EAST PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
DATE: March 15, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Jaime M. Fontes, City Manager
BY: Patrick Heisinger, Assistant City Manager
Patrick Heisinger, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: Application to the California State Library for the Building Forward Library Infrastructure Program
Recommendation
By motion, direct the City Manager to submit an application to the California State Library for the Building Forward Library Infrastructure Program (“Program”).
Alignment with City Council Strategic Plan
This recommendation is primarily aligned with:
Priority No. 4: Improve Public Facilities and Infrastructure Background
On December 7, 2021, the City Council adopted a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a PSA between the City of East Palo Alto and the East Palo Alto Youth Arts & Music Center, LLC (an affiliate of the John and Marcia Goldman Foundation) for the potential acquisition of the Site for potential future development of a new public library. Staff is in the process of completing several due diligence tasks required prior to the end of the due diligence period.
On February 8, 2022, the State Library announced that they were now accepting applications from local libraries for more than $400 million in funding to address critical maintenance and expansion opportunities for the state’s 1,130 local libraries. The maximum grant amount is $10 million.
The purpose of this staff report is to seek City Council direction to apply for the Program to support the City’s intended construction of a new public library near the corner of Bay Road and Pulgas Avenue.
Analysis
Staff has reviewed the Program guidelines and recommends that the City apply to the state up to the maximum subsidy amount provided in the guidelines ($10 M). The deadline to submit an application is March 21, 2022.
The initial need for Program funding would provide resources to cover the costs of predevelopment activities, such as design, building plans, and other tasks that are essential to facilitate the bidding of the library project. These costs could total as much as $5 million.
Staff has conferred with Harris and Associates, a firm that recently entered into contract with the City for grant writing services. Harris and Associates estimated the cost of applying for the grant would range in cost from $10,000 to $12,000.
At this time, the City is not required to adopt a Resolution to apply for the grant, nor is the City required to appropriate the City’s match (1:1) if awarded. Staff would bring these items back to the City Council for consideration if the City’s grant application is preliminary awarded.
Fiscal Impact
At this time, there is no fiscal impact to the City associated with this report.
Public Notice
The public was provided notice of this agenda item by posting the City Council agenda on the City’s official bulletin board outside City Hall and making the agenda and report available at the City’s website and at the San Mateo Co. Library located at 2415 University Avenue, East Palo Alto.
Environmental
The action being considered does not constitute a “Project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378 (b)(5), in that it is a government administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.