A 2018 CDBG Notice of Funding Availability was published in November 2018 by the State Housing and Community Development Department. Applications are due February 5, 2018. A committee comprised of staff from the County Administrator's Office ("CAO") and Yolo County Housing met twice to identify priority projects which met the CDBG requirements. It was determined that the Yolo County Library Project was the most “shovel ready” project that met the CDBG requirements under the Public Facilities funding category. The County's Grants Oversight Committee has approved the project for CDBG application.
The Yolo County Library ("YCL") was constructed in 1918 and is a historical resource listed on the California Register of Historical Resources and the National Register of Historic Places; however, existing structural and other concerns required the County to cease use of the Yolo Branch Library building. Since March 2018, the Library has operated out of a temporary modular building placed at the site. The proposed new Yolo Branch Library Project is intended to address substantial structural and safety issues with the existing Yolo Branch Library building by constructing a larger facility with room for additional programming and community use.
The project would demolish the existing condemned Yolo Branch Library and an adjoining residential development, rezone & merge the two properties and construct a new 3,800 square foot Library facility. In addition, it will upgrade and improve existing Yolo Branch Library services such as expanding the existing book and media collections, expanding public use computer stations, creating study rooms and distinct user group areas for children/family, teens and adults, expanding staff workspace areas, offering a covered outdoor activity area, offering possible outdoor gardens, seating, picnic areas and activity lawn and providing a dedicated meeting room for joint use by library programs and the community.
Staff recommends approval of the attached resolution and submission of a grant application.
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