Fiscal Imprudence

 
The Harrison Memorial Library, Dedicated March, 1928.
Designed by Bernard Maybeck & Built by M.J. Murphy in 1927 and 1928.
Note: Library Building named after Ralph Chandler Harrison (1831-1918), a Justice of the California Supreme Court (1891-1903); made possible by a bequest from the will of Ella Reid Harrison, his widow, in 1922; includes Barnet J. Segal Reading Room (Dedicated June, 1995); James L. And Primrose Billwiller Reference Room; and The Robert Campbell Balcony (Dedicated February, 2003). 
City Council Agenda
Regular Meeting
November 7, 2006

VII. Consent Calendar

E. Consideration of a Resolution entering into an agreement with Ralph Andersen & Associates for the preparation of a City Library operations study.

Meeting Date: November 7, 2006
Prepared by: Joyce Giuffre
City Council
Agenda Item Summary

Name: Consideration of a Resolution entering into an agreement with Ralph Andersen & Associates for the preparation of a City Library operations study.

Description: At the June 22, 2006 City Council meeting, the Council adopted the triennial budget for the fiscal years 2006-07 through 2008-09. The approved budget for fiscal year 2006-07 included an additional $35,000 for library services. Council also requested that the City Administrator study the Library operations to determine the best use for the additional funds. Staff recommends that the City contract with Ralph Andersen & Associates to evaluate the City’s Library operations and outline some options for the City to consider. Ralph Andersen & Associates will assign John Goss to prepare the study and his work is scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2006.

Overall Cost: City Funds: Estimate of $14,000
Grant Funds: n/a
Staff time: n/a

Staff Recommendation: Authorize the execution of the professional services agreement with Ralph Andersen & Associates. John Goss is the former City Manager for Chula Vista and is very well-qualified to evaluate the City’s Library operations.

Important Considerations: The 2006-07 fiscal year budget includes an additional $35,000 in the Library Department budget for library services. No decisions have been made on how the additional monies will be spent this fiscal year.

Decision Record:

Reviewed by:
______________________________ _________________
Rich Guillen, City Administrator Date


COMMENTS:

• Instead of City Administrator Rich Guillen cooperating and working with Library Director Margaret Pelikan to use their best judgment regarding the restoration of library hours to Harrison Memorial Library and the Park Branch, the City Staff recommends that the City contract with a consultant in the amount of $14,000.

• With $35,000 to appropriate towards restoring library hours for adults and children, the city proposes to expend $14,000 for a study.

• Recall City Administrator Rich Guillen was against allocating $35,000 to the libraries.

• And recall City Councilman Erik Bethel’s remark about not remembering the City conducting a study to determine which library hours should be eliminated when the City reduced library hours. Yet now the City requires a study prior to restoring library hours.

• Simply put, instead of the City contracting with a consultant, the City should have restored library hours months and months ago!