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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09251990 - IO.5 ro. s TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 5..... Contra FROM: Costa ,;�"-....�, INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE �;` $ September 20, 1990 TCounty DATE: S�q FEASIBILITY OF FORMING A COUNTYWIDE LIBRARY COMMISSION AND SUBJECT: SUMMARY OF RESULTS OF VOTER OPINION SURVEY SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1 . Authorize the County Administrator to work with the new County Librarian to prepare a Needs .Assessment of and Master Plan for the Library system in Contra Costa County. ( In this regard, it should be noted that on September 13, 1990 the Public Managers' Association voted to support the need for a needs assessment. ) 2. Authorize the County Administrator to continue to work with the Public Managers' Association to determine what the desires of the cities are regarding augmenting the facilities and services of the County Library. 3 . Authorize the County Administrator, in consultation with the Library Commission and other interested organizations, to continue to work with the Public Managers' Association to determine the desirability of placing a measure on a future ballot (possibly November, 1992) to provide more funding in order to improve library services and extend library hours while recognizing that some cities may wish to take separate action earlier than 1992 . 4. Establish a County Library Commission as outlined below, effective December 1, 1990. ( In this regard, it should be noted that on September 13, 1990 the Public Managers ' Association voted to support the establishment of a Commission. ) 5. Request time on the Mayors' Conference agenda for October 4, 1990 to present to the Mayors' Conference this report as CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT:YeS YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURES: SU WRIGHT McPEAK T M POWERS ACTION OF BOARD ONSe tembe r 25, 1990 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. CC: ATTESTED l�IStQrj / PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF Please see Page 6. SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY DEPUTY M382 (10/88) -2- approved by the Board of Supervisors; authorize the County Administrator or members of the Internal Operations Committee to make such a presentation to the Mayors' Conference on October 4, 1990. 6. Request each Member of the Board of Supervisors to, make their nomination to the Library Commission through the Board of Supervisors by no later than November 30, 1990. 7 . Request the Public Managers ' Association to review the process outlined below for obtaining the appointment of city representatives and suggest to the County Administrator and Board of Supervisors any changes which would, in their view, improve the selection of city representatives, including considering the use of regional subcommittees or other mechanisms to insure that the views of all cities are represented and that the two regional representatives fairly represent the interests and views of the cities in their region. In this regard, request that each regional grouping of cities forward the names of their appointees to the,- County Librarian by November 30, 1990. 8. Request the other appointing entities to make their appointments to the Library Commission by November 30, 1990. . so that the Commission is fully formed and can meet as soon as all members have been appointed. 9. Direct the County Librarian to convene the first meeting of the County Library Commission as soon as feasible after all members have been appointed. BACKGROUND: A survey of voter attitudes toward the Contra Costa County Library system was commissioned in an effort to determine voter attitudes toward the Library and voter willingness to support a tax increase to improve the libraries in the County. This survey was commissioned by a consortium of eleven ( 11) cities and the County. The firm of Strategy Research Institute of Lafayette (SRI) was requested to conduct the survey of voter attitudes. . SRI interviewed 2052 randomly selected voters throughout the County. The sample size was adequate to produce valid results in each participating city and across the County as a whole. Among the conclusions which can be drawn from the data are the following: 1. Approximately 63% of voters surveyed would support a tax increase for library services. 2. Current support is short of the 2/3 voter approval required for a special tax increase, although almost 11% of voters were undecided as to whether they would support such a tax increase. 3 . Over 89% of voters agree or strongly agree with the statement that "quality libraries are important to the well-being of a community" . 4. ' A library tax was supported in such communities as Rodeo (75%) , Hercules ( 68%) , Brentwood ( 660) , Walnut Creek ( 64%) and Danville ( 63%) . The only identified community which provided less than majority support for such a tax was the Alamo/Blackhawk area ( 49. 5%) . 5. While there is substantial support for a library - tax of up to $10 per year, support quickly drops off above the $10 -3- level. A total of 77. 8% of those surveyed were willing to pay $1 or more per year for library services. However, above the $10 per year level, the support drops to 46. 4%. 6. Those who are most likely to support an additional library tax are individuals who are: * Frequent library users ( those who use a library at least once a month support a tax by not less than 69 . 6%, rising to 70. 8% for those who use a library weekly) . * Young ( 72 . 4% of those between ages 18 and 25 support a tax, whereas only 55. 1% of those between ages 51 and 65 support a tax increase) . * Women ( 62 . 3% of women as opposed to 60.7% of men support a tax increase) . * Well educated (While between 61. 4% and 68. 0% of voters with some college, college graduate or graduate school support a tax. increase, only 53 . 6% of those with less than a high school diploma support a tax increase) . * Families with substantial income, but not really the wealthy (the greatest support for a library tax was from those with a family income of $50,001 to $100,000 ( 66 . 9%) , followed by those with a family income of $25,001 to 50, 000 ( 61. 6%) , whereas the group with the lowest level of support was those with a family income of over $100,000 ( 51 . 80) , closely followed by those with incomes of $12, 001 to $25,000 ( 54. 1%) . * Families with children (those voters who had children at home supported a tax increase by not less than 64. 5%, whereas those who had no children at home support a tax increase somewhat less, 57. 6%) . * Democratic ( 67. 50) , as opposed to Republican ( 52. 9%) . Therefore, the ideal voter who would be expected to support such a tax increase of not more than $10 a year would be a Democratic woman under the age of 50 with a college diploma and at least some graduate school education who has children at home, uses .a library weekly and has a family income of between $50,001 and $100, 000. By contrast, the voter least likely to support such a tax increase is a Republican man between the ages of 51 and 65 with less than a high school education who has no children at home, never uses a library and has a family income between $12, 001 and $25, 000. The other element of this issue which the County Administrator was asked to report on to the Internal Operations Committee was the feasibility of forming a countywide Library Commission. Our Committee met with representatives from most of the cities in the County, the employee organizations representing Library employees, the Contra Costa Council and many of the Friends of the. Library groups as well as the Alliance for Better Libraries. We reviewed a report from the County Administrator on this subject and discussed the report in full with all of those present. The above recommendations and the following background information -result from this discussions. We believe that it is not only feasible but highly desirable to create such a Commission. In order to insure broad geographical -4- representation and to include those who are dedicated to working for improvements in the library system as well as private sector businesses and yet keep the Commission at a workable size we are recommending the a County Library Commission be created, as follows: 1 . SIZE: 17 members 8 city representatives, two appointed by each of the same regional groupings used to represent city .interests on the Transportation Commission: West County (Richmond, El Cerrito, San Pablo, Pinole, Hercules) ; Central County (Martinez, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Clayton) ; East County (Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood) ; and South West County (Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette, San Ramon, Danville) to insure broad geographic representation, representation from small as well as large cities, to provide a regional, as opposed to city perspective, and that their representatives not include elected officials or city staff. 5 members from the Board of Supervisors, one nominated by each Member of the Board of Supervisors with the request that these members not include elected officials. l member appointed by the Alliance for Better Libraries. 1 member, preferably representing school librarians or youth, appointed by the County Superintendent of Schools. 1 member representing organized labor in the County, appointed by the Central Labor Council. 1 member representing private businesses in the County, appointed by the Contra Costa Council. 2. TERM OF Of the members initially appointed to the OFFICE: Commission, five should serve a one year term, six. should serve a two year term and six should serve a three year term, following which all members would serve three-year terms running from December 1 to November 30 of the appropriate year. There should be no limit on the number of terms an individual can serve and no minimum limit on the age of a member of the Commission. 3 . VACANCIES: When a vacancy occurs, whether by resignation or expiration of term, the appointing organization should fill the vacancy. 4. STAFFING: The County Librarian should provide appropriate staff' services to the Commission. 5. OPERATIONS: Consistent with the policy of the Board of Supervisors on open government, the Library Commission should govern itself consistent with the Board' s policy on conflict of interest and the provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act, as other advisory bodies have been advised by the County Counsel. -5- 6 . PURPOSE: The Library Commission should be created for the following purposes: A. To serve in an advisory capacity to the Board of Supervisors and the County Librarian. B. To provide a community linkage to the County Library. C. To establish a forum for the community to express its views regarding the goals and operations of the County Library. D. To assist the Board of Supervisors and the County Librarian to provide library services based on assessed public need. E. To develop and recommend proposals to the Board of Supervisors and County Librarian for the betterment of the County Library including, but not .limited to, such efforts as insuring a stable and adequate funding level for the libraries in the County. 7 . DUTIES: The Library Commission should be charged to perform the following advisory functions in regard to the County Library: A. Participate in the .planning process, including the Library element of the County General Plan and the Library Master Plan. B. Hold hearings so the public can express its views on the County Library. C. Monitor the progress in. achieving the goals set forth in the adopted plans. Report and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and the County Librarian in this regard. D. Where the Commission has any concerns or questions regarding the Library budget, to share their concerns with the County Librarian. E. Assist in the development of policies which the Commission and the County Librarian determine will improve the operations of the County Library and service to the public. F. Determine what levels of funding are necessary to provide each level of service which is proposed. Explore alternative methods of establishing stable and adequate funding for each level. Report their findings to the Board of Supervisors and County Librarian along with their recommendations for actions which may be necessary to achieve the levels of service desired. G. To perform such other tasks and undertake such other assignments as may, from time to time, be referred to them by the Board of Supervisors or County Librarian. H. To provide reports to the Board of Supervisors and County Librarian when the Commission deems such reports to be timely and appropriate. -6- I . The Library Commission is specifically prohibited from undertaking any inquiry or investigation into the personnel policies and practices of the County Library or the day-to-day administrative operations of the County Library. cc: County Administrator County.- Librarian County Counsel Auditor-Controller Mayors' Conference (Via CAO) City Managers (Via CAO) Alliance for Better Libraries (Via CAO) Superintendent of Schools (Via CAO) Contra Costa Council (Via CAO)