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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - July 28, 2015 SSLODI CITY COUNCIL SHIRTSLEEVE SESSION CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015 A. Roll Call by City Clerk An Informal Informational Meeting ("Shirtsleeve" Session) of the Lodi City Council was held Tuesday, July 28, 2015, commencing at 7:00 a.m. Present: Council Member Kuehne, Council Member Mounce, Council Member Nakanishi, Mayor Pro Tempore Chandler, and Mayor Johnson Absent: None Also Present: City Manager Schwabauer, City Attorney Magdich, and Deputy City Clerk Farris NOTE: Council Member Nakanishi arrived at 7:02 a.m. B. Topic(s) B-1 Update on Library Operations / Construction of Homework Help Center (LIB) Library Services Director Dean Gualco provided a PowerPoint presentation on the Library. Specific topics of discussion included an overview, 130 -year anniversary of the Library, reasons a library is needed, vision for the Library, steps to achieve the vision, model of survival, Library by the numbers, ambitions for 2015/16, library card contest, current Children's Area, Leadership Lodi's involvement with the Children's Area, redesign of the Children's Area, need for Homework Help/Tutoring Room, current patio, future Homework Help Room, and cost and timeline of redesign. In response to Council Member Mounce's comments regarding the recent Lodi News -Sentinel article concerning the removal of the California Room, Mr. Gualco stated that, unfortunately, there were a number of errors in the article: there are four librarians, not one; all of the material originally held in the California Room is still available to the public; and the name of the Library is not changing to the Educational Center. In further response, Mr. Gualco stated that the average monthly use of the California Room was two people, while the Computer Room is being utilized by about 500 people each month. He added that the room contains 15 new computers and extremely fast internet access. In response to Council Member Mounce, Mr. Gualco confirmed Comcast is the internet provider. Council Member Nakanishi stated that he liked the California Room, it is important to remember Lodi history, the older generation is interested in the information, and the documents must be preserved. In response, Mr. Gualco reiterated that the documents are still stored in the same locked cabinets, they are now located adjacent to the former California Room, and the current use is a better utilization of the Library's limited space. In response to Mayor Johnson, Mr. Gualco responded that tracking of ethnicity and library use by minorities is done on a limited basis. Tracking is required for the Homework Help Room, due to the use of Community Development Block Grant funds; however, it is done by visual checking and patrons are never asked about their ethnicity. In response to Council Member Nakanishi, Literacy and Volunteer Manager Yvette Herrera responded that tutoring is done by volunteers. Ms. Herrera further responded that students are tutored on a drop-in basis, many parents are unable to help their students with homework due to limited literacy or being non-English speaking, anyone can volunteer to tutor, and most tutors are not professional educators. 1 In response to Mayor Pro Tempore Chandler, Mr. Gualco stated there will not be a loss of any book storage space in the Children's Area following the remodel, as all 60 shelves being removed from the window area have been redistributed. Council Member Mounce acknowledged Library Board Trustee Charlene Martin who was in attendance and asked City Manager Steve Schwabauer to clarify the division of governance over the Library between the City Council and the Board of Trustees. Mr. Schwabauer stated that the Library was formed by the Council and the Council appoints Library Board Trustees; the Board oversees the Library Services Director and gives direction for management of the Library; aside from the Director, all other employees are managed by the City, not the Board; the Council decides how much money is budgeted from the General Fund for the Library; and the Board decides how funds are spent. In response to Council Member Nakanishi, Mr. Schwabauer stated that the Library receives $1.3 million. Mr. Gualco added that another $30,000 in fees is received annually. In response to Mayor Johnson, Mr. Gualco stated the Sullivan Room has been used for overflow for tutoring in the past, but the space is now being used for various programs. Mayor Johnson suggested a Library extension on the east side, either in a store front or in conjunction with Lincoln Technical Academy, with an emphasis on English as a second language and math. In response, Mr. Gualco stated that, ultimately, the decision will be made by the Council and the Library Board, but he personally felt that it was important to keep one central Library, rather than multiple sites. He reiterated that a central Library provides a gathering place for interaction, a sense of community, and exposure to different perspectives. Council Member Mounce expressed her strong agreement with that concept. Council Member Nakanishi also agreed with the concept but cautioned that funding must be kept in mind. Mayor Johnson stated that if a central Library is maintained, efforts must be made to gauge the ethnic use of the facilities and to ensure that educational assistance is available to ethnic students who are struggling in school. In response, Mr. Gualco stated that plans for the future Teen Center call for the majority of the space to be devoted to tutoring. In response to Council Member Nakanishi's suggestion regarding Lodi Unified School District involvement, Mr. Gualco stated he has met with the school principals and provided fliers for distribution to students regarding Library services, which has brought about an increase in attendance of students. Myrna Wetzel expressed concern that the Library cards are maintained by an outside entity and are nullified if items are not checked out after a period of time. She suggested linking the cards to computer use as well. Mr. Gualco responded that all cards are locked every three years for address verification, regardless of use, and that the card is reactivated following verification. He further added that, due to privacy issues, a history of use is not associated with a card; once a book is returned, all record of the loan of that book is removed. In response to Ms. Wetzel's inquiry regarding guest readers, Mr. Gualco stated currently there are Paws programs, Story Time, and Spanish Story Time, but he would look into having volunteer guests come to read to children. In response to Ms. Wetzel's inquiry regarding adding a second floor to the Library due to limited available land, Mr. Gualco stated that would be an issue for the Board and Council to address; however, there is a concept plan for a two-story addition to the Lockeford Street side of the building. Council Member Mounce shared a letter she received from Shelly Russo, an Animal Shelter volunteer, urging Council to convert the Shelter to a no -kill facility. Council Member Mounce acknowledged the progress made in reducing the euthanasia rates and the $20,000 reallocated from the defunct Enterprise Zone; however, she emphasized the importance of adding funds for spaying/neutering and expanding the facility, as even small areas of growth would decrease the number of animals euthanized. 2 C. Comments by Public on Non -Agenda Items None. D. Adjournment No action was taken by the City Council. The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 a.m. ATTEST: Pamela M. Farris Deputy City Clerk