planning
June 2000	Community leaders and citizens invited to Design Charrette for Main Library
July-August 2000	Concept Design Ideas on Display; Building Committee Travels to Review Branch Library and Main Library Designs in other cities
September 2000	PROVIDENCE Releases and Presents the Main Library Building Program Vision to the Mayor and City Council and Library Board
October 2000-February 2001	The Library and the Parks and Recreation Department Work on Multi-Generational Facility Concept for Northwest Boise
November 2000	The City Council adopts the Master Library Facility Plan, but approves plan to build four new branch libraries instead of the original recommendation to build a new Main Library first.
2001: Sites are approved for two branches; architect and engineer are selected for branch projects
December 2000-January 2001	Site Selection Committee Chosen and Begins; Branch Library Building Program Statements Begin
April 2001	Two Library Branch Sites Chosen for potential purchase�one at Cole & Ustick, and one in Southeast Boise.
May 2001	PROVIDENCE develops 5-year Technology Plan for the Library
June 2001	The Library Presents Operating Costs for the Southeast and West Boise Branch Libraries to Council
Summer 2001	Negotiations Continue on Branch Site Purchases
August 2001	Architect and Engineer Selection Process for Branch Libraries Begins
September 2001	RFP For Branch Library Architects/Engineers Released
September 2001	The City Council Approves the Library�s FY02/FY03 Budget Including Capital Costs for Branch Libraries and Operating Costs for West Boise Branch and South East Boise Branch Libraries
November 2001	Architects Interviewed; Trout Architects Recommended for branch projects
December 2001	The Library Board of Trustees and City Council Accepts the Branch Library A/E Selection Committee Recommendation
December 2001	The City Council Approves the Purchase of the Cole and Ustick Site for a New Branch Library in West Boise
2002: Sites purchased for two branches, but judicial confirmation looks unlikely; City Hall scandal breaks, and project is put on hold
January 2002	Branch Program Statement Drafts Continue Revisions
March 2002	City Plans Judicial Confirmation/Validation Issue for Court
March 2002	Cole and Ustick Property is purchased for $2,100,000
April 2002	The Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce Endorses Branch Libraries
May 2002	Branch Building Programs are Published and Released
June 2002	Construction Management Firm Selection Process Begins. Washington Group International is selected.
June 2002	The City Selects Will Bruder Architects to conduct a mixed-use design charrette in west Boise. Area businesses, neighbors, and non-profits are invited to attend.
July 2002	West Boise Mixed-Use Design Charrette Conducted
September 2002	Judge Copsey Rules Against the City�s Debt Confirmation Plan for the Police Headquarters Facility. Contract negotiations with the A/E firms and Construction Management firms for branch libraries are placed on hold.
September- October 2002	The Library Updates the Library�s Strategic Plan
October 2002	The City Makes a Down Payment of $147,000 on the Bown Crossing Property & Purchases the Shaver�s Property
November 2002	Boise City Hall Scandal Breaks, and the library�s capital projects are placed on hold.
2003-2005: Project remains on hold until revived by Board in late 2004. Bond election is proposed and approved by Mayor and Council
March 2004	The Library receives donations from supporters to complete the Bown Crossing property purchase
January 2005	With Mayor David Bieter's support, the City Council votes unanimously to support the Library Board�s recommendation to place a bond issue on the February 2006 ballot to fund construction of three branch libraries.
August 2005	After the annual budget process, with Mayor David Bieter's support, the City Council reaffirms its earlier vote to place a bond issue on the February 2006 ballot to fund construction of three branch library/community centers.
September- November 2005	A bond election campaign committee is formed.
October 2005	The Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce Reaffirms its Endorsement of Branch Libraries.
2006: Bond fails, despite majority vote. New options are explored, and a scaled down, phased plan is developed that includes two leased facilities
January 2006	The bond election campaign kicks off at the Cole and Ustick site.
February 2006	The neighborhood branch library bond election fails to pass, but a majority of voters vote in favor of the bond.
March- July 2006	Mayor David Bieter, City staff, the Library Board of Trustees, and City Council liaisons agree to explore options and next steps for branch libraries and the main library, and to update the Library Master Facility Plan.
August 2006	Mark Rivers, developer of the downtown BoDo area, submits a proposal to the Capital City Development Corporation that includes building a new main library on the existing site.
August � October 2006	A new Library Facilities Planning Committee is formed and begins to meet to develop a branch library plan for City Council review and subsequent public input.
October 2006	With Mayor David Bieter's support, the City Council approves the Planning Committee's proposal for affordable branch libraries - two 15,000 square foot libraries, at the Cole & Ustick and the Bown Crossing sites; and two 7,500 square foot leased facilities in undetermined sites on the Central Bench and Northwest Boise. The Committee's plan for obtaining public input on the proposal is also approved.
November 2006 - February 2007	Public input is solicited.
2007: Mayor Bieter and Council approve moving forward with first phases of a new plan. Work begins on two neighborhood branch libraries in leased storefront locations.
Late February 2007	With Mayor David Bieter's support, City Council members vote unanimously to approve the most recent version of the Master Library Facility Plan, to allocate $2,519,670 for the first stages, to proceed with lease negotiations for two leased �storefront� facilities to open in the fall, and to begin architect and engineer selection for a West Boise facility to break ground in late 2007.
June 2007	City Council approves lease agreements for libraries at Hillcrest & Collister Shopping Centers. Fletcher Farr Ayotte, Inc., the architectural firm chosen for the new West Boise library at Cole & Ustick, begins design work.
August 16, 2007	A "wall-breaking" ceremony commemorates the beginning of work on the Library! at Collister, led by Mayor David Bieter, Library Director Kevin Booe, Library Board President Jim Thompson and Boise City Council members.
October 9, 2007	A "wall-breaking" ceremony commemorates the beginning of work on the Library! at Hillcrest, led by Mayor David Bieter, Library Director Kevin Booe, Library Board President Jim Thompson and Boise City Council members.
2008: The Collister and Hillcrest libraries open; work begins on the Library! at Cole & Ustick
February 20, 2008	The Library! at Collister opens, following a grand opening ceremony presided over by Mayor David Bieter, Library Director Kevin Booe, Library Board President Jim Thompson, Branch Supervisor Jillian Subach, and Boise City Council President David Eberle.
March 26, 2008	The Library! at Hillcrest opens, following a grand opening ceremony presided over by Mayor David Bieter, Library Director Kevin Booe, Library Board President and Vice-President, Jim Thompson and Martie Brennan, Branch Supervisor Diane Broom, and Boise City Council President David Eberle.
June 17, 2008	A ground-breaking ceremony commemorates the beginning of work on the Library! at Cole & Ustick, led by Mayor David Bieter, Library Director Kevin Booe, Library Board President Jim Thompson and Boise City Council members.
2009: Boise opens the LEED-certified Library! at Cole & Ustick, the first library built by the City "from the ground up".
June 30, 2009	The Library! at Cole & Ustick opens, following a grand opening ceremony presided over by Mayor David Bieter, Library Director Kevin Booe, Library Board President Martie Brennan, Branch Supervisor Kathy Stalder, Friends of Boise Public Library Board Member Marge Ewing, and Boise City Council President Maryanne Jordan.

Last Updated: 01/05/2010 JMH