SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- In the wake of voters' approval of the Measure S bond measure supporting local library services, Santa Cruz has formed a 10-member public advisory committee to weigh the ins and outs of an upgrade or replacement downtown library facility.
The committee will be charged with studying recently developed public library buildings, reviewing staff input and current use and examining the broader community's interests and needs. The committee will also look at possible locations for the renovated/new Downtown Branch.
Libraries Director Susan Nemitz has appointed Steve Blair, Linda Craighead, Martha Dexter, Rena Dubin, Martin J. Gomez, Elise Granata, Yolanda Henry, Nikolara Jansons, Tera Martin and Teresa Thomae to the committee.
An early discussion focused on the potential merging of a new library facility beneath a public parking garage in the parking lot near Lincoln and Cedar streets was rolled out in December. About a dozen speakers were opposed to the project at the Santa Cruz City Council meeting where it was discussed.
Public meeting dates and times for the committee have not yet been announced. Information related to the committee will be posted online at santacruzpl.org/measure_s.
The next step in the library project will be to hire an architectural firm to lead a public information-gathering process and support the advisory group's efforts.
