We're going to continue where we were in our last workshop... tonight what is being highlighted is we're going to talk about the services and importance of a library in North St Paul... and then we'll move on to interest in Partnerships at the community center we have a draft of an RFI we want to get your comments your viewpoints before we end up advertising that and Publishing that out.

Our St Paul is one of our Tiny But Mighty libraries in our library system... in 2022 we worked on developing our strategic priorities... it includes extending our welcome growing our Partnerships and Community presence and building resources to create positive change.

Nurse St Paul is in a dark dark red that essentially means that 75% of the individuals in this city fall within the social vulnerability index and you know should one or two more situations occur that that leads to you know a potentially tragic situation for the community here.

City of North St Paul in 2023 we made 763 new library cards... we also had almost 53,000 visits... with about 90,000 plus items checked out so 53,000 people came in to check out over 90,000 and of that 90,000 about 40,000 of them were children's materials.

People are looking for space to meet people are wanting to meet with their teachers mentors tutors they want to have their virtual interviews at the library they want to have their telea Health visits with their doctors and nurses at the library they are looking to have court hearings.

Libraries are very unintimidating spaces to be in and exist... it's we try to be as friendly as possible so it feels less like an institution and it is you know one of our last remaining third spaces in our community.

I think the decision from the city of North St Paul of the value MH... and that's how it ended up being an addition to the current Community Center where it's at and even though they're in a 20-year lease and there's not an OP Uh current operational dollars that are given they did put a significant Dollar in into that facility when they first got into there.

Dan my Interruption I apologize but before we do um I if you don't mind clarifying one point you made sure um you just said that we're going to be discussing the least of the library in a future meeting correct.

Unfortunately nobody can find a fully executed lease neither party... and so then they routed another document around um and that's kind of been the the date that they've uh kind of went with um to solidify that is kind of unfortunate from the city of North St Paul's side is that I think there was the amendment and Brian correct me if I'm wrong I think it was 2018 um where they got they did an amendment to add additional space... and it references again back to that 2010 date which kind of solidifies and changed kind of in certain ways the original 20-year lease which you know one could argue should have began somewhere in about 2005 and should be expiring in 2025 versus 2010 and ending in 2030.

The city's vision is a community center that could be a flexible Multicultural space able to provide for evolving needs of the community the community center could be a hub offering farmers and craft markets educational programs seasonal and cultural events and celebrations and social Gatherings a safe place for the Youth to Foster positive socialization and recreational space for sports and youth targeted activities a safe and comfortable place for veterans and seniors to socialize engage in crafts dance fitness and Recreation a demonstration Hub to showcase the city's commitment to Green Building practices renovation may include solar energy electric vehicle charging stations and other improvements to promote Environmental Health in the community.

I I would be interested to kind of see if we could ask for um if they have like a short report or some sort of um like annual report so kind of an annual report on their organization itself and see what they can.