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 Lincoln Public Library/City of Lincoln Parking Lot
Item 9E on the agenda is for the approval of Farnsworth Group for
engineering services not to exceed $35,000 for the reconstruction of
the Lincoln Public Library parking lot on Pekin Street.
While the project is referred to as the Library Parking Lot, the
parking lot is owned jointly with the library owning a section
closest to its building and the city owning the rest. In addition,
there is currently green space at the corner of Pekin and Kickapoo
Streets that belongs to the city.
The reconstruction project was first introduced by the Downtown
Revitalization Steering Committee and was a part of their official
report released in May of 2012. Since that time the project has been
discussed a few times in council, with each time resulting in a
slight tweak to the final product.
At last account, the project included the expanding the lot to a
total of 54 parking spaces by adding parking in the green space and
also by changing the direction of some of the parking spaces. The
plan also called for changing the traffic flow of the alleyway that
runs between the library and library annex from east-to-west to
west-to-east.
 Funding for the project is coming from the Illinois Capital
Improvement funds that the city was awarded a few years ago as well
as partial funding from the Lincoln Public Library for their part of
the property. Tuesday evening Mayor Keith Snyder reminded the
council where the money would be coming from, and noted that those
state funds were secured for the city at the urging of former
Senator Larry Bomke.
Snyder also said that the sewer system in that area has been
inspected and is in need of work. That work will be done as part of
the project.
A Safety Complex for Police and Fire
The other major project on the agenda is item 9D: Approval of Public
Safety Building site agreement proposal from FGM Architects in an
amount not to exceed $30,000.00.
While the first approval of 9E would bring a project closer to its
end, 9D will signify the first steps to a new project.
The city has long discussed the need for a new fire department
facility for the city of Lincoln. In recent years, it has also
become apparent there is a need for a larger police facility for the
city as well. In addition, the city has come to feel that the rent,
they are paying to Logan County for police space in the Logan County
Safety Complex, is becoming too expensive.
In August of 2013, when the city voted to impose a utility tax, a
percentage of those revenues were earmarked for a relocation of the
police and fire departments. At that time, Snyder proposed that the
tax would bring in $1.334 million per year. He divided that revenue
among a few major projects as well as funding for the police and
fire pension funds.
For the safety complex, he recommended that the city could set aside
$600,000 per year for the funding of the project. He said to move
the project forward; the city could issue a $10 million bond in
order to build the complex. The bond would then be paid back over 30
years using the utility tax.
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During early discussions, it was suggested that the city
should not look just at new construction. It was decided that to
do a proper job; the city should investigate properties that
could be refurbished as well as property for new construction.
It was also determined that while a combined safety complex
might be the most desirable, there needed to be research done on
what would be the most feasible.
On Tuesday night, Snyder spoke on behalf of the safety committee
that had been established to get the project started. He said
the committee had looked at a number of firms who were capable
of doing the initial site studies. They began their search for a
firm by sending out letters of interest to more than a
half-dozen companies. The committee, which included aldermen
Kathy Horn and Jeff Hoinacki, then met face-to-face with three
of the firms and determined that FGM Architects of St. Louis was
the best fit for the city of Lincoln.
The firm will be charged with finding a number of property
options within the city for both new construction and possible
re-purposing and bring a report of their findings back to city
aldermen.
Johnson said he firm would do site selection and analysis of six
areas in the city. The company will also evaluate the needs of
the city departments and fit the properties to the needs. The
report FGM brings back to the council will tell aldermen what
the best locations are, and why they are the best.
Johnson said that the firm was also offering to create a
3-dimensional design model of a prospective complex for an
additional $10,000. He recommended to the council that they NOT
approve that additional expenditure. He said he felt like it was
too early in the process to invest that money, but it could be
worthwhile at a later time.
If the council approves this expenditure, the firm is expected
to spend approximately three months conducting their study. The
study will also include a community meeting where the public can
air concerns and ask questions.
[Nila Smith]
Past Related Articles
Renovation would expand city/library parking
to 54 spaces
City of Lincoln Downtown Revitalization
Steering Committee report (Pdf)
Mayor's proposal of
utility tax for 'rebuilding our foundation' to be voted on Monday
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