HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/2/2009 - STAFF REPORTS David L. Gray
1735 Capri Circle, Palm Springs, CA 92264
760-320-4147 - 617-784-3819 mobile
daveprmarketing@gmaii.com
December 2, 2009
To: Mayor Steve Pougnet, Mayor pro tern Chris Mills, Councilmember Ginny Foat,
Councilmember Rick Hutcheson, and Councilmember Lee Weigel
From: David L. Gray, President, Palm Springs Public Library Board of Trustees
PUBLIC COMMENT: 2.G. ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
WITH ESCALANTE ARCHITECTS FOR THE DESIGN WORK RELATED TO
THE WELWOOD MURRAY MEMORIAL LIBRARY.
Good Evening Council. My name is David Gray, and I am here this evening as the
current President of the Board of Trustees of the Palm Springs Public Library.
I would like to urge the Council to approve Item 2.g. Architectural services agreement
with Escalante Architects for the design work related to the Welwood Murray Memorial
Library.
Wednesday, February 19, 1941 was a grand day in downtown Palm Springs. On that day,
Palm Springs Public Library Director Dorothy Bear and Palm Springs Desert Museum
Director Lloyd Smith proudly shared in the dedication of the brand new Welwood
Murray Memorial Library at the corner of Palm Canyon and Tahquitz Canyon,the first
permanent home for the Palm Springs Public Library.
For more than 30 years,the Welwood Murray Memorial Library served as the main
library until the current Library Center in Sunrise Park opened in late 1975. Then for
another 17 years, the Welwood Murray served as the downtown branch until it was
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closed as part of the city's library system. Since then,the building served as a private
library run by volunteers, but due to the signage on the building many visitors and new
residents continued to think it was part of the city's library system. Now that arrangement
has come to an end thus giving the City of Palm Springs and the Palm Springs Public
Library the wonderful opportunity of reopening this treasured building.
It is the Board's hope that a newly redesigned downtown building will become a 215f
century library for residents,the business community,tourists and culture seekers. By
providing access, relaxation, self-service, and connectivity to information, the Welwood
Murray can be a new destination for internet access, interactive technology, best sellers,
DVDs, tourist information, news, and a space for community exhibits and lectures.
We as the Board of Trustees are really excited by this opportunity to work with the city
on this project, and want to commend the city for its commitment to reopening this
historic building that can be a stepping stone to the revitalization of our downtown
corridor. We would urge you to approve this architectural agreement and move forward
on this long-overdue project.
How exciting would it be to once again open the doors of the Welwood Murray
Memorial Library to the citizens of Palm Springs on Saturday, February 19, 2011, 70
years to the day of its original dedication?
Item 2G (Consent Agenda)
Amend Article I, Section B-8 of the Welwood Murray Library Architectural
Agreement to read:
S. Changes In Plans and Specifications. In the event that competitive
bids based on the Final Plans exceed the Master Budget by more than five (5%)
percent, the Architect shall, at no cost to the City above the Basic Fee as defined
in Article IV, Section A below, make any changes in approved plans and
specifications as are necessary to secure a new construction bid which does not
exceed cost estimates approved by the City and ensure that the Project is
completed pursuant to the Master Schedule. In addition, the Architect shall, at
no cost to the City above the Basic Fee, make any other revisions in the
approved plans and specifications as may be necessary or desirable as long as
those revisions do not constitute a significant or material change in the direction
and scope of the Project. Any changes or revisions in approved plans and
specifications by the Architect pursuant to the provisions of this Section
shall be subject to City review and approval as provided in Section B-6 of
this Article of the Agreement.
(New language is in bold and underlined above.)
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