2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 LIBRARY CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Final Minutes
Meeting ofMarch 18, 2009
Room 278, City Hall
San Francisco, California
Chair Sue Cauthen called the meeting to order at 6:02 PM.
Roll Call: Present: Ted. Bamberger, Enne Braun, Sue Cauthen, Lucille Cuttler, Houston Garcia, Linda Guitron, Roger Kallen, Neil Mills, Clarice Moody, Margaret Lee, Jan Seeman, Gladys Soto, Stina Skewes-Cox, Peter Warfield, Dan Weaver
Absent: Shanica Dismuke, Mike Olinger
Guests: Kathe Traynor, Haight Ashbury Improvement Association; Joey Cain, President, Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council; Mary Helen Briscoe, President, Panhandle Residents Organization-Stanyan Fulton (PRO-SF).
Minutes: Jean Barish took the minutes. Charles Moody monitored the tape recorder and served as time keeper.
Introduction of Houston Garcia: The newest Library Citizens Advisory Committee (LCAC) member, Houston Garcia, was introduced by Cauthen. Houston is a freshman at St. Ignatius High School. He was recommended to the LCAC by the St. Ignatius librarian, and was unanimously approved by the Rules Committee of the Board of Supervisors and the full Board.
Public Comment
Doug Loranger: Member of SNAFU, a coalition to oppose RFID. This coalition, which includes LCAC member Peter Warfield and the ACLU, came into existence because public input on the issue of Radio Frequency ID has largely been pro forma. LCAC has significant influence, and is encouraged to speak out against RFID.
Tes Welborn: Expressed concern about the library planning process. There is a need for more community input when libraries are being renovated or otherwise changed.
Park Library
Presentations about the proposed renovation of the Park Library were given by Kathe Traynor, Haight Ashbury Improvement Association; Joey Cain, President, Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council; Mary Helen Briscoe, President, Panhandle Residents Organization-Stanyan Fulton, and District 5 LCAC member Peter Warfield. Warfield is also executive director of the Library Users Association.
Kathe Traynor: The Haight Ashbury Improvement Association (HAIA) is very pleased with the proposed renovations, and supports the project as currently planned. The start of the renovations should coincide with a 100th Anniversary celebration of the Park Library.
Joey Cain: Originally there were problems with the process as well as the plans for renovation. HANC voted to oppose the plans until there was full community input.
A meeting with city librarian Luis Herrera resulted in an agreement to extend the planning process to provide for more community input. New plans were then presented at a recent meeting which addressed HANC's major concerns. The Board of HANC will be asked to approve these new plans. Additionally, HANC and others want a replacement site during the renovations. A task force including neighborhood representatives is looking for a temporary site.
Mary Helen Briscoe: After speaking to librarians at the Park Library and reviewing the latest plans, the Panhandle Residents Organization (PRO) feels that SFPL was responsive to community concerns. PRO has informally decided it is in favor of the proposed renovation. Like HANC, the PRO wants a replacement library during the renovations.
Peter Warfield: There are problems with both the process and the product. Public input was an afterthought. The plans were created and finalized without sufficient public input.
Park Library Discussion
Public Comment:
Deetje Boler, SFPL user: Community input is not adequate. It is not worthwhile to close the library for cosmetic improvements. Due to budget shortfalls renovations to the Park Library could result in reducing staff. There are higher priorities for spending operating monies.
Tess Welborn: "What's the rush?" The closure should be postponed until October, 30, 2009. ADA changes can be made without closing the library.
Doug Loranger: There are still many community concerns. The process should be slowed down. It appears there is a PR problem more than a planning problem.
CAC Comments & Questions:
Discussion followed in response to comments and questions from LCAC members,including a request that each group state its priorities and the size of its membership.
J. Cain, HANC, believes there was much public enthusiasm at the last public meeting, and is OK with the proposed improvements, most of which are to the library's infrastructure. HANC wants the library closed for repair after 10/29/09, its 100th anniversary, and would like to see it open again one year later on its 101st aniversary. HANC also wants assurance there will be a full-service alternate location during renovations. HANC has a membership of 450 members, of which 100-200 are active.
C. Traynor, HAIA, feels the process could have been more open, but has no complaints about the plans. HAIA has about 100 members.
M.H. Briscoe PRO, also believes the improvements are necessary, and will help librarians work more efficiently. The start date is not a big issue. PRO has about 35 members, and hundreds on an email list.
P. Warfield said there was no PR in the community, and that many proposed changes were deliberately not included in the plans that he reviewed. Given the poor process and uncertainties about plans, renovation should not go forward. Alternatively, should some modifications be necessary, closure during renovation could still be avoided. At the very least, there should be an alternative site if the library is closed for renovations. He also stated his concerns about the safety of WiFi. Warfield said he “would have to get back to (LCAC)” regarding the number of members in his group but said it has a very knowledgeable Advisory Board.
Some issues being considered for the renovation include upgrading the plumbing and electrical facilities, creating a restocking space for librarians, and making some changes to the layout of work and table space.
Some LCAC members feel the renovations should go forward as soon as possible, especially since budget cuts are looming. There was also discussion about prioritizing the components of the renovations, as well as considering whether or not to go ahead with the renovations if an alternate location is not available.
Main Library Bathrooms
The bathrooms in the basement of the Main Library have been refurbished. An employee has been designated a "Bathroom Associate" to monitor behavior there and try to control inappropriate usage.
Communication: (Public Supervisors, Mayor, Library)
L. Guitron presented a draft flyer advertising the LCAC for discussion. Several different formats and distribution methods were considered, including creating cards to be given to patrons at the front desk, posting flyers on library bulletin boards, and mass emailing, perhaps with the help of the Board of Supervisors. It was also suggested the flyer should go to school libraries. A key purpose of the flyer is to invite the public to attend LCAC meetings and make public comments on their library concerns.
City librarian Herrera has said it is all right to post a flyer. in the libraries. It was suggested that his written approval be requested.
Various copy revisions were proposed, including a change in size. LCAC members L. Guitron and L. Cuttler will work to revise the flyer per comments at the meeting. Discussion will continue at the April LCAC meeting.
Library Budget: Set-Asides & City Services
A Draft Set-Aside Resolution was presented for discussion and action.
The SFPL set-aside is 2.5 cents/$100 of property tax. This year's tax revenue will be $4.2M less than last year for the library. One issue is whether the LCAC should resolve that the SFPL should reduce its budget, and if so whether a specific amount should be stated. This could avoid a fight over the set-aside and show the library is making a good-faith effort to trim the SFPL budget.
The majority of those queried for the just-released Controller's Office study feels there should be some give in set-asides, including the SFPL’s. The minority view is that the City cannot take monies approved by the voters.
Supervisor Mirkarimi's proposal recommends up to a 25% reduction in set-asides. This proposal was discussed at the Rules Committee of the Board of Supervisors, and continued till further notice.
Issues to be considered in the LCAC resolution include whether or not LCAC should recommend a specific spending reduction, the need to participate in cost-cutting in order to show community spirit, as well as the fact that library use is increasing during the economic downturn.
A roll-call vote was taken on whether or not to include the last sentence of paragraph 2: "The target figure should be up to $3.9 million (about 5%)." The motion failed 8-7.
Yes: T. Bamberger, H. Garcia, E. Braun, L. Guitron, S. Cauthen, M. Lee, G. Soto
No: L. Cuttler, R. Kallen, N. Mills, C. Moody, J. Seeman, S. Skewes-Cox, P.
Warfield, D. Weaver
A roll-call vote was then taken on the resolution, which passed 13-2.
Yes: H. Garcia, E. Braun, L. Guitron, S. Cauthen, M. Lee, G. Soto, D. Weaver
L. Cuttler, R. Kallen, N. Mills, J. Seeman, S. Skewes-Cox, D. Weaver
No: C. Moody, P. Warfield
The final resolution is as follows:
The purpose of the Library Citizens Advisory Committee's February presentation on set-asides was to help the Library (LCAC) to develop a position on set-asides.
After much analysis and deliberation, LCAC recommends that the Board of Supervisors direct San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) to identify areas for meaningful budget cuts immediately to avoid the need for reduction or elimination of the library set-aside.
The LCAC reserves the right to make a further recommendation depending on these initial library budget reduction proposals.
Minutes
Dan Weaver moved and Margaret Lee seconded a motion to approve the Minutes of the February meeting. The motion carried 13-2.
Yes: T. Bamberger, E. Braun, S. Cauthen, H. Garcia, L. Guitron, R. Kallen, Margaret Lee, N. Mills, C. Moody, J. Seeman, S. Skewes-Cox, P. Warfield, D. Weaver
No: J. Seeman, P. Warfield
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at 6 PM in Room 278 of City Hall.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 PM .
