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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-03-25 BOLT MINS .." . . . MINUTES LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES March 25, 1992 Woodlawn Park Library 115 Spruce 3:45 P.M. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Williams, Vice Chair Alexander, Trustees Donovan, Viesca, Wilson BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: None CITY STAFF PRESENT: Library Director Lane, Assistant Library Director Palmer OTHERS PRESENT: Betty Roche, Friend's Liaison I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Meeting of February 26, 1992 Under the section Communications, Page 6; It was stated that one of Chairman William students was having a program at the Library. This should have been Trustee Viesca's student. MUSC (Wilson/Viesca) (4-0). Vice Chair Alexander arrived at 4:00 P.M. II. CONTINUED MATTERS A. EastLake High SChool/Public Library. Vice Chair Alexander, Trustee Viesca, Library Director Lane and Deborah Barrow, Library Automation Manager, toured the EastLake High School construction site on Saturday, March 13, at 9:00 A.M. Tom Silva of the Sweetwater School District lead the tour. The school library building is 18,900 square feet compared to 55,000 square feet in the public library at 365 F Street. The size and architecture of the building make an impressive school library. There are so many small offices, LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES -2- MARCH 25, 1992 classrooms and conference rooms that only about half of the building can be used for the book collection with the necessary public tables and chairs. Trustee Viesca had concerns about the long walk from the future parking lot coupled with no sidewalk to the library building. He also questioned the interior lighting, and the fact that some rooms were designated as classrooms. Since Adult School classes will not start for two years, Mrs. Lane is concerned about the safety of Library staff who work at night, especially in such an isolated location. She was also concerned about the inconvenience of the parking lot being a block away from the building, and the fact that the building cannot be seen from the street, nor upon entering the campus, nor from th~ parking lot. All these factors will inhibit public use. During the Library's budget review on March 19th, the City Manager took no position on opening EastLake High School/Public Library, but outlined some of the pros and cons of opening this new branch. The fact that people living in EastLake have no convenient public library service at the present time is an important factor. The City Manager expects the EastLake Development Company to transfer funds currently committed for a storefront library in the EastLake Village Center to the high school library. If this transfer cannot be agreed upon and the City must spend General Fund money, the public library- school library option may not be viable in the FY 1992- 93 budget. The current agreement with EastLake Development Company for library service is in the SPA I Plan. The high school is located 1n the SPA II Plan. In preliminary meetings with the EastLake Company, a representative felt that this was a technicality and could be accommodated by transferring the promised money for the storefront to the high school library. This would mean the money for books, credit for leased space value and staff costs for the first year. Allocating this money now to the EastLake High School/Public Library probably means there would not be a storefront library in the future EastLake Village Center, a much better location for a public library. The permanent one acre site for an EastLake Library is located within the 63 acres north of Otay Lakes Road designated commercial. The Kaiser Permanente/Chula Vista Medical Center and Hospital will take up about 35 acres . . . . LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES -3- MARCH 25, 1992 of this location. The Library's one acre site still remains a part of eleven acres to be developed for public uses. The previously planned parking for the library, however, is now preempted by the hospital plan. The projected date for this building is approximately 2005. Director Lane will outline for the Board the pros and cons of going into the EastLake High School with a public library element in fiscal year 1992-93; waiting two years for FY 1994-95, or waiting for a leased storefront provided by the developer in the EastLake Village. Trustee Alexander, who was on the March 13th site and building tour, had serious reservations about going into a joint library with EastLake High School. High visibility and easy accessibility are two criteria the Board has supported for library locations. The EastLake High School site ranks poorly in regards to both these criteria . B. Local History Museum at the Senior Information and Referral Center. The referral on the local history museum went to Council on March 17th and was returned to staff with a request for input from the Chamber of Commerce, the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Downtown Business Association. The Council also suggested the building could be used as rental space and provide income to the City. Council wishes to review other options besides a local history museum. Councilman Moore was disappointed that the Historical Society didn't see this as a unique opportunity to start displaying exhibits that would develop present support and pique interest in future expansion. Although the Chula vista Historical Society has a large membership, it has few active members. Frank Roseman, a historical society member, has recently been working with John Rojas, the President, on creating an exhibit for the space. This is a positive move since these two individuals did the greater part of the work on the Library's Chula vista Heritage mural. No action has been taken to create a History commission since the Board of Trustees must make a formal request to Council that such a Commission be formed. Assistant Director Palmer reminded the Board that a museum is the only library component of the Chula vista LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES -4- MARCH 25, 1992 21 recommendation that is currently being discussed for a future bond issue. This will be a city-wide bond issue with many projects, including a cultural arts center. Assistant Director Palmer plans to meet with the Finance Director next week to discuss the possibility of providing funds through the bond issue, which would enable the City to build a library east of 1-805 sooner than waiting for the collection of Development Impact Fee monies. The collection of these fees has slowed considerably with the downturn in housing starts. III. NEW BUSINESS A. Literacy Request for Community Development Funds. Trustees received a copy of the original written budget document submitted by the Library requesting $20,500 in Community Development funds to support the Literacy Team. On March 19th City Manager John Goss indicated that the Library's total supplemental request for Literacy was approximately $58,000, minus the $20,000 the community Development Block Grant currently provides. This leaves approximately $35,000 to be taken from the General Fund. The City Manager requested the total amount come from Community Development Block Grant. The exact amount is $43,190 which will allow the Library to pay for the rent, all the operating expenses and salaries. MSUC (ViescajAlexander) (5-0) to support the recommendation for the Community Development Block Grant monies in the amount of $43,190 to continue the Literac~ Program. B. Arturo Barrios Donation of $10,000. The Library has written Arturo Barrios, the sponsor of the yearly race in Chula vista, requesting a donation of $10,000. All indications are that he would like to give the funds for books and videos in both Spanish and in English for the new South Chula Vista Library. If Mr. Barrios grants the $10,000, the Library hopes he can present this to us at the Council meeting on April 7, 1992, which is also National Library Week. Trustee Alexander suggested that we support Mr. Barrios' race by buying selected books on racing or running or in some way be supportive of his efforts; or keeping back copies of video tapes of the races. ; . LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES -5- MARCH 25, 1992 IV. LIBRARY DIRECTOR'S REPORT A. Budget Update. The Library's budget was reviewed by the City Manager on Thursday, March 19th. The Library received two compliments (1) on the voluntary cuts the Library made in preparing the budget and (2) and the detailed and thoughtful work that David Palmer, Margaret Blue and Paula Brown did which made the Library's proposed budget a viable document. The supplemental requests were discussed briefly. There was no commitment, but it seemed the City Manager would support Literacy. As far as the Board of Trustees budget, the Budget Officer recommended funds so that all Trustees can attend the California Library Association Conference in Long Beach in November 1992 and also fund one Trustee to go to Legislature Day in Sacramento in 1993. B. Architect Selection Update. . Director Lane stated the Architectural Selection Committee interviewed six firms on March 9th. Each member of the Committee had an individual role. Trustee Viesca played an important role by asking questions about the firm's experience in community involvement, their knowledge of hispanic heritage and Spanish language capabilities. Two more firms were interviewed on March 20th. The Committee is now checking references. Director Lane hopes to be able to divulge the name of the firm the Selection Committee has chosen at the next Trustees meeting. After the Council has been informed of the choice, contract negotiations can begin. c. Legislative Day. Legislative Day will be on May 6. Trustees Donovan and Viesca volunteered to go if the budget will allow for two persons to go. Assistant Director Palmer will check on this. Trustee Donovan expressed how worthwhile the experience was last year. V. COMMUNICATIONS A. Friends of the Chula Vista Public Library . Betty Roche did not attend the last Board of Trustees meeting because she was out of town. The Friends of the Chula Vista Public Library have decided to close the Book stop on Sunday, April 19, LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES -6- MARCH 25, 1992 Easter and Sunday, May 10, Mother's Day. The Library will be closed on Easter, but not on Mother's Day. The Friends have asked the Book Stop volunteers not sell the books before sending them downstairs to see if the Library can use them first. Since the IRS decision that material in warehouses is taxable, publishers have been letting books go out of print within a very short time. It is therefore very important that the Friends work closely with staff in reviewing donations of books, especially fiction, which may be included in the South Chula vista Library collection. B. Public Comments. None C. written Comments. None D. Board Comments Trustee Donovan wanted to commend the Board Secretary for getting the information out to the Board so early. She appreciated having it in advance. Trustee Viesca wanted to commend the Board Secretary for her support, the telephone calls made to his home to remind him of activities, and her attention to detail. He felt that being able to serve on the Selection Commi ttee was an honor. He is concerned about the EastLake/Chula vista Library proposal and requests the Trustees look at this seriously. Chair Williams commented that the Board roster distributed at the meeting had the old zip codes and requested consistency with the designation (h) or (r) next to home telephone numbers. VI. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 5:30 P.M. The next Library Board of Trustees meeting will be held on April 22, 1992 at 3: 30 P.M. in Conference Room 1, Chula vista Public Library, 365 F Street.