HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06162015 - C.140RECOMMENDATION(S):
AUTHORIZE the County Librarian to temporarily close the San Ramon Library for approximately 18 months to
complete an expansion and remodel, closing from August 17, 2015 through February 28, 2017, and open an interim,
smaller outlet service on August 17, 2015.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost to operate a small library in the San Ramon Community Center, as well as to temporarily increase staffing at
the Dougherty Station Library during the 18-month construction period, is significantly less than the cost to operate
the full service library. The operational savings will be redirected to open a smaller outlet library in the San Ramon
Community Center rather than the full service existing library for approximately eighteen months and for other
library needs agreed to by the County Librarian and the City of San Ramon to benefit library services in San Ramon.
BACKGROUND:
The City of San Ramon and the San Ramon Library community have been actively working on the process of an
updated the main San Ramon Library facility for many years. The City has been looking at ways to update the
existing facility to make it more inviting, spacious, and usable for the population for all ages. In 2014, the City
formed a San Ramon Library Working Group, comprised of City staff, County Library staff, City Council members,
members of the San Ramon Library Commission, members of the San Ramon Parks and Recreation Board,
Foundation members, and an architectural firm. This group has spent the last year developing plans for a 3,500
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 06/16/2015 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I
Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV
Supervisor
ABSENT:Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: 925-927-3201
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: June 16, 2015
David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc:
C.140
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Jessica Hudson, County Librarian
Date:June 16, 2015
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Closing the San Ramon Library for Renovation
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
square foot expansion of the second floor and a complete remodel of the first floor. Major improvements and changes
will include a new technology zone, teen space, and Jazz listening rooms on the second floor, as well as an
expandable community room through roll-top doors opening into the public space. The first floor will feature an
updated Children's space, a dedicated Foundation sale area, and newly created study rooms. The City of San Ramon
allocated $4.24 million to the main phase of the construction process in May 2015.
In order to complete the project, the Library will need to close for approximately eighteen months. Although the
schedule could change as the project moves forward, the current timeline anticipates that the main San Ramon
Library will be closed from August 17, 2015 through February 28, 2017.
Due to the closure, San Ramon Library staff will be deployed to cover vacant positions at other community libraries.
Some staff will be redeployed for additional coverage at the Dougherty Station Library, also located within the City
of San Ramon; staff at the Dougherty Station Library will also be staffing, on a rotational basis, the small outlet
Library planned for the San Ramon Community Center. Resulting salary savings are estimated to be approximately
$496,883 over the full 18-month period. These operational savings will be spent to benefit library services in San
Ramon in a way agreed to by the County Librarian and the City of San Ramon. Possibilities include funding
additional open hours once the library reopens, enhancing the collections or purchasing furniture or equipment for the
San Ramon Library.
In the past, operational savings resulting from closed libraries have been used to benefit library services in that
community, most recently in Walnut Creek and Martinez.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The City of San Ramon has allocated $4.24 million towards the expansion and renovation process; if not approved,
the renovation process would be unable to move forward and the City's funding towards the effort will be stalled.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
The newly expanded and renovated Library will feature a larger children's area with additional programming spaces,
computers, and seating.