2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 LIBRARY CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
DRAFT MINUTES
December 16, 2009
Room 278 City Hall
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
City Hall: Room 278
One Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, California 94102
ORDER OF BUSINESS
I. Call to Order, Roll Call/Introductions, Sue Cauthen, Chair 6:03 PM
Present: Ted Bamberger, Enne Braun, Sue Cauthen, Lucille Cuttler, Houston Garcia, Neil Mills, Clarice Moody, Jan Seeman, Gladys Soto (arrived 6:50), Peter Warfield, Dan Weaver (three vacancies)
Absent: Linda Guitron, Roger Kallen, Margaret Lee
Guest: Henry Pan
II. Select minutes-taker (Jean Barish)
III. Public Comment
There was no public comment.
IV. Library Budget; Branch Improvement Program: Update
Luis Herrera, City Librarian
John Doidge, Chief Financial Officer, SFPL
Jill Bourne, Deputy City Librarian
Library Budget – Luis Herrera, John Doidge
There is an anticipated shortfall in the 2010/2011 General Fund of approximately $522 million, and a shortfall in the current fiscal year of $45 million. Since some of the SFPL's budget is funded from the General Fund, these shortfalls will impact the library's budget.
The current shortfall of $2.l million is due to decreased revenues caused by decreased property taxes and decreased payroll taxes. This is partially offset by an increase in hotel room taxes.
The anticipated 2010/2011 shortfall is due mainly to decreased property taxes, no federal stimulus money, and decreased state support. Additionally, labor, health and other expenses are expected to increase. The library anticipates a sizable revenue drop due to reduced property tax.
Proposed cost-saving remedies: Leave vacated positions unfilled
Select one-time labor saving costs
Decrease spending on books and A/V materials
Cut costs on maintenance, repairs, and service contracts
Q&A
Every effort will be made to prevent vacancies from eliminating programs.
The library remains committed to the "Every Child Ready to Read" program and the
laptop lending program.
There will not be any expansion of library hours, despite prior plans to increase them.
Advocates are needed to preserve SFPL’s set aside as it is likely to come under attack.
There is still a healthy reserve of approximately $12 million, but it should not be drawn down
Some federal stimulus monies went to the library
BLIP (Branch Library Improvement Program) - Luis Herrera, Jill Bourne
Q&A
There are 12 finished projects, 8 projects under construction, 2 in bid (Park, Presidio) , and 2 in design (Bayview, North Beach)
Six branches will be closed in 2010.
Plan is to fund Bayview without using revenue bonds, drawing instead on BLIP reserves.
Bayview - project moving forward, in bid in 2 weeks
Visitacion Valley - the leased facility will be replaced
North Beach - landmarking of the building is currently being considered. No revenue bonds can be issued before completion of the EIR (Environmental Impact Report), which has been delayed and is due in Summer, 2010.
Bernal Heights - completion date is January, 2010. Supervisor Campos will lead a community dialogue on the mural issue.
Ortega will be completed in January, 2011.
All other projects except North Beach should be completed by 2012.
The current BLIP reserve is $12 million.
The new SFPL website will debut in early 2010.
V. Meeting recessed at 7:05 PM for the holiday party.
Clarice Moody and Gladys Soto left the meeting.
VI. Meeting resumed at 7:33 PM.
VII. Discussion
There was a discussion regarding the use of Facebook and Twitter to communicate with the public about the LCAC. Sue Cauthen will discuss issues regarding the appropriateness of using these outlets with the Sunshine Task Force. Sue Cauthen will work with Houston Garcia and Henry Pan on this issue.
Lucille Cuttler will ask Linda Guitron to send the electronic form of the LCAC bookmark to Jill Bourne for production and distribution.
VI. Approval of November, 2009 Minutes
Approval of the November, 2009 minutes was deferred until the January, 2010 meeting.
VII. Meeting Adjourned at 7:55
