Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.K- Library DOC ID: 2045 B o CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO—REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Report/Information From: Deborah Clark M/CC Meeting Date: 10/15/2012 Prepared by: Deborah Clark, (909) 381-8201 Dept: Library Ward(s): Subject: Request from the Library Board of Trustees to Amend the Proposed Library Pre-Pendency Plan to Provide for the Operation of All Three Branch Libraries for a Period Not to Exceed Four Months at a Cost Not to Exceed$100,000 Financial Impact: Account Budgeted Amount: $100,000 Account No. 104-470-0064 Account Description: Branch Libraries The General Fund subsidizes Fund 104 and provides about 99%of the funding. The Library Board recommends Motion 1 Motion 1: Amend the proposed Library Pre-Pendency Plan to reflect the sum of $100,000 returned to the Library budget for the purpose of operating the Rowe, Villaseiior and Ingram Branch Libraries for a period of four months (January 1, 2013) or until the branch(s)become self-sustaining, whichever occurs first. OR Motion 2: Amend the proposed Library Pre-Pendency Plan to reflect the sum of $150,000 returned to the Library budget Account No. 104-470-0064 for the purpose of operating the Rowe, Villaseflor and Ingram Branch Libraries for a period of six months or until the branch(s)become self-sustaining,whichever occurs first. OR Motion 3: Accept the original proposal of the Pre-Pendency Plan, closing all three branch libraries by December 1,2012. Synopsis of Previous Council Action: The continued Meeting of the Mayor and Common Council of September 5,2012, resulted in the Council passing the Pre-Pendency Budget,which included a 9-Point Plan created by Council Member McCammack. The 9-Point Plan included the continued operation of the Rowe Branch and the Villaseflor Branch Libraries for a period of six months at a cost of$100,000. Background: The City Charter outlines the responsibilities of the Library Board of Trustees to include oversight over the policies and operations of the San Bernardino Public Library. Consistent with that policy, the Library Board approved the Library Pre-Pendency Plan at their Special Meeting of August 23, 2012. The budget reductions required in the Library Pre-Pendency Plan was the sum of$600,000. To achieve this amount, the budget approved by the Library Board was based © on the reduction of five fulltime positions and the closure of all three branch libraries: Howard Rowe Branch,the Paul Villaseiior Branch, and the Dorothy Ingram Branch. Updated: 10/10/2012 by Georgeann"Gigi"Hanna B Packet Pg. 68 2045 © The Library Pre-Pendency Plan was presented to the Mayor and Common Council on September 4, 2012, at their Regular Meeting as part of the City-wide Pre-Pendency Plan. The meeting was continued to September 5 and the City-wide Plan was approved by Council with exceptions outlined by Council Member McCammack in what was called the "Nine-Point Plan". Included in the Nine-Point Plan was a statement that would require the continued operation of Rowe and Villasenor Branch Libraries for a period of six months, costing the City the sum of$100,000. The City Council decision was forwarded to the Library Board of Trustees by the Interim Library Director for its information at its Regular Meeting of September 13, 2012. At that meeting the Library Board, while grateful to the City Council for its support of the community needs for library service reflected by community branch libraries, emphasized that the Board's approval of the Library Pre-Pendency Plan rested on the concept that each community served by a library branch would be treated the same--that the Board would not pick and choose which branch community had greater need for library services than another, even if that required the closure of all three branch libraries. The City Council decision of September 5, which calls for two branch libraries to remain open while closing a third, was considered by the Library Board to be incompatible with its policy decision to treat all communities under the mantle of San Bernardino Public Library Services with the same degree of fairness and consideration. Therefore, with respect for the City Council's desire to serve their communities and the Library Board's own belief in the importance of neighborhood library services, the board gratefully accepts the return of$100,000 to the Library Budget to allow the Rowe and Villasenor branch libraries to remain open--but ask that the Ingram Branch Library be given the same option and opportunity for sustainability. The board understands that funding the Dorothy Ingram Branch for six months would require an $50,000 returned to the Library budget. Considering the city's financial crisis, the board proposes instead to use the $100,000 proposed by Council to keep all branches open for a four-month period. The board further emphasized that the Interim Library Director was to take all measures to attempt to make each branch library "sustainable" by December 2012, through partnerships, volunteerism, fundraising and the identification of new and reliable revenue streams. Based on this concept, the Library Board respectfully requests the Common Council to take the following action: Amend the proposed Library Pre-Pendency Plan to reflect the sum of$100,000 returned to the Library budget account 635-400-5111 for the purpose of operating the Rowe, Villasenor and Ingram Branch Libraries at their current service level for a period of four months (January 1, 2013) or until the branch(s)become self-sustaining,whichever occurs first. Alternatively, the Library Board respectfully requests the Common Council to take one of the following actions: Motion 2: Amend the proposed Library Pre-Pendency Plan to reflect the sum of$150,000 {� returned to the Library budget Account No. 104-470-0064 for the purpose of Updated: 10/10/2012 by Georgeann"Gigi"Hanna B I Packet Pg. 69 2045 ^ operating the Rowe, Villaseiior and Ingram Branch Libraries for a period of six (C months or until the branch(s)become self-sustaining,whichever occurs first. OR Motion 3: Accept the original proposal of the Pre-Pendency Plan, closing all three branch libraries by December 1, 2012. Suuaortine Documents: O Updated: 10/10/2012 by Georgeann"Gigi"Hanna B Packet P70