City Council meeting on Tuesday, 4/14

The upcoming Tuesday City Council meeting has a couple Great Park Library related topics on the agenda. If you are inclined to submit e-comments, there are copy and click e-comment links at https://gpneighbors.org/action. Please feel free to use the current templates or update with any of your personal comments.

5.3 Library Advisory Committee

5.4 Expedited City Fiscal Briefing

Here is the staff report on the Library Advisory Committee Proposed Plan: https://irvine.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=68&event_id=2804&meta_id=183052

You can submit an eComment or email to IrvineCityCouncil@CityofIrvine.org.

Be Part of the Design Process!

Mark your calendar for this meeting where city staff will provide updates on input from recent community meetings about the GP Library. If you can only pop in for a moment, no problem. Let’s continue to show the city that a public library is a priority to residents

What's happened so far? 2026

Feb 4: Community & Library Services Commission discussed a Library Subcommittee to assist the Master Plan process. It was voted down.
Feb 10: City Council Meeting: Voted an approved the creation of a Library Advisory Committee. Staff to return with a plan in 60 days.

Quick Talking Points:

Current plan for the Main Library at Great Park is not budgeted until AFTER 2036!
Let’s raise awareness for the City Council that a new library building is urgently needed in this growing part of the city.
Help us spread the word and keep each other informed about City decisions.

Sept to Dec 2025

Sept 15: Townhall at Beacon Clubhouse with Councilmembers William Go and Melinda Lui, The Great Park Director Luis Estevez, and City Librarian Julie Zeoli. 70+ GP residents showed up to ask them questions about the plan for the GP Library.
Oct 14: City Council Meeting: City Librarian presented the Feasibility Study conducted over the summer. 11 members of the public, including 6 from the Great Park Neighborhood spoke about the importance and the urgent need for a Main Library in the Great Park
Oct 15: IrvineMainLibraryFOL.org website went LIVE!
Oct 28: City Council Meeting: City Council voted 7-0 to adopt a resolution to formally incorporate and expeditiously build a central or main library branch in the Northern sector of the Great Park Framework Plan and explore funding options outside of those already allocated in Phase 1. This is a major first step in the right direction! Now, let’s continue to build on this momentum and make the library a reality.
Nov 6: Planning Commission reviewed the proposal for 1,814 new home. Many residents spoke during the meeting and many more had sent in emails to the commission and the City Council.
- (1) Planning Commission heard everyone’s concerns and recommended school board consultation and more community benefits for residents,
- (2) school board has heard complaints and has said they are working to increase resources at all the schools,
- (3) new development will be zoned for Woodbridge high school, limiting impact to existing schools,
- (4) City Council and City is highly aware of resident pushback, and
- (5) 5P said they are discussing community benefits in real time.
Negotiations are ongoing with the developer and City Council is involved in closed door sessions. The City is currently advancing funds to start planning for the main library.
- We sent a letter to the IUSD Board (and copied City Council) asking them to address resident concerns on re-zoning, overcrowding, school sizes, and lack of resources. Will post when we get a response.
- For now, the goal is to get to a better agreement and resolve concerns around the schools.
Nov 20, 2025: Five Point will commit $15 million for a Main Library at Great Park. This money should be used for “architectural design, environmental study, and future fundraising outreach efforts”.
Dec 9, 2025: City Council Meeting: Your emails, calls, and presence at City Council meetings made a difference! FivePoint will provide $15 million for the planning and design of a new library in Great Park. $5M from the CFD homeowners tax, $10M from the developer.

Email City Council members

Join a growing number of Irvine residents in support of building a new Main Library in Great Park.

Please feel free to use the template below or tailor it to your own experiences and hopes for our community. Your voice carries more power than you think!

This is our most effective action right now!

Email Subject: Support for an Irvine Main Library in Great Park

Message to Copy:

Dear Honorable Council Members,

I am writing as an Irvine resident to express my strong support for building a Main Library in the northern sector of the Great Park as indicated in the current Great Park Framework Plan. Please include its design in the budget process for 2026 and start fundraising efforts of the Framework Plan construction.

I respectfully urge you to support the Main Library construction at the Northern Sector of Great Park and include it in the budget process for fiscal year 2026.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to your support at the upcoming City Council Meeting.

Copy Text & Email Irvine City Council Members