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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-12-08 BOLT MINS ... . . . -, MINUTES LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES DECEMBER 8, 1993 LIBRARY CONFERENCE ROOM 3:30 PM BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Viesca, vice Trustees Alexander Donovan, Chair BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Trustees Williams and Wilson MSC (Alexander/Donovan) to excuse Trustees Williams and Wilson. (3 - 0, Williams and Wilson absent) CITY STAFF PRESENT: Library Director Palmer OTHERS PRESENT: Marge Clarke, Robert Coye I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Meeting of October 27, 1993 MSC (Alexander/Donovan) that the minutes 1993 meeting be approved as distributed. Wilson absent) of the October 27, (3-0, Williams and II. CONTINUED MATTERS A. Library Reorganization Library Director Palmer had no new information to report. B. South Chula vista Library 1. Ground breaking Director Palmer reported that 350 invitations had been mailed for the groundbreaking ceremony. Mayor Nader will participate in the ceremony and three City Council members have indicated that they will attend. The Castle Park High School band will begin playing at 2:30 with the program beginning promptly at 3:00 pm. The ceremony will be kept to 25 minutes to accommodate Ricardo Legorreta who must leave to catch a plane. Participants at the groundbreaking will receive a key as a memento. Mr. Palmer informed the Trustees that he would like their participation on a committee of Friends, Board members and library staff to plan the grand opening festivities for the South Chula vista Library. He envisions that the grand opening will be quite elaborate with multiple events including a LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 2 - DECEMBER 8, 1993 community fair, a ribbon cutting and perhaps even a black tie benefit dinner. 2. Construction Director Palmer reported that construction of the South Chula Vista Library has begun. The construction trailer is on site and grading has been completed. Al though it is not part of the Library's construction contract, the City Engineer's street widening and curbing project on Orange Avenue is being fast-tracked in conjunction with the library project. Construction is estimated to take 44 weeks, which would have the building completed on November 1, 1994. The City Public Works Department has requested that the change order deleting the EMT system (conduit for wiring) be reversed. This conduit was replaced wi th another less flexible condui t to save approximately $20,000. Director Palmer happily reported that the South Chula Vista Library project is running on budget, although the paperwork involved with the project is quite demanding. 3. Fountain Director Palmer reported that the fountain was one of the four change orders deleted from the project. This issue had been taken to the Friends of the Library who may choose to fund the fountain at their February meeting. Additional savings may also be available, which would allow the project to add this item back in. 4. Carpet Trustees expressed concern about the quality of the carpet for the South Chula Vista Library. The vendor for the carpet, when chosen, will have to conform to the carpet specifications in the contract bid. Mr. Palmer reported that copies of carpet specifications will be provided for the Trustees when this item is brought back to them. . . . . LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 3 - DECEMBER 8, 1993 5. Name Director Palmer reported that his goal of getting this issue resolved by Christmas would not be met. He asked that the Trustees be prepared to attend the Council meeting when this item is presented to support their recommendations. Chair Viesca and Vice Chair Donovan asked to be notified when this item is scheduled to go before Council. III. NEW BUSINESS A. Literacy Team application for Education, Library Services and funds to develop and implement adult learners with dyslexia Federal Department of Construction Act grant a model program to aid B. Literacy Team application Education, Library Services funds to continue a model learners for Federal Department of and Construction Act grant writing program for adult The Literacy Team has applied for two grants. One application would set up a new program to work with adult learners with dyslexia. This is a new program based on the Literacy Coordinator's work with the Wilson Program. The Coordinator has estimated that well over half of the learners are dyslexic. The other grant would continue the model writing now in place at the literacy team. The department of education will allow the Literacy apply for two grants. program federal Team to MSC (Alexander\Donovan) the Library Board supports both literacy team applications for federal grant monies. These programs not only provide a wonderful service to the community, but also pay back the general fund. IV. LIBRARY DIRECTOR'S REPORT A. Holiday Schedule Director Palmer reported that the Chula vista Public libraries will be closed on Friday, December 24th, and December 31st, as well as Christmas and New Year's Day. LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 4 - DECEMBER 8, 1993 B. Serra Legislative Day Director Palmer reported that Anne Campbell, Director of the National City Library, is organizing a local legislative day on behalf of the Serra Cooperative Library System. This breakfast event is slated for Friday, March 25th and will include State Legislators, members of the County Board of Supervisors, Mayors and city Council persons from all cities in the County as well as Friends groups, Library Board members and lay persons. This event is designed to help lobby the local legislators on behalf of libraries. C. Crowd control at 365 F Street Director Palmer reported that the civic Center Library experienced a dramatic increase in the number of teens using the library last October. On a typical Monday or Tuesday evening, 400 to 500 teens can be found at the civic Center Library. Mr. Palmer stressed that the problems occurring from this increased usage tend to be of a crowd control nature rather than gang activity. Complaints by members of the public regarding noise levels, and intimidation by the shear number of teens in the building and parking lot have increased. Staff has devoted a great deal of time to this issue. The Library's Quality of Worklife committee has discussed it, a Crowd Control Task Force has been established, and a Security Board, consisting of members from the three public services divisions of the library, meets on a weekly basis to evaluate the situation and make recommendations. During the past week the Library has taken a harder tact in handling this situation. A third security guard has been hired on Monday and Tuesday nights, in addition, the Supervising Librarian spends these evenings working crowd control. Abbreviated rules of conduct are given to each teenager as they enter the building as a warning. Anyone being disruptive is then asked to leave. Mr. Palmer reported that 59 teens had been asked to leave the building on Tuesday night. The two weeks ago 79 teens were asked to leave. The police department has been very helpful in helping curb disruptive behavior at the library; uniformed officers sweep the building three times nightly and often prepare their police reports in the library parking lot. Plain clothes officers, as well as members of the gang . . . LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 5 - DECEMBER 8, 1993 suppression unit, also walk through the library from time to time. In addition, the sound system at the civic Center Library has been upgraded, through the generosity of the Friends of the Library, and music is played ten minutes before closing time to help get people ready to leave. Public response has been a favorable. A large percentage of the students in the Library are Filipino and there has been claims by a few individuals who have been asked to leave that they are being discriminated against. The library, of course, under no circumstances discriminates on the basis of race or any other protected class. It is, however, strictly enforcing the rules of conduct. Trustee Alexander suggested getting a Filipino security guard. Chairman viesca suggested having a student from each high school come to the library to monitor behavior. Teens have been surveyed when entering the building to determine what school they attend. The highest usage came from Southwestern College, followed by Morse High School in southeast San Diego. Director Palmer reported that the survey will continue until a clear sense of where the students come from is determined. The Library will then work with South Bay Community Services to set up a counseling program. They will then go back to the schools to work at the local level. The Library is also exploring the possibility of bringing students in to the Library on certain nights. Mr. Palmer invited the Trustees to call him regarding any suggestions they have for crowd control. The Trustees voiced their support for library's crowd control efforts. Mr. Palmer stated that when the new library in South Chula vista opens, this problem may diminish somewhat. D. FY 1994-95 Budget Trustees selected January 5th at 3:30 pm for a special workshop to rev iew and prov ide input to the Library's budget. LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 6 - DECEMBER 8, 1993 Trustee Alexander wished the Board members a merry Christmas before leaving the meeting at 4:30 pm. E. Vacant Board position Director Palmer asked the Trustees to individuals to apply for this position. encourage V. COMMUNICATIONS A. Friends Marge Clarke, Treasurer of the Friends of the Library, reported that Friends funding of the Library fountain would be discussed, but no action taken, at the Friend's next meeting. She expected some decision would be reached by their February meeting. Director Palmer reported that the San Leandro's library earns $1,000 per week selling coffee and cookies at their coffee bar. B. Public Comments Mr. Coye asked if crowd control had been taken into consideration when planning the South Chula vista Library. Director Palmer stated that it had. In addition, the Police Department has prepared a notice of intent to apply for a grant to provide a community police squad in the south Chula Vista area. This squad would go out into the community with the resources of other departments, such as the Literacy Team, to help members of the community. Chairman Vie sea suggested that members of the Police Explorers program patrol the library on the two most troublesome nights. C. Written Comments D. Board Comments vice Chair Donovan thanked the Board Secretary for her work on the board party. Chairman Vie sea echoed that comment and wished everyone a happy holiday season. , . . . LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES - 7 - DECEMBER 8, 1993 VI. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 4:46 pm. There will be a special budget workshop on January 5, 1994 at 3:30 pm. The next regularly scheduled Library Board of Trustees meeting will be held on January 26, 1994.