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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-04-22 BOLT MINS . . . MINUTES LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES APRIL 22, 1992 LIBRARY CONFERENCE ROOM 3:32 PM 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, Thomson, Deputy City Manager, Maureen Roeber, Librarian OTHERS PRESENT: Betty Roche, Friends Liaison, Robert Coye, Public at large I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Meeting of March 25, 1992 MSUC (Wilson/Donovan) that the minutes of the last meeting be accepted as provided. (Trustee Alexander arrived at 3:34 pm) II. CONTINUED MATTERS A. EastLake High School/Public Library Deputy City Manager Jim Thomson asked the Trustees to defer action on this issue until their May meeting when more complete information will be available. Library staff is currently working with school district staff to resolve many of the operational issues while City administration is considering the funding issue. This item will be addressed by Council during their review of the 1992-93 budget. Trustees calendared the dates of either May 20th or May 27th for a meeting on which to decide this issue. Trustees questioned EastLake's commitment to provide funding for books and staffing. They were also concerned that should EastLake's funding be transferred to the high school it would not be available when the time carne to operate a storefront in a more desirable location. The stores are not scheduled to opened until 1994-1998. Chairman Williams questioned the City's financial commitment to a permanent library. Library Director Lane responded that the City is currently collecting Development Impact Fees (DIF), but it will take several years before adequate funds are available to begin construction. A bond issue could provide library . construction funds, but the City would be required to reduce DIF by the amount gained from the bonds. Assistant Director Palmer reported that library staff is scheduled to begin meeting with school staff to resolve operational issues. Vice Chair Alexander did not think that staff should spend time resolving operational issues when the basic issues of visibility and accessibility were not met by the school site. Trustee Donovan agreed and further responded that she did not think the school site was a viable place for a public library. Director Lane expressed concerns of spending limited resources on a site that would receive little public use. She is concerned that if EastLake funds are used now, the City will not be able to operate a storefront, in which case the library will stay in the high school for ten to fifteen years until a new library is built in the area. . Chair Williams responded that his main concern was to provide library service to the people of east Chula Vista. The joint EastLake High School-Public Library would fill this need until a storefront in SPA I could be built. He does not want the high school library to take the place of a permanent building. (Jose Viesca arrived at 4:10 pm.) Chair williams further stated that if Eastlake wanted a library in this area, they may be willing to provide the funding. Vice Chair Alexander stated that he is an EastLake resident and that there is nothing in the area for students. In his opinion, a school library that was open in the evening would be used. The EastLake Homeowners Association letter could inform residents of the EastLake High School-Public library. Key staff members from the City's Planning Department, the School District, and other resource people from the school district will be invited to the Trustee's meeting in May. B. Local History Museum at Senior Information and Referral Center Chair williams reported that he had drafted a letter to the City Council requesting the formation of a history commission. . Director Lane asked the Trustees for their recommendation on the use of the building at 630 Third Avenue as a historical museum based on a staff report distributed in their packets. On March 17, 1992 the city Council requested significant input from the Library Board and . other affected boards and/or commissions. The Parks and Recreation Commission recommended retaining the building as office space for Parks and Recreation staff Library Director Lane reported. Maureen Roeber, Information Librarian, reported that the Chamber of Commerce, the Local History Society and the Downtown Business Association is in favor of using this building as a historical museum. Jim Thomson suggested that the Trustees look at the space more broadly to see if they can think of alternative uses. Chairman williams stated that he would have liked to have gotten the Parks and Recreation Commission I s input on this matter. Also, he felt that this issue infringed on the time the Trustees could be spending on the Library. Deputy City Manager Thomson stated that the operation of a museum and the creation of a history commission would require Library staff time. Trustee Viesca suggested that the site might lend itself to further expansion. The importance of the proposed history commission would be that it would be the guardian of Chula vista's history. . MSUC (Viesca/Donovan) that the Library Board of Trustees support a Chula vista Historical Museum at 630 Third Avenue as a start. C. Arturos Barrios Gift Tim Murphy of Elite Racing presented a $10,000 check to the city Council as part of the proceeds from the Arturos Barrios Invitational. These funds will be used to purchase books on hispanic culture and heritage for the South Chula vista Library. Chairman Williams asked for a list of the items to be purchased with these funds. Library Board members asked the Board Secretary to draft a thank you letter to Arturos Barrios. III. NEW BUSINESS A. Legislative Day Trustee Donovan asked the advisability of sending two Trustees to Legislative Day. She suggested the Board send one Trustee to Legislative Day and another to the American Library Association Conference in June in San Francisco. The Board concurred and will send Trustee Viesca to Legislative Day and Trustee Donovan to the PLA/ ALA. . IV. LIBRARY DIRECTOR'S REPORT . A. Architect selection update Director Lane reported that the Architect Selection Committee has chosen LPA, Inc.jLegorreta Arquitectos to design the South Chula Vista Library. The next step is to negotiate a contract with LPA. She hopes to bring this issue before the City Council in May. Director Lane relayed that Ricardo Legorreta would be scheduled to attend one of the Board's meeting. B. Budget update There has been no further word on the budget. Deputy City Manager Thomson reported that the City council is planning to review the budget in late May. . Assistant Director Palmer reported that the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) hearing is scheduled for May 5th beginning at 4 pm. At that time the City Council will hear requests for funding various community proj ects. The Library's Literacy Team is asking for $43,190, approximately 20% of the CDBG budget, to continue operations through next year. This funding is essential to the continued operation of the Literacy Project. Chairman williams agreed to speak in support of the Literacy Project at this meeting. V. COMMUNICATIONS A. Friends Betty Roche reported that the Friends received a letter from the Friends of the Library in Ukiah asking for donations to their book sale to try to continue operation of their 1 ibrary. All Mendocino County libraries are scheduled to close July 1st. The Friends also received a letter of appreciation from the Navy for their donation of medical texts and health care books to Project Handclasp. The Friends have donated $1,500 to the Cultural Arts Commission to publish a brochure for the Cultural Arts Festival and will receive credit for their donation in the publication, which should be printed by the first of May. Betty Roche reported that in 1991 total memberships totaled $3,252.50. Income from during the first quarter of 1992 equalled The bookstore earned $25,000 in FY 1991. income from memberships $3,064.00. B. Public Comments . Mr. Coye remembers talk of using the Southwestern College Library as a public library. He thinks Legislative Day . . . funds could be better spent on an Adopt-a-Legislator program rather than flying to Sacramento once a year. C. Written Comments None D. Board Comments Board members will be prepared to meet on either May 20th or May 27th to make a decision on the EastLake High School-Public Library. Jim Thomson reported that although his office likes to provide written information early enough for the Board to review, he said that because of time constraints, they may have to bring some information to the meeting. Chair Williams reported that Mayor Nader has invited all the Board, Commission and Committee Chairs to meet with him at a round table discussion on April 30th. This will be held at 7:00 pm in Public Service Building Conferences Rooms two and three. Hopefully this will become an annual event. Trustee Donovan - none Trustee Viesca stated that the Trustees need to continue to work on getting the Chula vista History Commission formed. Trustee Wilson - none vice Chair Alexander - congratulated Selection Committee on their choice. class library for a class city. the Architectural A class act for a VI. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 5:30 pm. The next Library Board of Trustees meeting will be held on either May 20, or May 27, 1992 at 3:30 pm in Library Conference Room One.