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PUBLIC LIBRARY MINUTES CITY OF
CHULA VISTA CHULA VISTA
BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
NOVEMBER 18, 2015 CIVIC CENTER BRANCH LIBRARY
4:00 PM 365 F STREET, CHULA VISTA, CA 91910
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: CHAIR BRIAN YOUNG, VICE-CHAIR ELVA MELLOR, AND
TRUSTEE MARYANN HERNANDEZ
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: TRUSTEE STEPHEN KALALUHI
CITY STAFF PRESENT: LIBRARY DIRECTOR BETTY WAZNIS, AND
FISCAL OFFICE SPECIALIST ALICIA BALCAZAR
PUBLIC PRESENT: NONE
CALL TO ORDER/ ROLL CALL
Chair Young called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion made by Vice-Chair Mellor and seconded by Trustee Hernandez to approve the
meeting minutes from September 16, 2015. Motion carried (3-0).
II. APPROVAL OF ABSENCE
Motion made by Vice-Chair Mellor and seconded by Trustee Hernandez to approve the
absences of Chair Young and Trustee Canedo from the September 16, 2015 meeting.
Motion carried (3-0).
III. NEW BUSINESS
A. Update on Homeless Issues
Lt. Mark Jones and Sgt. Henry Martin were not able to attend the meeting and will be
rescheduled for the next meeting.
Director Waznis reviewed what they were going to talk about. Why homeless is
growing in Chula Vista. The issue is not that they are using the library but that they are
doing bad things outside and inside the library.
Chair Young is interested in what kind of resources the homeless use at the library.
Living in the library is not okay but using the computer is encouraged. What is
appropriate and what is not appropriate? What is their need in terms of the library, and
how does that affect the rest of the population in the library? Is there a need to set
aside resources for the homeless?
Vice-Chair Mellor wants to know how we can help them more without affecting the rest
of the population in the library, especially for South and Civic.
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Director Waznis stated that our concerns are safety and that the police agree. We do
not turn the homeless away but there are bad connotations to the homeless. We need
help from the police with those concerns. The police want to support the prosecution of
shopping cart theft. The homeless do not own the cart only the things inside them.
Library is part of a bigger social problem. Director Waznis mentioned the community
collaborate group brochure and said she will bring some to the next meeting.
Chair Young asked how the library keeps records of complaints. Director Waznis
stated people don't complain they just don't come back. Vice-Chair Mellor suggested a
survey with general questions. Trustee Hernandez suggested survey pop ups on
computer or Wi-Fi.
B. Resignation of William Canedo
Motion made by Vice-Chair Mellor and seconded by Chair Young to approve his
resignation. Motion carried (3-0). We regretfully accept his resignation.
IV. OLD BUSINESS
A. Update on Joint Meeting with Friends of the Chula Vista Library Executive Board
and the Chula Vista Public Library Foundation
Vice-Chair Mellor and Director Waznis reported that the Friends and the Foundation
were in favor of the joint meeting and were very receptive to the idea. Director
Waznis suggested moving the meeting from January 31, 2016 to January 27, 2016
because the museum will have a grand preview opening.
Motion made by Trustee Hernandez and seconded by Vice-Chair Mellor to approve
the scheduling of a special meeting on March 9, 2016 from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm.
Motion carried (3-0).
Trustee Hernandez suggested the agenda should consist of a bullet point to meet
and greet on an open discussion about shared goals.
B. Update on School District Partnerships
Vice-Chair Mellor reported she has not heard from the School District and she does
not know if they have hired anyone new yet.
Director Waznis reported she and Branch Manager Whatley attended a meeting
where they presented a Prezi and highly impressed them. She reported that the
library has updated their computer access cards and explained their function.
Superintendent Janning was on board with the idea of giving students the computer
card so that they can sign up on tutor.com. The Library's IT department is currently
working with the Sweetwater IT department to make their iPads available in the
library with the library's programs.
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C. Update on "Thinkabit" Lab
Director Waznis and Trustee Hernandez went to the lab at Feaster Elementary
School and liked it a lot. They thought it was a great combination of science and
teaching. They're going to Qualcomm for the STEM lab. Trustee Hernandez
believes it is feasible and will be interesting what the execution will look like. Director
Waznis reported the city is willing to give a staff member and they want to know
what kind of money it is going to need.
Director Waznis went with the Mayor to the tour of the arts workshop "A Reason To
Survive (ARTS). It was very inspiring and has been on for 15 years. Students that
are struggling are referred there to have art in their life and to learn skills.
Chair Young addressed the fact that the library has all these projects on a facility
that's wearing down. Are they using them to remodel the facility?
Director Waznis stated that the city is proposing tax or bond measure for
infrastructure and she wants the library to be part of that. A focus group wanted to
support the library favorable. It should happen by 2016.
Trustee Hernandez proposed that Thinkabit should be an experience from the
moment you walk in to the moment you walk out (i.e., no empty sad rooms.)
Chair Young stated that the friends, the foundation and the board are willing to
commit but the political leadership of the city has to commit to move forward with the
program.
Vice-Chair Mellor thinks the special meeting is going to bring them together on this
topic
V. LIBRARY DIRECTOR'S REPORT
A. Museum has beautiful mural of the 100 year anniversary of The Great Otay Flood. The
library wants to host a preview event with politicians. A big and beautiful event staged
outside if the auditorium renovations are not completed by then.
B. Star News is almost ready. When it is completed, the library will have free access to it.
C. Millennium Library
The City is working on it faster than the library expected. It will possibly be done in 2
years. It will be an office and city center complex. There is a chance to keep both
libraries (Otay and Millennium) but there are a lot of circumstances. We will know when
the lease is done and hopefully we can keep both.
D. The auditorium is officially closing tomorrow Thursday November 18, 2015 for the
renovations.
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VI. COMMUNICATIONS
A. Friends of the Chula Vista Library - None
B. Chula Vista Public Library Foundation - None
C. Public Comments - None
D. Written Comments— None
E. Board Comments
1) Chair Young said thank you as always.
2) Motion made by Chair Young and seconded by Vice-Chair Mellor to approve
cancelling the December 16, 2015 meeting. The next meeting will be on January
20, 2016. Motion carried (3-0).
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Young adjourned the meeting at 4:58 p.m.
The next Board of Library Trustees meeting will be on Wednesday, January 20, 2016
beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the Civic Center Branch Library.
Minutes submitted by Alicia Balcazar
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