Sonoma County Library Commission Approves $4M Roseland Regional Library Construction Project
A $4M allocation from unassigned funds was approved to construct the Roseland Regional Library with 12,475 square feet of interior space and another 3,000 square feet of programmable outdoor space
On the evening of April 2, 2025, the bulk of the Sonoma County Library Commission voted in favor of moving forward with the Roseland Regional Library Construction Project. The tremendous efforts of moving the project forward may be attributed largely to the Sonoma County Library Director Erika Thibault.
The staff report was presented as follows:
The motion passed as follows despite two votes in opposition of the project:
Ayes: Doyle, Greene, Laggos, Cahill, Goldberg, Heavenridge, Poles
Nays: Engbarth, Mackenzie
Regardless of previous conversations with the Commission’s Counsel, Commissioner Barbara Mackenzie stated that the project approval would violate the Commission’s JPA Agreement. Counsel objected to state the latter, the Commission was given the legal authority to move forward with the project. It is unclear as to why Commissioner Mackenzie and the Counsel were not in concurrence regarding the verbiage provided within the JPA.
Commissioner Mackenzie provided the following statement of opposition, and requested for it to be included with the record.
I emailed Sonoma County Library Communications Manager Ray Holley some follow-up inquiries following the April 2 Commission Meeting. He was an amazing help! I was grateful that he was able to provide me with clarifying, timely responses as follows:
Hello Adina, thanks for your patience.
Responses to your questions are below, in blue:
-Could you please summarize the stages and sequence of events that led up to yesterday's approval of the Roseland Regional Library Construction Project?
Library staff and commissioners, Roseland boosters and many others have been working on this project for many years. I have attached the staff report from the April 2 meeting that Director Thibault referenced in her presentation, that has a helpful summary of how we got here.
What was the staff and commission's involvement in advancing this project, and what feedback was received from Roseland residents?
Extensive outreach has been conducted in a variety of ways. Our own Facilities Master Plan outreach provided a lot of feedback about this project, and the City of Santa Rosa hired a firm to conduct a community needs assessment specifically for this project. You can learn more about the outreach process here: https://www.srcity.org/3846/Hearn-Community-Hub
-Because the minutes have not been published yet, could staff please confirm yesterday's roll call vote for the project approval?
Ayes: Doyle, Greene, Laggos, Cahill, Goldberg, Heavenridge, Poles
Nays: Engbarth, Mackenzie
-Was the Commission's Counsel contacted before yesterday's meeting regarding the confusion surrounding the JPA?
Yes, library legal counsel was consulted regarding the use of library funds in relation to the JPA
Why did Commissioner MacKenzie and Counsel have a different understanding of the JPA?
I prefer not to speak for the Commissioners.
-In recent elections, the proposed Tiny Tax renewal for SMART failed miserably due to low ridership. Should the Tiny Tax fail to renew within the next few years, SMART will cease operations. How will the lack of public transit affect residents with minimal parking spaces available?
The City of Santa Rosa, which will own the development, has stated that transit and access is important and will be taken into consideration. More detailed questions are best addressed to the City.
-The diversity among yesterday's meeting attendees was minimal despite Roseland's large Latino population. How can the Commission better represent marginalized voices throughout these processes?
Commissioners are appointed by the County of Sonoma and the cities. Commissioners have expressed their own wishes in the past for a more diverse representation, but the Commission and the Library do not control who is appointed. Commissioners do seek diverse points of view and representation when they appoint members to the various Library Advisory Boards, and in their interactions with the community.
Because the library is an educational hub, would the Commission be interested in piloting a program through our K-12 schools to teach our youth how to participate in local agency meetings?
Library programming is heavily focused on literacy and we partner with and support local schools extensively. A program that focuses on civic engagement is an interesting idea and I will pass it on to our programming staff. Programming is an operational function (by staff) and is not under direct control by the Commission. Also, the library did a great program last summer and fall for teens, offering education and support in the importance of voting and being a knowledgeable voter.
-What positive impact do Commissioners and staff believe this project approval will bring to the Roseland Community?
As stated in the staff report I attached, Roseland wants, needs and deserves a library that offers 21st Century amenities, services and programming. This approval (and the future library) will bring support to Roseland in the following ways: Access to reliable and accurate information online and in person such as books, eBooks, digital resources; Job training, business, and workforce development; Computer literacy and free high-speed internet; Qualified bilingual librarians; Educational programs for children, story times, and programs that provide services to an underserved community.
What role does literacy play in self-improvement?
That’s a better question for a librarian, but my personal belief is that literacy is: “the key to the kingdom.” Being able to access information equally and equitably provides tremendous advantages in a fast-changing world. It allows us to participate and grow in society.
Ray Holley
Public Information Officer
Communications Manager
All Sonoma County residents deserve equal and equitable representation and access to community services. As a marginalized community, Roseland will finally be home to a long-awaited permanent library structure.
Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.
-Proverbs 22:2