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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-26-1975 Library Commission Minutes LIBRARY COMMISSION MINUTES November 26, 1975 I. ORGANIZATION A. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Earley, Falltrick, Isaak, Miller, Moss, & Olsen Absent: Commissioner Campbell Guests: Mr. Robert F. Beyer, City Manager, Ms. Pamela Hook, Regional Librarian and Miss Barbara Campbell, County Librarian, Mr. Falltrick, and Mr. Jack Maxfield. B. MINUTES It was moved by Commissioner Isaak and seconded by Commissioner Earley that the minutes for the June 25, 1975, meeting be approved. II. STATUS REPDRT ON PROPOSED LIBRARY FACILITY The City Manager reported on the status of the library site discussions and the recent action of the City Council to terminate negotiations with Dr. Abrams for a site on Saratoga Avenue near Cox. At the public hearing on October 29th, the City Council approved on a 4 to 1 vote, the Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road - Cox Ave. site on City owned land. Because this change of site necessitated a modif- ication in the lease agreement with the County of Santa Clara, a letter had been sent to the County Board of Supervisors requesting approval on such a change. This matter had been referred to the County Library Commission for review and recommendati on. Barbara Campbell, County Librarian, reported on the County Library Commission meeting on Saturday, November 22, and indicated their recommendations to the Board of Supervisors after review of each of the individual sites. Miss Campbell passed out to each Commissioner a copy of the minutes of the County Library Commission and indicated their action to the Board of Supervisors was as follows: 1) That they could not support the Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road and Cox Ave. site as an appropriate site for the library and the Commission further recomend- ed that the Board of Supervisors meet jointly with the Saratoga City Council to consider alternate sites. Miss Campbell also passed out a copy of a memorandum to Howard Campen, County Executive, to be submitted to the Board of Supervisors when the recommendation from the County Library Commission appears on their agenda. The City Manager then indicated that he had requested this matter be postponed on the County Board of Supervisors agenda until December 9,1975. The Library Commission then discussed the City Council's recent decision on selection of the Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road - Cox Avenue site. It was pointed out that there was great concern over the relocation of the site from the Abrams parcel. One of the major factors involved in the decision of the Council was its proximity to the population center as opposed to the geo- graphic center of Saratoga. The question was then raised as to whether or not the Commission should meet with the City Council or make a recommendation to them expressing concern over the recent seqection of the Council. After some consideration, it was moved by Commissioner Isaak to recommend to the City Council that they reconsider their choice of a library site on City land due to the following reasons: 1) The County Library Commission has recommended against the Saratoga- Sunnyvale Road - Cox Ave. site to the Board of Supervisors; 2) There are significant cost factors which have been raised for the Saratoga-Sunnyvale Rd. - Cox Ave. site due to off-site improvements as well as on-site improvements necessary prior to construction of the library facility; 3) There are traffic flow and pedestrian problems at this site; and 4) Site improvements and building re-design will cause additional delay in the selling of bonds, with such delay causing an increase in cost of the construction of a library facility. In light of these factors, the Commission requests the City Council to re- consider the City's other alternate site on Saratoga Ave., preferably near Sacred Heart Church, for recommendation to the County Board of Supervisors as the City's preferred site. The Commission further feels that this site will be acceptable to the County and will facilitate more rapid development and completion of a library for Saratoga. This motion was seconded by Commissioner Miller and approved 6 to O. III. REPORT FROM COUNTY LIBRARIAN Miss Campbell reported that since the Library Commission had not met since June, she wanted to give a brief report on the County Library budget. The Board of Supervisors held the tax rate to 25.3¢ which provided a $235,000 budget deficit. The Board in adopting that same rate required that the budget would have to be subsequently balanced. In doing this, Miss Campbell reported that the furniture for the new Saratoga Library had been reviewed and that only the shelving had been kept in the budget. She reviewed a report submitted to the Board of Supervisors on November 12th, approving the new film policy which provides for charging $1.00 per reel which covers the actual cost of the film rental service. This new program will begin December 1st. She indicated that teachers use 90% of the film usage and that presently the County Superintendent of Schools office gets $1.50 per year for each child in a school district in the County. They have a vast film library, however, teachers still find it more acceptable or more functional to use the County Library Systems Film Library. IV. OTHER ITEMS A.INFORMATION ON CALIFORNIA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE - Nov. 30- Dec. 4, 1975 = 2 - Miss Campbell further emphasized that the California Library Association Conference is to be held in San Francisco and the meeting for Library Trustees on Sunday, November 30th, to discuss the legislation for the libraries in California. V. ADJOURNMENT There being no further matters for discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 9:05 P.M. ,~,~esp~it~ Secretary / -3-