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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-06-22 BOLT MINS MINUTES LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES JUNE 22 , 1994 LIBRARY CONFERENCE ROOM 3 : 35 PM BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice Chair Donovan, Trustees Alexander, Williams, Romo BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Chair Viesca, Trustee Clover-Byram CITY. STAFF PRESENT: Library Director Palmer, Principal Librarian Blue OTHERS PRESENT: Betty Roche, Harry. LaBore, Robert Coye, Yolanda Reyes de Aguayo, Waldo V. Lopez, Martha L. Reyes MSC (Williams/Alexander), to excuse Chairman Viesca who was '. participating in National Guard activities. (3-0-2 with. Chairman Viesca and Trustee Clover-Byram absent) I . APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Meeting of May 25, 1994 MSC (Alexander/Williams) to approve the minutes of the May 25, 1994 meeting as mailed. (3-0-2 with Chairman Viesca and Trustee Clover-Byram absent) Trustee Alexander played a short videotape of his tour of the South Chula Vista Library. II. CONTINUED MATTERS A. South Chula Vista Library ' 1. Construction Director Palmer reported that building construction is now 50% complete. He thanked the Friends of the Library for their additional support in the amount of $2 , 500, raising the total capital . the Friends have made available to finance the courtyard fountain to $17 , 500. Fountain costs are expected to run $17, 195. Council approved Change Order No. 6 accepting the Friends' gift at their June 21, 1994 meeting. 2 . . Works of Art The City Manager has approved the proposed members of the Art Selection Committee for the South Chula Vista Library. These individuals s Library Board of Trustees June 22 , 1994 are: Constance Clover-Byram and Doris Steinman representing the Library Board; Dency Souval and Lee Wheeland representing the Cultural Arts Commission; and Patricio Chavez, Visual Arts Coordinator for the Centro Cutural de la Raza. These members have been notified of the City Manager's action. The next step will be the development of a written prospectus. The community will be asked for input as part of the process. It is optimistically ' anticipated that the. contract will be awarded by October, with fabrication of the artwork occurring soon after with completion to coincide with the opening of the Library in late January. 3 . Furniture and Equipment At their June 21st meeting, Council approved the award of bid to INLEX/DRA for the upgrade of the library's automated circulation system. _ This upgrade is necessary to allow the system to accommodate the additional terminals that will be required at the South Chula Vista Library. Staff is currently ordering the furniture and shelving for the new building that was recently approved by Council. This phase of -the project is running on schedule. B, Library Budget Council had previously tentatively approved the Library's. budget, with the exception of three issues: open hours for the South Chula Vista Library, two self-checkout units at the Civic Center Library, and closing the Woodlawn Park - Library. At their meeting of June 21, 1994 , Council did approve 48 open hours per week for the South Chula Vista Library. This amount includes four hours on Sunday. These same open hours will be proposed when preparing the FY 1995-96 budget, as this document must be prepared before the facility opens. 2 A F Library Board of Trustees June 22 , 1994 Staff provided Council with additional information regarding productivity of the self checkout units in the cities of Glendale and Pasadena. With this input, Council approved the purchase of two self- checkout units for the Civic Center Library as part of the City's Capital Improvement Budget. Director Palmer reported that an oral presentation was made during the public comment section of the Council meeting by members of the audience regarding the South Chula Vista Library. These individuals expressed: 1. positive comments regarding the service being provided at the Castle Park Library and their desire that this level of service continue in the new library. 2 . the need for a bilingual, bicultural staff at this facility. 3 . a desire to provide input in the selection of materials for the new library's collection A suggestion was also made to name the new library after Caesar Chavez or by contest. Director Palmer informed the Trustees that it is and has always been the Library's goal to provide the best service possible in all its facilities. Bilingual, bicultural staff members are actively recruited when hiring for all open positions in the library system. However, only eight new positions have been approved for this building. Vice Chair Donovan asked for comments on this issue from members of the public. Waldo Lopez stated that the new library would be something very special for the community. He stressed the need for continued close ties to the community and a bilingual, bicultural staff. He expressed concern that the Principal Librarian chosen for the facility was not Hispanic. He wanted his culture to play an active role in this facet of the community. Yolanda .-Reyes de Aguayo expressed her pleasure at finding a positive role model for her five children at the Castle Park Library. She feels that more 3 j 1 "s c Library Board of Trustees June 22 , 1994 qualified Latino individuals could be found if an adequate effort was made. Director Palmer replied that Ms. Barrow was hired following strict Civil Service procedures. A nation-wide search was conducted with over a thousand mailers sent out. Applicants were screened by the Deputy Director of the San Diego Public Library; the Head of Personnel Services for the University of California, San Diego, Library; and the Assistant Director of the Escondido Public Library. This committee sent forward four candidates, none of whom were Latino. After final interviews, Deborah Barrow was selected as the best candidate. Regarding a name for the new library, Mayor-Elect Horton again referred this matter to the -Library Board. The issue was not on the Board's agenda, so no formal action could be taken until the July meeting. Informal discussion followed. Trustee Williams expressed discomfort reviewing this issue without a full board present. Further, the Library Board has rendered an opinion on this issue previously. As Council had not accepted the Trustee's prior recommendations, he felt little was ' to be gained by reviewing the issue yet another time. Vice Chair Donovan and Trustee Alexander concurred. Consensus was to reaffirm the Library Board's previous recommendation to - name the facility the South Chula Vista Library. However, Trustees are investigating the possibility of naming rooms after deserving individuals once sufficient criteria is established. Trustee Williams indicated that he would like to recommend that Council establish a City-wide policy on naming facilities at the July meeting. Trustees asked the status of staff research on naming wings and rooms of public libraries. Director Palmer reported that preliminary research indicated that this honor came usuallS after large monetary.. contributions. The Board will receive a full report at the July meeting. 4 i Library Board of Trustees June 22 , 1994 C. Woodlawn Park Library Council discussed the issue of closing the Woodlawn Park library during their Public Hearing on June 14th. Council voted to close this facility upon the opening of the South Chula Vista Library. Vice Chair Donovan asked the disposition of books and furnishings at Woodlawn Park when the facility closes. Mr. Palmer reported that Council followed staff .suggestion that these materials be offered to the Woodlawn Park Community Center. Now that the budget has been approved, staff will follow up on this issue to see if the Woodlawn Park Community. Center wishes to retain these materials. If not, the books will be transferred to the South Chula Vista Library. Trustee Williams asked where staff at the Castle Park Library will work when that facility closes. Director Palmer informed him that employees from all library facilities will have an opportunity to request a transfer to the new South Chula Vista Library. Staff may also wish to transfer to the Civic Center Library, should vacancies occur there. Designation of individual worksites will occur closer to the opening of the South Chula Vista Library. No staff members will lose their jobs. D. Library Legislation Director Palmer asked Trustees to individually support a proposed California bond issue for library construction. E. EastLake Criteria Staff expects to give proposed criteria to determine the success of the EastLake facility at the July meeting. III. NEW BUSINESS A. Revisions to the Brown Act Trustees were sent materials regarding revisions to the Brown Act. 5 Library Board of Trustees June 22, 1994 B. Growth Management Oversight Committee Referral The Growth Management Oversight Commission, in its review of Library thresholds, questioned the appropriateness of current library thresholds in light of new technologies. Staff had originally been asked to respond by October, but because these technologies are not yet in place, more time was requested for evaluation. The Planning Department will recommend that this issue be deferred for a minimum of two years. ACTION C. Grand Opening Planning Committee MSC (Alexander/Williams) that Vice Chair Donovan serve on this committee. (3-0-2 with Chair Viesca and Trustee Clover-Byram absent) Director Palmer suggested that a member of the Castle Park/Otay community also work on this committee. IV. LIBRARY DIRECTOR'S REPORT A. Library Automation Manager recruitment This position has been advertised and recruitment will end July 15th. Staff is optimistic about getting good quality candidates ,to apply. B. Project 20K Staff is currently identifying and tagging 20, 000 volumes at ! the Civic Center Library to be transferred to the South Chula Vista Library to augment the 25, 000 book opening collection. This project is 20% complete. These items will not be removed from the shelves until just before the new library opens. C. Receipt of Arturo Barrios donation The Library has received a check for' $10,000 from Elite Racing for last year's Arturo Barrios race. Gifts from Arturo Barrios/Elite Racing to date total $27, 000, making them the Library's second 6 u , Library Board of Trustees June 22 , 1994 largest financial supporter, after the Friends of the Library. D. Reference Evaluation Project Chula Vista is one of a handful of libraries in the state evaluating its reference service through a model program. Director Palmer stated his commitment to begin to tackle public service issues... in a way that has not been done before. Results will be forwarded to the Trustees when they are available. Director Palmer announced that Sue Jung celebrated her 30th anniversary with the Library on June 1,- 1994 . ;1994 . Council provided a proclamation in honor of the event and staff held a surprise pot- luck. .* (Trustee Williams informed the Trustees that he will be on vacation during July and asked to be excused from the meeting) . Director Palmer reported that at the June 21st Council meeting Chair Viesca and Vice Chair Donovan were reappointed to the Library Board. V. COMMUNICATIONS A. Friends Betty Roche reported that the Friends approved increasing their donation for the fountain at the South Chula Vista Library. They now have $55, 480. 97 in their account. The Friends determined that their participation in the Festival of the Sun was not effective and they will not do so again unless they are assured a better location. B. Public Comments Mr. Coye suggested that meeting participants be required to fill out a form indicating their desire to speak on a particular issue similar to the method used by Council. Trustees deemed this a good idea and asked staff to investigate. 7 Library Board of Trustees June 22 , 1994 Mr. Coye also felt that it was more important for the staff of the new library to be bilingual than its management. He also inquired about the ashtrays at the building entrance. C. Written Comments None D. Board Comments Vice Chair Donovan hoped that the cultural gap with the people of South Chula Vista could be closed and would like to see a good liaison person appointed to work to this end. VI. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 5: 15 pm. The next Library Board of Trustees meeting will be held on July, 27, 1994 at 3 : 30 pm. COMPLIANCE WITH AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) The City of Chula Vista, in complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act, requests individuals who may need special accommodation to access, attend and/or participate in a City meeting, activity or service request such accommodation at least forty-eight ho�irs in advance for meetings and five days for scheduled servibes and activities. Please contact JoAnn Howard at 691-5193 for specific information or Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD) (619) 976-5357 . California Relay Services is also available for the hearing impaired. 8 I