Council Selects Contractor for Library Renovations

The City Council voted 4-1 Tuesday to approve a construction firm's bid to renovate 16,500 square feet of the .

The project will focus on "the children's area of the library, circulation lobby and relocation of the Teen Zone," according to a report by Associate Project Manager Donielle Kahikina.

Fifteen firms applied for the city's contractor prequalification process. Three firms were prequalified by staff. W.E. O'Neil Construction, Bayley Construction and C.W. Driver Construction were permitted to submit bids.

W.E. O'Neil was chosen after tendering the lowest bid of $3.2 million. The council added an additional $320,500 in contingency funds "to cover unforeseen conditions," the report states.

Assistant Director of Community Services Nancy Hunt-Coffey said the project, which is designed by Culver City-based architectural firm Johnson Favaro, will improve the library's lighting and reduce noise levels. Hunt-Coffey also told council members the renovations will maximize the library's floor space, improve access for computer technology, and boost seating capacity for the public and library staff.

"We're looking for light and bright," Hunt-Coffey said, adding that there will be a "balance between the classical design of the library and contemporary design." 

The library is slated to close Feb. 4-5 as staff members relocate the youth areas to the auditorium and meeting rooms on the second floor. Construction will begin the following week. The project will likely take a year and a half to complete.

Prior to the council's vote, Beverly Hills residents spoke on the issue.

Susan Mischler questioned the amount of money the renovations will cost the city and called for a "line-item" review of the project's expenses "so that the public knows exactly what we're spending and for what."

Former Mayor Nancy Krasne, Human Relations Commissioner Tom Pease and former Mayor Ed Brown all agreed that the cost of the project is too high.

"I just don't see where you're going to build for $250 a square foot ... to get these improvements," Brown said. "Something's wrong."

Charlotte Hill-Skura, president of the  and Laurie Goldman, a former president of the group, are in favor of the project.

"If you think about what this money's being spent for, it's the children's area," Goldman said, noting the increasingly large number of young library patrons.

Citing concerns over the project's $3.5 million price tag, Councilman John Mirisch cast the dissenting vote. 

"Is this something that we need, or something that we want?" he said.

Mirisch said the money could be better spent on priorities such as improvements to the city's . Still, the majority of the council was enthusiastic about the forthcoming library renovations.

"I think the whole project, every part of it, is an investment in our future," Mayor Barry Brucker said.

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