AADL Board OKs Title for Nov. 6 Ballot Proposal

At a special Monday morning meeting attended by all seven trustees, the Ann Arbor District Library board unanimously voted to set the title for its Nov. 6 ballot proposal: “Ann Arbor District Library Downtown Building Proposal.” The action was the only item on the agenda, and the meeting lasted less than five minutes.

The language for the ballot proposal itself had been approved at a special meeting on July 30, but did not include a title. [See Chronicle coverage: “Library Bond Moves Toward Nov. 6 Ballot.”] That omission led to the need for Monday’s special meeting, which was announced late last week.

There was minimal comment before the vote. Board president Margaret Leary described the title as short, simple, clear and reflective of the bond proposal’s single purpose.

The proposal will ask voters to authorize $65 million in bonds to build a new downtown library on its current site at 343 S. Fifth Ave., at the northeast corner of Fifth and William. At its July 16 regular meeting, the AADL board had voted to move forward on this 30-year bond initiative. In addition to construction of the new building, the funding would also pay for demolition of the existing structure, moving costs, and temporary leases while the new building is being constructed.

Passage of the bond proposal on Nov. 6 would result in an initial bond millage levy in July of 2013. It’s estimated that 0.56 mills would be levied in the first year, with an average annual rate of 0.47 mills over the 30-year period.