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Gulf Beaches Library plans derailed
By AMY WIMMER, Times Staff Writer MADEIRA BEACH -- The Gulf Beaches Public Library's on-again, off-again plans to apply for a state grant to expand the library flip-flopped one more time last week. Plans are off. At least until next year. "Too many things are, in my mind, very fuzzy," Madeira Beach Mayor Tom DeCesare said. Treasure Island is dissatisfied with service and has suggested pulling out. Only one of the five municipalities that funds Gulf Beaches -- North Redington Beach -- pledged support for the library expansion. And some officials question whether the library even needs the extra space. "Talking about being against the library is like being against motherhood," said Madeira Beach Commissioner Charles Parker, acknowledging his standing as the only commissioner to opposes the grant application all three times the library board asked for the city's support. The library is funded by Redington Shores, North Redington Beach, Redington Beach, Madeira Beach and Treasure Island, but because the library is located here, the Madeira Beach City Commission must apply to the state for the expansion grant. Commissioners decided in early March not to apply; later that month, they reconsidered and decided to apply after all. But the resolution Madeira Beach passed was too wishy-washy for the state Division of Library and Information Services. It didn't promise that local matching dollars would be available, or that the library would stay in operation for the next 20 years. So the state sent the resolution back to Madeira Beach, asking for those assurances. The deadline for applying for the grant had already passed -- it was April 1 -- so the City Commission had just one shot to reword the resolution it passed. Commissioners decided to back out altogether. They feared they were sticking their necks out without proven support from the other beach towns that are involved. "Madeira Beach is putting their name on the line for the money," Commissioner Jan Sturgis said. The library board's request comes on the heels of a citywide visioning project, in which a consultant advised Madeira that it should look toward replacing its public buildings, including City Hall and the library. That made city commissioners reluctant to add on to the existing library. They also feared that applying for a grant they might not want could endanger their chances of getting other grants in the future. "It's embarrassing to the city if, in fact, it all comes down to saying, "We don't want the funds,' " City Manager James Madden said. "Then if you go back to the well again, they're going to look at you very cautiously." The library board's shaky relationship with Treasure Island also did not impress the Madeira Beach City Commission. The municipalities that support Gulf Beaches used to divide the budget based on the number of users from each town. Because Treasure Island residents must traverse the oft-raised John's Pass Bridge to reach Gulf Beaches, they tend to frequent the St. Pete Beach library or mainland libraries. Gulf Beaches Library Director Jan Horah points out that Treasure Island might help fund Gulf Beaches, but that funding allows Treasure Island to use those other libraries through the library cooperative. After the Pinellas County Library Cooperative formed, allowing card-holders to visit most libraries in the county, the beach towns switched to funding the library based on how many people live in each town. "We decided we had to switch over to per capita, but Treasure Island didn't like that," said Jacobsen, the library board member. The new funding plan had a dramatic impact on Treasure Island's budget, so the city's higher rate was phased in over 20 years. Treasure Island pays the library $86,000 a year -- almost 40 percent of what the five cities pay into the budget. That number is expected to be close to $100,000 within the next three years. The bulk of the budget is paid by the county, which gave Gulf Beaches $172,313 last year. Treasure Island wants more for its money. "Maybe a reading room that is geared toward children with a best-seller shelf for adults," suggested Chuck Coward, Treasure Island's city manager. "There are a lot of options, and we've been asking them to look at this for the last couple of years." Coward said most library card-holders in Treasure Island use libraries other than Gulf Beaches "because of physical convenience." But Coward also said he doesn't see the city turning away from Gulf Beaches. Coward wants the library board to hire an expert to determine what services it could easily provide for Treasure Island. Jacobsen said Gulf Beaches already provides a computer where Treasure Island residents can look up books at the city's Community Center, and they can even order and pick up books at the center. But Jacobsen learned this week that besides applying for a grant to expand Gulf Beaches, the library also can apply for funds to build a "satellite" library -- just the type of facility Coward is looking for. Jacobsen said he still would favor getting a grant to expand the existing library before looking for funds for a Treasure Island satellite. Madeira Beach Mayor DeCesare said he thinks Treasure Island hasn't offered its full support because it wants more service for its residents. "This is leverage," DeCesare said. "They're using this for things they want. That's just good business, and I see no objection to that."
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From the Times South Pinellas desks |
