The Mayor's office has decided to delay any further budget amendment proposals until the end of the legislative session, when decisions about cuts in Local Government Aid will be finalized. Cuts of some size are probably inevitable later in 2009.
In the meantime, the Mayor's office and Library Director Melanie Huggins have committed to involving the community in a process to identify options to move forward with a new way of doing business at HM library, possibly involving a non-profit partner. Councilmember Stark is confident that the process can lead to a positive outcome for the neighborhood that will stabilize the library as a community asset for many years to come. Until the legislature decides their cuts in Local Government Aid, there will be many unknowns.
Councilmember Stark looks forward to working with the Hamline Midway Coalition, neighbors, and other community stakeholders in the near future in the context of a community process that explores potential partnerships that would reduce costs to the City and maintain library services and community space for the neighborhood. No process has been set, but when it is, it will be outlined here with a timeline and any confirmed community meeting dates.
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