Timeline
In the Timeline section, you will find all the most up-to-date information of past, current, and tentative events announced by the Board of Trustees, Administration, Owner's Representation Firm (RFC Contracting), Design Firm (Bialosky Cleveland Architects) and Construction Firm (Turner Construction).
Completed Renovation Actions Steps
2024
July 2024: Euclid Library staff visited the offices of Bialosky Cleveland to discuss design elements such as carpeting, tile and paint colors.
June 2024: Euclid Public Library continued to search for a temporary location for operations during the building renovation. Euclid Public Library leased two rooms from the Shore Cultural Centre to provide limited programs to the public during the year-long building renovation.
Euclid Public Library continued to refine the renovated building design through the Design Development Phase.
May 2024: Euclid Public Library learned that Moody's Investors Services assigned a A1 issuer to Euclid Public Library.
Fiscal Officer David Piskac and Director Kacie Armstrong traveled to Chicago to make a presentation at a bond rating meeting with Moody's Investors Services. Euclid's Mayor Kirsten Holzheimer Gail joined the meeting remotely.
The Euclid Public Library entered the Design and Development Phase of the Project with Bialosky Cleveland Architects.
April 2024: Bialosky Cleveland Architects and Turner Construction completed an on-site walk through of the Euclid Public Library.
March 2024: The Euclid Public Library entered the Schematic Design Phase of the Project with Bialosky Cleveland Architects. The library continues to consider location options for a temporary move needed during the construction phase of the library renovation project.
February 2024: The Euclid Public Library concluded the Programming and Planning Phase of the Project with Bialosky Cleveland Architects.
January 2024: The Euclid Public Library held a Facility kickoff meeting with Bialosky Cleveland Architects on January 9, 2024.
The Euclid Public Library’s Board of Trustees passed a resolution to approve Sudsina & Associates to provide Municipal Advisor services during the underwriting process to secure library renovation funding. The Board of Trustees also approved Stifel to underwrite the library municipal securities transaction for series 2024 Bonds and/or Notes. The Fiscal Officer is anticipating completion of the securities sale by the end of May 2024.
Euclid Public Library's Owner's Representative Roger Riachi from RFC Contracting attended the Special Committee Meeting of the Building and Property Committee meeting on January 23, 2024, to discuss the Construction Manager At-Risk contract with Turner Construction. The Euclid Public Library Board of Trustees approved a resolution to enter into a contract with Turner Construction to renovate, improve and equip the Euclid Public Library.
2023
December 2023: The Euclid Public Library interviewed four firms to provide Construction Manager At-Risk Services for the upcoming renovation. The Board of Trustees authorized the Board President, Director and Fiscal Officer to enter negotiations with Turner Construction Company for the renovating, improving and equipping of the Euclid Public Library.
November 2023: Euclid residents voted for Issue 7, the 5.6 millage renewal operating levy and for Issue 8, the 1.5 millage Permanent Improvement levy. According to the unofficial voting results posted on the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections' website, Issue 7 passed with 8,186 votes, a 67.44% approval rate, and Issue 8 passed with 7,134 votes, a 59.15% approval rate.
Euclid Public Library's Owner's Representative Roger Riachi from RFC Contracting attended the Building and Property Committee meeting to discuss the Bialosky Cleveland contract, next steps, a tentative renovation timeline and to answer questions. The Board of Trustees of the Euclid Public Library authorized the Fiscal Officer to work with Mike Sharb of Squire Patton Boggs to complete all paperwork and necessary filing to complete the PI levy financing option with PLF notes.
October 2023: Euclid Public Library posted a legal notice in the October 2, 2023 issue of The Plain Dealer newspaper and on its website soliciting statements of qualifications for a construction manager-at-risk for the renovating, improving and equipping of the Euclid Public Library.
July 2023: Euclid Public Library's Board of Trustees met and passed resolutions to proceed with placing a 5.6 millage renewal and a 1.5 millage Permanent Improvement (PI) levy on the ballot this November 7. The 5.6 millage renewal operating levy will cost the average $100,000 Euclid homeowner $131 per year and the 1.5 millage PI levy will cost the average $100,000 homeowner in Euclid $52 per year. The money generated will allow the Library to undertake significant improvements to the building.
Euclid School Board Members met on July 26, 2023 and passed a resolution in order for the Library to place the levies on the ballot.
Euclid Public Library's Board of Trustees passed a resolution approving the 2023 -- 2027 Strategic Plan.
June 2023: On June 20, 2023, Euclid Public Library’s Board of Trustees met in the Personnel and Finance Committee Meeting to discuss the Library Renovation levy. The Board adopted a Resolution for a 1.5-mil Permanent Improvement Levy, authorized the Director to enter contract negotiations with Bialosky, and authorized the Director to solicit statements of qualifications for Construction Manager At-Risk Services.
On June 23, 2023, the George Gund Foundation notified Director Armstrong that they “will not support [our] project.” They also noted that they “seldom support libraries…” This was disappointing news, but EPL Staff appreciated the opportunity to apply for funding. It should be noted that the Lincoln Electric Foundation declined to support the project, the Cleveland Foundation declined to support the project (unless a majority of funding had already been raised), and the remaining organizations did not respond to the campaign letter.
May 2023: Euclid Public Library’s Owner’s Representative Roger Riachi from RFC Contracting attended the Personnel & Finance Meeting to update the Board on the possible timeline and answer questions. Attorneys Mike Sharb & Matthew Sagone from Squire Patton Boggs were on hand to present options for renewing the current library operating levy and issuing a new Public Improvement (PI) levy. The current library operating levy is 5.6-mil with the last collection year of 2023. If the levy renewal is placed on the November 2023 ballot and is approved by the voters, the levy renewal period will start in 2025 and run for five years.
The PI levy is also recommended to be on the November 2023 ballot for 1.5-mil. The PI levy will generate approximately $13.5 million for the library renovation project. The PI levy has a 30-year pay back term. If the PI levy is approved by voters in November 2023, the library will receive funding in 2023.
Currently, Administration is proposing an $18 million budget for the renovation unless the library receives donations from any future grant petitions.
April 2023: Director Armstrong and new Deputy Director Karla Bowman provided an update to the Strategic Planning process. To enhance the plan and ensure that we are not missing any critical components, Director Armstrong and Deputy Director Bowman announced that they would be hosting community stakeholder visits. The Director and Deputy Director toured schools, the City, and other Euclid organizations to help give guidance to the plan.
On April 18, 2023 during the Personnel & Finance Committee Meeting, the Board received an updated tentative timeline from Roger Riachi with RFC Contracting.
March 2023: The Board of Trustees approved a Resolution to allow the Director and Fiscal Officer to apply for $21.5 million in funding from the George Gund Foundation.
The application was fully submitted on March 15, 2023. The full description of the materials submitted was included in the March 2023 Board Packet.
Director Armstrong thanked Mayor Gail, Chamber Executive Director Dana Heil, Euclid Police Sergeant Vashon Williams, Superintendent Papourous, Friends of the Library Board President Roberta Gibbons, and Euclid Art Association President Lee Peters for writing letters of support.
February 2023: The Board of Trustees met on February 21, 2023 to discuss an application for the George Gund Foundation. As noted at prior Committee meetings, there is approximately $5 million in the Building Fund available for use towards the renovation/rebuild project. In order to proceed, the library needs to apply for grants and seek private donations. As noted in the January Personnel & Finance Committee Meeting, there is also the opportunity to borrow against the Public Library Fund or seek bond approval from the community.
The Board of Trustees of Euclid Public Library approved a Resolution authorizing the Director and Fiscal Officer to apply for the grant.
The Northeast Ohio Regional Library System hosted Strategic Planning Retreats with the Euclid Public Library Leadership Team on February 9th.
The first draft of the Strategic Plan was sent to Euclid Public Library.
January 2023: Attorney Mike Sharb from Squire Patton Boggs participated in the January 17, 2023 Personnel & Finance Committee Meeting regarding Euclid Public Library’s borrowing capacity to support a capital campaign. This was a review of Ohio Revised Code Section 3375.404 (B).
Euclid Public Library Board of Trustees participated in a Strategic Planning Retreat with the Northeast Ohio Regional Library System on January 20, 2023.
The Northeast Ohio Regional Library System hosted Strategic Planning Retreats with the Euclid Public Library staff on January 19 & 25.
2022
December 2022: Matthew Sagone from Squire Patton Boggs attended the December 20, 2022 Personnel & Finance Committee Meeting. Mr. Sagone consulted regarding options for securing renovation funding from the PLF.
During the December 20th Committee Meeting, the Board also received an update on the Strategic Planning Process, which included dates for a Board Retreat, Staff Retreat, and Leadership Retreats.
November 2022: On November 15, 2023, during the Personnel & Finance Committee Meeting, the Board of Trustees discussed the following:
The Euclid Public Library held Community Focus Groups with the help of Bialosky Cleveland and NEO-RLS on October 11, 20, and 21. These Focus Groups provided some valuable insight into what the community is looking for in a potential renovation, as well as a new Strategic Plan for 2023-2025.
Bialosky Cleveland provided a full Outreach Report, which shows that 68 residents participated in the groups, with 59% living in the 44123 zip code, and 46% being under the age of 18. Participants valued gaming, meeting rooms, quiet rooms, and a children’s area.
October 2022: NEO-RLS conducted the Strategic Planning Community Focus Groups and began the Community Survey.
- Survey the Community (October 7 – November 18)
- Focus Groups: October 11, 20, and 21
September 2022: Fiscal Officer David Piskac reported that the Euclid Public Library experienced higher than expected HVAC issues during the course of the year.
August 2022: Director Armstrong, Fiscal Officer Piskac, and representatives from Bialosky attended a meeting with Mayor Gail and the City Council to discuss the renovation project, and funding acquisition for it. The Euclid Public Library Board of Trustees votes to accept the Facility Master Plan and the Facility Condition Assessment from Bialosky. The Board also voted to extend Bialosky's contract on an hourly basis.
Euclid Public Library Board of Trustees approved the Northeast Ohio Regional Library System as our strategic planning consultant.
June 2022: The Euclid Public Library Board of Trustees voted to proceed with Option 3 in the Facility Master Plan, a New Build on the Current Site.
May 2022: Bialosky first introduced the Facility Master Plan to the Euclid Public Library Board of Trustees, which included four options for potential renovation projects.
April 2022: Bialosky first introduced the Facility Condition Assessment to the Euclid Public Library Board of Trustees. This document outlined the current state of the library building.
February 2022: Board authorized the hiring of Bialosky Architects as Design Services, and approved the Design Services Contract with Bialosky Architects.
January 2022: Board approved a ranking of the top three candidates for the Design Services position, and approved entering into negotiations with the top-ranked firm.
2021
December 2021: Interviewed for the Design Services position were held on the 21st of this month.
October 2021: Board approved the Owners' Representative Contract with RFC Contracting. Board authorized Director to solicit Statements of Qualifications for Design Services.
September 2021: Board authorized the hiring of RFC Contracting as the Owners' Representative.
July 2021: Interviews for the Owners' Representative position were held on the 19th and 20th of this month.
May 2021: Board authorized Director to revise the deadline to receive Statements of Qualifications to allow for additional candidates.
April 2021: Board authorized Director to solicit Statements of Qualifications for Owners' Representative.
Stakeholders and patrons are encouraged to stay up-to-date during the Library renovation project by visiting the Library Renovation section of the website, signing up for our eNewsletter, and following us on social media.