St. Paul council's library proposal may prompt Coleman's veto

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman is vowing to veto a City Council plan to increase library hours using money from the city's parking fund.

The council plan discussed at a budget meeting Wednesday would extend weeknight hours at seven libraries and keep Merriam Park's library open on Sunday.

Council President Kathy Lantry said the purpose is to make libraries more accessible for the city's youth.

"Bang for the buck, it's the way to go," she added.

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The plan would restore about half of the hours the city cut in the tight budget times of 2010, Library Director Kit Hadley said.

Coleman supports a more modest increase in library hours. He argues the council's $345,000 proposal lacks a long-term funding source.

"It puts us in the position — next June as I'm putting the budget together for 2016 — of on the one hand hiring new employees to staff these additional hours, at the same time considering a plan to eliminate staff at the library to meet our budget needs and challenges going forward," Coleman said.

"That's just not a good way to govern."

The parking fund is traditionally used to maintain city-owned parking ramps and for economic development.

Coleman rarely uses his veto pen. The last time he brandished it was in 2012.

Lantry says she intends to stage an override vote next week.

It takes five votes to override a mayoral veto in St. Paul. Six council members voted for the proposal.

Neither Lantry nor Coleman could recall a successful override vote over the last nine years. But relations between the mayor and city council have been unusually strained this year, ever since they clashed publicly over how to pay for rebuilding the city's crumbling streets.

Coleman later proposed an increase in funding and changes to road repair policy.