Item Coversheet

Board Action Request
20-0249

Item Description:
Approve Hennepin County's COVID-19 library reopening plan for remainer of 2020
Resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners approves a COVID­-19 library reopening plan, which directs administration to coordinate the safe reopening of the following library locations before the end of 2020, incorporating the standards established in the board adopted COVID-19 Preparedness Plan:

  • Arvonne Fraser
  • Augsburg Park
  • Brookdale
  • Edina
  • Excelsior
  • Franklin
  • Hopkins
  • Nokomis
  • Northeast
  • North Regional
  • Oxboro
  • Penn Lake
  • Rockford Road
  • Rogers
  • St. Louis Park
  • Sumner
  • Walker
  • Champlin
  • Maple Plain
  • Minneapolis Central
  • St. Anthony
  • Southdale
  • Wayzata
  • Westonka; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners directs the following library locations will not open in 2020:

  • East Lake
  • Golden Valley
  • Linden Hills
  • Long Lake
  • Minnetonka
  • Osseo
  • Pierre Bottineau
  • Roosevelt
  • St. Bonifacius; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Hennepin County Administrator is directed to return to the Board with a library staffing plan for the remainder of 2020 that reflects the impacts of decisions above.

Background:

On March 16, 2020, the Chair of the Hennepin County Board declared a Local Emergency, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes § 12.29 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other things, that declaration mandated employees to work remotely, if possible, until further notice to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, resulting in many county buildings temporarily closing to the public.

 

Beginning in mid-April the following eight library locations opened to patrons, offering curbside pick-up library services:

  • Brooklyn Park
  • Eden Prairie
  • East Lake
  • Maple Grove
  • Plymouth
  • Ridgedale
  • Washburn
  • Webber Park

 

On May 19, 2020, the County Board approved the Hennepin County COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, setting safety standards for reopening county facilities. On June 18, 2020, a briefing was held to present potential options for board consideration for the remaining buildings in the Hennepin County Library system through the end of 2020. 

 

Current Request: This request seeks board approval of a COVID-19 library reopening plan for 32 of Hennepin County’s 41 libraries in 2020 and directs the county administrator to return to the board a staffing plan reflecting the reopening decisions outlined in that plan.