HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-27-1985 Library Commission MinutesSARATOGA LIBRARY COMMIS~N
MEETING
27 Feb. 1985
Commissioners Present: Beverett, Dyer, Gandrud, Kanemura, Mahler,
Morrison, Newby, & Wood
Library Staff Present: Lois Thomas & Janice Yee
City Staff Present: Joan Pisani & Bob Shook
The February 27, 1985 meeting of the Saratoga Library xommission
was called to order by Vice-Chairman Beverett at 6:38 p.m. in the
Community Room of the Saratoga Library. The minutes of the January
23, 1985 meeting were approved as read.
David Newby and Richard Dyer were welcomed as new members of the
Library commission.
Bob Shook, Director of Community Development for the City of Saratoga,
met with the Commissioners to discuss plans for the library parking
lot. Mr. Shook related the history of the expansion project and
informed Commissioners that the construction has been budgeted for
this fiscal year. He distributed blueprints for the parking lot and
explained that the design attempted to meet the following criteria
deemed important by the Library Commission: 1) maximizing the
number of spaces available, by using perpendicular parking and
designating a number of spaces for compact cars; 2) enforcing a
one-way traffic circulation pattern, by using slanted spaces in
some areas and a berm at the entrance to the driveway; 3) maximizing
the lighting of the parking area, by adding another light along the
orchard. Mr. Shook estimated the cost of the addition and the
resurfacing of the entire parking lot at $35,000. The project will
be put out for bid in mid-summer for completion by mid-September.
The Commissioners discussed the details of the proposed project
design and decided upon~the following: 1) provision of full and
compact spaces as drawn in the plan; 2) provision of 2 handicapped
parking spaces instead of the 3 suggested by the plan; 3) provi-
sion of 2 lights along the orchard and moving the light in the
middle island to a more central position; 4) extension of the berm
into the driveway to make left turns from the driveway into to
first row of parking more difficult; and 5) widening the entrance
to the driveway by flaring the north-facing curb. The last item
was judged to be of least priority if funding was not available.
Joan Pisani will convey to Mr. Shook the Commissioner's decisions.
Commissioner Mahler discussed a suggestion by the Friends of the
Saratoga Libraries for construction of an annex to the library for
storage of Friends books. The Commission decided to consider this
item separately from the parking lot addition and referred it to
a future agenda.
The Commission decided to honor retiring Commission Chairman Mary
Moss by 1) presenting a resolution of recognition to her at the
March 6, 1985 City Council meeting; 2) planning a dinner for her on
March 27, 1985 at 6:00 p.m.; and 3) presenting her with a gift.
Commissioner Morrison will be in charge of planning the dinner and
purchasing the gift.
Librarymission Meeting
27 Feb. Tg85 page 2
~ Janice Yee reported that the anticipated deficit in the staffing
budget for the Saratoga Library for the 1985-86 fiscal year approxi-
mates $40,000. The projected staffing costs for 1985-86 are $492,000
while the projected revenues are $452,000, based on the formula
reflecting a 1% decrease in circulation, a stable population count,
and growths in other cities' revenues.
Commissioner Mahler recommended that the Commission separate the
county library's revenue sharing requests from requests to the City
Council for funding of Sunday operations. Commissioners Dyer and
Newby expressed their concern that Sunday hours are a luxury when
anticipating a reduction of regular operating hours and services
to meet a budget shortfall.
Joan Pisani notified Commissioners that revenue sharing requests are
due by April 1st and that requests for allocations from the City's
general fund should be submitted by the end of March.
Commissioner Dyer made a motion that the Library :Commission advise the
City Council that it would be fiscally irresponsible for the Commission
to recommend the funding of Sunday hours at this time in light of
reduced budgets and deficits in library operating revenues which could
lead to a further deterioration of basic library services and hours.
Commissioner Beverett was of the opinion that the Council should be
asked for revenue sharing monies to meet the deficit in the library's
operating budget for 1985-86 and that Sunday services be funded
through the City's general fund. By a vote of 5-3, the motion made
by Mr. Dyer was approved.
The Commission decided to specify the length of term of its elected
officers. By unanimous vote, the Commissioners approved the annual
election of chairman and vice-chairman, with the provision that no
chairman succeed him-. or herself. By secret-ballot vote, Marilyn
Kanemura was elected chairman and Mary Beth Gandrud, vice-chairman.
Barbara Wood will serve as secretary.
Commissioner Mahler reported on her observations of City Council
meetings during February, which included the swearing in of the new
Library Commissioners, the expansion of the Library Commission to
eight members, and the resignation of City Manager Wayne Dernetz.
Janice Yee reported that CALTAC memberships are available; Joan Pisani
will determine whether the City will pay for Commissioners' CALTAC
dues. Mrs. Yee also announced a fund-raising workshop in Oakland.
She intends to meet with the new Library Commissioners to explain
the library budget process.
Lois Thomas notified Commissioners that the computerized circulation
system is due to lie online in early April. Registration for new cards
has begun. The solar system is being fixed.
Joan Pisani distributed updated city and commission staff lists.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 p.m.
Res~pect~)fully submitted,
Marilyn May Kan~ura