Glendale Adult Center meeting
On Thursday, February 12, 2015 the last of the city presentations to citizen boards and commissions was held regarding the proposal to sell and relocate Foothills Library. The presentation was before the citizen Arts Commission and was held at the Adult Center. Since it was not held in the heart of Foothills library territory one would think no one would show. That was not the case. There was a healthy citizen representation and it demonstrated that this is an issue that is city-wide and not confined to north Glendale. The presentation was like the two that had preceded it. There was ample time for citizen comment and the comments again, were similar to those offered the previous times:
- Incompatibility of library and recreational activities
- Concern about diminishment of the book collection and
We love our libraries!!
inadequate space at FRAC
- Questions about the adequacy of parking spaces, especially in the summer
- Concern about the library as a babysitting location when children have finished recreating
- Comments on the low ball appraisals of the library
- Comments on the loss of special interest classes and activities offered by library and FRAC
Rodeane Widom is the former Director of Library Services for Glendale. She sent a letter voicing her concerns to senior management and the Library Advisory Commission:
“As a former Glendale Library Director and as a Glendale resident, I want to discuss concerns I have about the potential sale of Foothills Library. I served the city for 27 years and oversaw the construction of both Main Library and Foothills Library.
After listening to Mr. Strunk’s presentation at City Council Workshop regarding the library’s sale, I was startled by the appraised amount of the building, site, and art. I decided to check the library’s expenditures on the city website’s “Follow Your Money” ( http://wwwglendaleaz.com/followyourmoney/) to find information about the appraisal.
I discovered that Mr. Strunk authorized the use of $4,999 for “Library Appraisal Report” from the Library Book Fund on 8/18/14. The Library Book Fund includes all profits from the sale of books donated by library users. I believe that Mr. Strunk broke an unwritten contract with the public by using this money to pay for an appraisal of the library building for possible sale. Mr. Strunk chose to fund this appraisal with donation profits for a purpose so very opposite of what donors would have wished—the sale of the city’s newest library! I consider this shocking behavior on the part of the Library’s Executive Director. He should be well aware of the source and intended purpose of the Library Book Fund money— enhancement of the library, not vastly diminished services.
Mr. Strunk gave a workshop presentation that I consider a blatant sales pitch stressing benefits of selling Foothills Library while omitting the many downsides to the library and FRAC. His written City Council agenda sheet was entitled “Potential Relocation of the Foothills Branch Library and Expansion of Library Services.” The “expansion” he discussed should more aptly be called “reduction of library services” which I believe will result from the sale.
I have lost any confidence in Mr. Strunk as the library’s highest executive. To make my distrust even stronger, I noted that the appraisal report cost $4,999. The city web page dealing with purchasing states, “The City Council approved modifications, which make doing business with Glendale as simple and straightforward as possible. The formal limit for bids and proposals was raised to $50,000. The small purchase level was raised to $5,000.” Mr. Strunk’s appearance is of a city employee using a technicality in order to personally select the appraiser, which I feel questions the validity of the appraisal.
This also puts in doubt other cost estimates provided by Mr. Strunk—such as the estimate for renovation of FRAC to accommodate library use. Thank you for your consideration of my concerns. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to call me at home or on my cell phone.” Sincerely, Rodeane Widom CC: Library Advisory Board
Foothills Library Meeting
If you are a glutton for punishment and really, really have nothing better to do here are the links (courtesy of the Glendale Daily Planet) to the videos of the Wednesday, February 11, 2015 meeting at Foothills library (warning: it is 3 hours long), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXsazZSakZI&feature=youtu.be and the Thursday, February 12, 2015 meeting at the Adult Center, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mopHcIxLkic&feature=youtu.be .
What happens now? Each of the three citizen commissions typically meet once a month. Their February meetings consisted of the presentation on Foothills library. At their March meetings they will have an opportunity to discuss the library proposal and come up with their commission’s recommendation for city council.
You have an opportunity to express your opinion on the proposal to each commission member. I would advise you to keep the pressure up by expressing your opinion to every relevant commissioner. This can be accomplished by sending an email to Erik Strunk and copying all three commissions: strunk@glendaleaz.com and at the end of your email please Cc: members of the Parks and Recreation Commission, members of the Library Advisory Board and members of the Arts Commission. It will be his responsibility to make sure each commissioner receives a copy of your email per your Cc.
After the three commissions have made their recommendations to the city council, I would expect the proposal to become a city council agenda item for a workshop or regular meeting. I will monitor city council agendas and publicly post when it is scheduled before the city council.
I want to congratulate every one who took the time to attend one of the three presentations or all three, for that matter; those who spoke publicly at a meeting; and those who sent emails to the mayor and council. It is so gratifying to see Glendale citizens participate in their local government. It’s not over yet…not until the city council rejects this proposal. Please stay informed and participate in the process.
Sadly, I wish that this same caliber of citizen activism occurred on many more Glendale issues. Many of the policy decisions made by your city council result in a profound effect on your lives, such as the temporary sales tax increase becoming permanent. All too often, our concern about a vital issue only becomes visible after the decision has been made. At that point it is often too late and the proverbial horse is already out of the barn.
Local government is the governmental entity that dictates your individual quality of life within Glendale. All too often, citizens fail to realize that even a little noise on an issue can direct its outcome. And so the Library War continues…
© Joyce Clark, 2015
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Joyce, I understand what you are saying, but when the item hits council agenda, the council politely listens then vote what they want. I may have missed something but I have never seem council change their votes based on citizen input at the council meeting.
John, It has occurred…but rarely. There really were times when I was on the fence about an issue and citizen input at the meeting was definitely the deciding factor.
I think the thing that surprised me the most, is that top level administrators never show up at any of the public meetings thereby hanging Mr Strunk and Mr Beck out to dry. I do not remember that ever happening before when presenting a delicate situation as this. As I recall, the City Manager and Assistant City Manager always attended and supported staff when necessary.
You are correct but we and staff have just suffered through the worst administration in Glendale’s history. Some may say that title belongs to Beasley…it’s a toss up.p
Beasley was definitely the worst. Some of his cronies that stayed with the city only made Fischer tenure worse. It will not be good until the old guard ( actually one person is fired) is purged.
I wholeheartedly agree John. Actually many that are left from Elaine’s and Ed’s tenure no longer know right from wrong.
From the picture, the latest meeting held on February 12th at the Adult Center really doesn’t appear to have more than 50 people in attendance, Joyce. But considering that the city officials are keeping this “deal” pretty hush-hush, it’s surprising that anyone showed up at all!
In the letter that Rodeane Widom wrote to senior management and the Library Advisory Commission, she said of Erik Strunk:
“…His written City Council agenda sheet was entitled “Potential Relocation of the Foothills Branch Library and Expansion of Library Services.” …
Surely Erik Strunk (and Michael Beck, as well) cannot possibly believe what they are telling the people – that this is an “expansion of services”.
I wrote in another post that these men must have failed basic math in school. If they would check the math again they would realize that selling the FBL to MWU for a mere $5 million is a major money loser.
They should also go to a dictionary and look up the word “expand”. According to Merriam-Webster the definition of the word is: to increase in size, range, or amount : to become bigger.
The proposal to relocate the FBL to FRAC is anything but an “expansion”; it is a drastic “decrease” in size to both the Library and the Rec Center.
How can anyone – anyone! – believe that the sale of the FBL is a good idea for Glendale?
I’m not going to name names, point fingers, or accuse anyone of doing anything “underhanded”, but something really stinks concerning this whole deal. It’s like so many other decisions that have been made by our City Officials/Government. Without sufficiently informing the residents/taxpayers of Glendale, deals are made, contracts signed, money is spent, and the result is financial disaster!
I have e-mailed our Mayor and the Council Members expressing my deep concern over this proposed sale. I received only two responses – one from my Cholla District Council Member and the other from the Vice Mayor. The others didn’t have the courtesy to respond with even a brief one-liner response.
This only tells me that I could write until my fingers fall off’; I could make my opinion known by going to a dozen other meetings (if there were any other meetings planned), and the people who run this city are going to go through with this deal.
Why do I feel like I’m spinning my wheels and beating my head against a wall? Maybe it’s because at my age I’ve seen the same mistakes being made over and over and over again. Sad, but true! 🙁
Joyce, I can only hope that this is one of the “rare occasions” you speak of where the powers that be really listen to the people, and reject this ludicrous proposal.
I’m wondering if it would be worthwhile to write the officers of Midwestern University as well as the City Council. I’m not sure how much of a bubble the MWU administrators live in, or how aware they might be about how upset the community is, or how much damage to their (up until now, good) reputation is being done. The silence from that direction has been deafening.
I found a list of trustees and administrators here:MWU Governance. The “Campus Directory” button gives contact info (phone & email) for the administrators, but not the Board of Trustees. (I’ll be working on a list that includes contact info for everyone.)
I notice that a Ross J. Kosinski, PhD., is “Director of Community Outreach” for the Glendale campus. I’d say he’s making a good try for an “EPIC FAIL” award.
Honestly do you think the former Mayor is unaware of the upset of Cholla, much less the rest of the city?
bruce, you wrote:
“I’m wondering if it would be worthwhile to write the officers of Midwestern University as well as the City Council. I’m not sure how much of a bubble the MWU administrators live in, or how aware they might be about how upset the community is, or how much damage to their (up until now, good) reputation is being done. The silence from that direction has been deafening….”
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I’m willing to bet good money that MWU’s administrators are quite aware of the community’s feelings about their offer to buy the FBL at the low-ball offer of $5mil…
In fact, our former Mayor, who lives right here in Arrowhead Ranch, sits on the MWU Board of Trustees, and is very “tight” with some of the top admin’s at the University. So, I’m sure she is keeping everyone involved with this offer to buy/proposal well informed of how upset the residents of Glendale are about this potential sale.
Midwestern’s silence is most likely by choice – not that they are unaware. They are probably sitting back, hoping that the City of Glendale City Council & Supervisors will be stupid enough to “accept a hand full of beans for the cow.”
This weeks issue of Glendale Today (Saturday, February 14, 2015) posted the following article:
http://www.yourwestvalley.com/glendale/article_f0490af2-b1d1-11e4-89ba-3f512971d529.html
I find this part of the article of particular interest:
“…About a year ago, Midwestern leaders approached Glendale about the possibility of sale. Strunk said two appraisals of the property fixed its worth at $3.4 million and $4.7 million, respectively.
Dr. Kathleen H. Goeppinger, Ph.D., the university’s president and chief executive officer, said buying the current library would support both educational and community partnership goals.
“It provides us additional space for students and programming while increasing library services and offering additional technology for our local residents,” she stated in an email.
The university, through its six colleges, offers masters and doctorate programs in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine and optometry and has more than 3,100 full-time students on its Glendale campus, Goeppinger stated….”
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I still want to know how the appraisals of $3.4 and $4.7 million were arrived at, when it cost far more than that to build it back in the late 90’s. The more I read about Erik Strunk, the more I think he’s a major fool!
How can he make these statements and still keep a straight face?
And Dr. Geoppinger made her statement in an e-mail; apparently not deeming this proposal worthy of a personal public appearance by herself – or one of her minions.
Do I sound bitter? You bet I am! And the more I read and hear about this situation, the more disenchanted I become with a the city I so love(d) living in.
Geoppinger and Scruggs, sure, but how close to their vests are they playing their cards with MWU itself? Are they portraying this as hunky-dory and smooth sailing to other administrators and trustees, with just a few cranks speaking out against it? Are they playing games with MWU, too, as well as the public? How much, and what, have administrators and trustees back at MWU’s home base in Downers Grove, IL, been told? No, I’m NOT sure the university adminstrators are aware of the community’s feelings.
(Joyce, how open and honest was Elaine Scruggs with other people in Glendale government during her mayoralty?)
Look at how much active hunting for information opponents of the proposal have had to do. If your bosses and fellow executives told you everything was progressing nicely, how many would double-check that?
I’d also love to hear some input from students at MWU. How much do they know? Is a new library a pressing need for them? Do they -want- a new library on the farthest corner of the campus and across the street? Or would something more centrally-located be preferable? How do they feel about going to an institution that eviscerates public libraries?
Former Mayor Scruggs only shared with those she perceived as being “on her side.”
well, bruce, I can answer your questions [about how much other MWU admin’s & trustees know] in a couple of words:
Comprende “Ruling with an iron fist” and “micromanaging”. 😉
As far as the students “wanting” a new library? I doubt that they will be asked what they want – or that their input is even a consideration in this “deal”. In other words:
“You build it, and they will come.” – or in this case, “You overtake it, and they will go.”
Trust me, I know this to be true.
Actually, FBL isn’t so far away from the other campus buildings that it’s geographically inconvenient. As I understand it, some MWU students are already using the library for study sessions.
What makes this all the more interesting, Mayor Weiers & Dennis Paulsen, Vice President of Midwestern University serve on the Board of Directors to WESTMARC!
Joyce, I’ve noticed that some of your library posts are tagged with “Foothills Library” and some with “Foothills Branch Library”. Clicking on each tag brings up different groups of posts, not the entire set.
If you could edit the tags to be one or the other, clicking the tag would produce the entire set of posts, along with a URL that could be used to let others link to and read the whole set. Thanks.
Thanks for the info. Perhaps later today I can work on it.