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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-02-27 BOLT MINS t . . . MINUTES LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES FEBRUARY 27, 1991 LIBRARY CONFERENCE ROOM 3:34 PM LIBRARY BOARD PRESENT: Chair Miller, Vice Chair Williams, Trustees Alexander, Donovan LIBRARY BOARD ABSENT: Trustee Viesca (excused) OTHERS PRESENT: Betty Roche, Claudia Diamond, Robert Coye I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Meeting of January 23, 1991 Trustee Donovan commented that Friends Liaison Betty Roche had been omitted under "Others Present". MSUC (Alexander/williams) to approve the minutes of the January 23, 1991 meeting with the above correction. II. COMMUNICATIONS A. Friends Betty Roche, Friends Liaison, reported that the Book stop bookstore earned $1,549 during the month of January. Friends purchases during 1990 included: a new audio system for the auditorium, cultural programs, seed money to start the rental book collection, paperback display units, and book bags for the homebound program. The Friends have donated funds to the Literacy Team, provided book grants for staff members to help pay for school books, provided gift books to sister city delegation members from Odawara, Japan, and commissioned the replacement of missing tiles originally on Chula vista's first Library building. These tiles will later be mounted in the Library's lobby. Friends volunteers are also helping place bar codes on library cards and are signed up to help place bar codes on the Library's collection in April. Chair Miller suggested the Trustees keep the Friends in mind when it is time to file applications for CALTAC awards. B. Public Comments Claudia Diamond, three year resident of Chula Vista, reported that the library offered superior service to her and her family. Library Board of Trustees -2- February 27, 1991 III. CONTINUED MATTERS A. Conflict of Interest Report - Exemption of Library Trustees failed Chair Miller asked the Board to view the conflict of interest segment of the February 12, 1991 Council meeting on video, and give their impressions of what they observed. She asked that the Board's comments be recorded verbatim. These comments are attached. Library Director Lane reported that she met with Councilman Rindone on February 11th as part of the introduction given new Council members. She gave him a tour of operations on the lower level of the Library, introduced him to staff, and discussed the new library in south Chula Vista. On leaving the Library, he remarked that the Conflict of Interest matter would be reviewed at the next Council meeting. He told Mrs. Lane that it had pretty much been decided, but Council was extending a courtesy to Mrs. Miller. At the end of Mrs. Lane's comments, Chair Miller explained that she felt this video was worth viewing in order to see how the Council feels about Boards and Commissions. Councilman Moore had shared with her the fact that if the Board wanted to be heard by the council, it should correspond in writing in addition to appearing at Council meetings. According to the City Clerk's office, the conflict of interest packages will be mailed on March 15th and are due by April 15th. Trustee Donovan suggested writing a letter to Councilman Rindone. Chair Miller thought that a letter to Council might be appropriate. The Board agreed to write a letter to Council letting them know their feelings on this matter. In Chair Miller's opinion, the Council would have voted differently if members of any other board or commission had done their homework and been present at this meeting. MSC (Donovan Miller 3-1 with Alexander the dissenting vote) A letter be written to the Council by the Vice Chairman. B. Library Board Budget - Final Review MSUC (Alexander/Williams) that the Board budget be accepted and sent on to the city Council. . . . Library Board of Trustees -3- February 27, 1991 C. California Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act Update - Application was filed before the February 15, 1991 deadline. The Library met the Proposition 85 filing deadline of February 15th. There was a last minute problem with the land purchase, but the City's Community Development Department came through. The state Bond Board is scheduled to meet on April 23rd to review the recommendations of the evaluation team. They think the Bond Board will make their decision on that day. D. Automation Update - On target for bar coding the first of April. David Palmer reported that library records had been loaded into the data base and patron re-registration is progressing well, with about 7,500 patron re-registered to date, or approximately 200 per day. The Library has received all the smart bar codes, so the target date of April 1st to start bar coding can proceed. The Library will go to the City Council the second week of March to ask their permission to close the library for eight days to bar code. Staff training for the new system will also occur during this time. The OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) is scheduled to come on line six to eight weeks after the system goes up. E. Registration for Public Library Association Conference Board members discussed their planned attendance at the Public Library Association. Director Lane reported that there will be a PLA tour of the Chula vista Public Library on March 20th and invited Board members to act as tour leaders if their schedules permit. IV. NEW BUSINESS A. Growth Management Program Director Lane had sent copies of the library section of the city's Growth Management Program to the Board prior to the meeting. She stated that the section regarding libraries is accurate. When the City approves the Growth Management Plan, it will back up the Library Master Plan in the need to construct more libraries in the city. Library Board of Trustees -4- February 27, 1991 V. LIBRARY DIRECTOR'S REPORT A. Library Budget Director Lane reported that the rate of increase in the cost of books had not exceeded the City's 3% inflation factor this year. This means the Library will not have to ask for funds in addition to its base budget. At Administrations request, the Library has prepared one and two percent budget cuts. The one percent cuts will consist of small cuts across the board, while two percent cuts may entail closing the Library on Thursday nights. B. Growth Management Oversight Committee Report The Growth Management Oversight Committee is related to the Growth Management Program discussed previously. This committee reports directly to the city Council on threshold shortfalls. Rosemary Lane, representing the Library on this committee, had reported the shortage of square feet per capita. C. Death of Ramona Rodger, Library Audio Visual cataloger Director Lane reported that Ramona Rodger, Audio Visual Cataloger, has passed away on February 13th. The Library is setting up a book fund in her memory. VI COMMUNICATIONS A. Public Comments Mr. Coye cited an article in the Wall Street Journal. He also stated that it was against state law to ask someone's name at a public meeting unless they are asked to speak. B. written Comments Board members signed a letter commending Marjorie Clarke, for over 1,000 hours of volunteer service. B. Board Comments Trustee Alexander reported that several people have suggested that the Board consider naming the Rancho del Rey/Sweetwater Library afater Mayor McCandliss. The city might be convinced to build a cultural center on the lot with the library and place the fire station in . . . Library Board of Trustees -5- February 27, 1991 another location. He asked that this be placed on the next agenda. Trustee Donovan relayed the Genealogy Society's thanks to the Library. Also, approximately a third of their membership has agreed to participate in the bar coding project. Chair Miller indicated that she has also been asked about naming a library after Mayor McCandliss. VII. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 5:42 pm. The next Library Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for April 3rd. Library Board Comments February 27, 1991 BOARD DISCUSSION REGARDING THE COUNCIL VIDEO william Alexander, "Let me ask you this Sue, for what purpose are our comments? Do you have any feeling that the Council could change their mind on the matter?" Chair Miller, "I think Councilman Moore and I, our meeting was about all kinds of things, we talked about Chula vista and all kinds of things but in the end he said to me, 'What Happened with that?', and I said well, you voted outside of the norm of the law as far as I'm concerned. The ordinance tells you how to decide, the City Attorney told you how to decide, he told you within the criteria which you needed to examine, you could not look at any other facts than that this and this. If you found that we met that criteria then we should fill it out, we told you we did not. He said, 'Well how could we have done it differently?' I said, "You could have followed the norm". He said he was going to check with the City Attorney and he left and we said goodby. I don't know where that leaves us, but I think if you look at Councilman Moore's statement, he is concerned. If the Library Board was exempt, so should others. I think what you saw happen was that other people didn't do their homework and we did. We were just lumped in with rest and that is what I think is still on the mind of David Malcolm." William Alexander, "But you don't see any immediate reconsideration of the .." Chair Miller, "with the present Council, I can't say what's going to happen." william Alexander, "My public comment would be that I believe in the consensus of the Board and we object to being asked to do this. On the other hand, it is a "fait accompli", so I suggest we move along and accept that if the matter comes up in some other way that we reaffirm our efforts to get our point of view across. We appreciate all your efforts, but let's put it aside and move on." Chair Miller, "I agree". Peggy Donovan, "My comment would be that it would appear that Councilman Rindone overstepped his authority within the Council by making this assumption. Perhaps it was a mistake, but none the less, I think that he didn't pay attention to the right things and why everybody voted with him, I don't know. I can't tell that. I would also concur with Bill that its a done thing." 1 . . . Library Board Comments February 27, 1991 Chair Miller: "any other comments" Peggy Donovan, "Well, I appreciated what Mr. Nader said as well as what Mr. Moore said, both of them I thought were very sympathetic toward the Library Board, however, I noticed that only one of them voted his sympathy." Ron Williams, "My comments, I agreed with my comrades here and was interested in what they said. I think we need to delve more into what Mr. Nader said that if it is true, then maybe we're not heard like we should be heard. If we are truly representing the community and they're not listening, then why do we exist. We'd have to look at the data and see what things are going on, I haven't been a Board member long enough to have a good feel for this. The other thing bothers me a little bit too, because I think it does have a tendency to keep people out. We're not elected officials, we're volunteers. We represent the community, we do not do it because of investments. It bothers me, I think it will keep some people out of here. But I agree, its been up for a while and the board will go along with it, we've got no choice. I'm bothered by what Councilman Rindone said, I think the Library Board was responding in a written communication about what occurred. I don't like the comment that was made that it's already been decided before it's been put to vote. Maybe its because of his newness. It may have been that way, either way. Then talking to the Librarian and saying something that really could have been presented to us, I think we would have been more than pleased to sit down here and talk with him if he will talk with us, I think it would have been very appropriate. I don't like the idea of letting it slide. I think the issue has passed but the spirit that bothers me may corne up again." William Alexander, "I was also interested in Councilman Malcolm's statement that it appeared to me that he equates libraries having value, only in raising property values, and if that is his interpretation of our mission, then he needs to be educated." Chair Miller, "it was very interesting, there were so many things there that I thought worth seeing. It gives you a feeling on how the Council feels about boards and commissions. Maybe something will corne of this, maybe they will listen better. Councilman Moore did say to me, that if we want to be heard by Council we have to send them written messages. We have to send strong letters. Not just wishy washy letters, but taking a stand. He said send us the information, send us your opinion." 2