Subject: APPROVAL OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH SANTA CLARA
COUNTY LIBRARY FOR EAST SIDE BRANCH LIBRARY
Council
District: 5
Approval of a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Santa Clara County Library for shared operational funding of a new City East Side Branch Library; and to direct staff to prepare a cost-sharing agreement for library operations to be presented to City Council for approval no later than January 31, 2002.
For many years, the Santa Clara County Library System has operated the Alum Rock branch library. Although the Alum Rock Library is maintained by the County Library to serve residents of the unincorporated area, approximately 70% of its users are San Jose residents. It is estimated that an increased population of slightly more than 50,000 will use the East Side branch by the year 2020.
The City, in recognition of the population demands in the East Side/Alum Rock service area, proposes construction of a new 26,000 square foot facility to replace the current 6,900 square foot County library. This facility is part of the Branch Facilities Master Plan, and will be fully funded from the Branch Libraries Bond fund.
San José Public Library staff and the Santa Clara County Library staff have together drafted a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore the feasibility of the development of a City branch library and City/County cost-sharing operation at this site. The County Library staff
presented the concept of this proposed project to the Santa Clara County Library Joint Powers Authority Board on October 25, 2001. The primary points in the MOU are summarized below:
q The City of San José will acquire land, construct, and own a new City branch library to serve the Alum Rock and East Side neighborhoods. This service area comprises both County and City properties, and the facility will benefit all residents. The County will not be responsible for any capital costs of land acquisition or construction.
q The new branch will operate under the City Library system, adhering to all City policies and procedures. Current County staff may be transitioned to City employment under existing terms of the City Civil Service Rules, or County staff may be absorbed or reallocated to other County facilities.
q The County Library will contribute to the operations cost of the new City Library based on a formula relating to proportion of population and circulation activity of unincorporated residents (County Library patrons) compared to City residents. Cost sharing will be limited to operational costs, and will not include any capital improvement costs. At such time that County Library patrons’ circulation drops below ten percent of the total circulation, the cost sharing shall cease.
q Materials currently assigned to the Alum Rock County Library will be contributed to the new City branch. In return, the City will release the County Library from lease payments at the time such property is acquired by the City.
This MOU to collaboratively fund library operating services is a benefit to the community and to the two jurisdictions involved. Staff will work with the County Library to prepare a cost-sharing agreement for library operations to be presented to City Council for approval no later than January 31, 2002. At the same time, the Library Bond Development Team is continuing with project plans to ensure that the East Side Library’s design and community meetings will begin early in 2002.
Public outreach for this action included review and discussion of the project at the October 10, 2001 Library Commission meeting. That meeting was a publicly noticed meeting.
This project concept and the memorandum of agreement have been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office and the City Manager’s Office.
JANE LIGHT
City Librarian, Library Department