DATE:
February 6, 2024
TO:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
FROM:
Pedro Jimenez, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT:
Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Emeryville Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Three (3) Year Agreement To Pay The City Of Oakland For Library Services In the Following Amounts: Fiscal Year 2023-2024, One Hundred Twenty-Six Thousand Dollars ($126,000), Fiscal Year 2024-2025, One Hundred Thirty TwoThousand Three Hundred Dollars ($132,300) And Fiscal Year 2025-2026, One Hundred Thirty-Eight Thousand Nine Hundred Fifteen Hundred Dollars ($138,915) Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to enter into a three (3) year agreement to pay the City of Oakland for library services for Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2023-2024 in the amount of One Hundred Twenty Six Thousand Dollars ($126,000), FY 2024-2025 in the amount of One Hundred Thirty TwoThousand Three Hundred Dollars ($132,300), and FY 2025-2026 in the amount of One Hundred Thirty Eight Thousand Nine Hundred Fifteen Hundred Dollars ($138,915).
Background
Emeryville residents have been receiving library services, including reciprocal privileges throughout the statewide library system, through the Oakland Public Library (OPL) for many years. The City’s General Plan states:
“Libraries: There are no public libraries in Emeryville. The Oakland Public Library’s Golden Gate Branch, located just outside the city limits on San Pablo Avenue near Stanford Avenue, serves as the main circulation library for Emeryville residents. The Emeryville Secondary School and Anna Yates Elementary School each include a library for use by students. The Emeryville Center of Community Life may include a library, although it would likely focus on serving public school students and would not replace the Golden Gate Branch as the City’s main library facility.” The last contract between the two cities was for a three-year period from 2020 through 2023. The City paid $120,000 per year to Oakland for the library services.
The Community Services Committee met on May 22, 2023, and the agenda included a discussion of continuing to provide Emeryville residents library services with the City of Oakland.
Discussion
Emeryville staff met with Oakland staff to discuss a new library agreement. Oakland staff indicated their support to continue providing Emeryville residents library services with a 5% increase per year which results in the amount of $126,000 for FY 2023-2024, $132,300 for FY2024-2025 and $138,915 for FY 2025-2026. The City of Oakland approved the agreement at their July 18, 2023 City Council meeting. The Golden Gate Branch, on San Pablo and 56th, is currently open six days a week for a total of 48 hours.
Emeryville staff requested specific information about the Golden Gate Branch from the Oakland Public Library (OPL), including its operation, costs, and circulation. The following information was provided in response:
7,120 Emeryville residents have OPL library cards.
The Golden Gate Branch is open for 48 hours per week: Monday/Thursday/Saturday from 10 am to 5:30 pm; Tuesday/Wednesday from 10 am to 8 pm; Friday from noon to 5:30 pm.
In 2018-2019, Emeryville residents had a total print circulation of 22,507 items across all OPL locations.
The operations budget for the Golden Gate Branch was $668,836, supporting approximately 6.5 staff members.
Staff has previously researched other library options. In 2019, the County of Alameda estimated that the cost for staffing and services for a community library in Emeryville, operating 20 hours per week at the ECCL, would be approximately $800,000 per year.
If the City were to establish and operate its own library, it would need to consider various factors such as staffing, facility maintenance, collection development, technology infrastructure, and operational expenses. The exact cost would depend on the scale and scope of the library services provided.
For some context on how Oakland funds its operations for library services, the FY 2022/23 Oakland Public Library system, comprised of a main library and 16 branches, is budgeted at $46.19M. Facing fiscal shortfalls in 2004 to continue operating library services, the City of Oakland placed Measure Q on the ballot. The Measure Q Fund was approved in 2004 as an extension of Measure O, which was enacted in 1994. Measure Q is a restricted parcel tax, levied on real property in Oakland. The revenue may only be used in support of Library Services in Oakland. With continued fiscal challenges, Measure D was placed on the ballot and approved by Oakland voters in 2018. Measure D is an additional restricted parcel tax revenue from the Oakland Public Library Preservation Act, levied on real property in Oakland. The revenue may only be used in support of Library Services in Oakland and sunsets in 2038. The FY 2022/23 Oakland Library budget is comprised of $18.5M from Measure Q, $14M from Measure D and $13.5M from the general fund, with the balance from miscellaneous funds. 72% of these revenues are used for personnel and overhead and 16% for operations and maintenance.
To determine an accurate estimate of what it would cost to operate an independent Emeryville Public Library, staff would need to work with the community to analyze and prioritize library activities and services and then conduct a comprehensive cost analysis, considering factors including staff salaries, building expenses, materials acquisition, and ongoing operational costs.
City staff looked into other library options again and still recommends the proposed agreement with the City of Oakland as it offers stability to Emeryville by managing costs and protecting the City’s budget while ensuring that library services will continue to be provided. This provides an alternative to operating a standalone library, allowing the City to leverage Oakland's existing infrastructure and resources. recommendation
Based on the significant level of effort and cost to plan for, build and operate a stand-alone Emeryville library, the unstable ongoing revenue that would be required to cover these costs, and the proximity of a fully functioning library, staff recommends that the City Council approve the three-year library services agreement with the City of Oakland.
Fiscal Impact
Funds for FY 2023-2024 of $126,000 and FY 2024-2025 $132,300 for library services were included in the City’s adopted two-year budget.
Staff Communication with the Public
Staff has communicated with the Community Services Committee and City of Oakland staff regarding library service costs and agreement.
Conclusion
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to enter into a three-year agreement to pay the City of Oakland for the library services in the amount of $126,000 for FY 2023-2024, $132,300 FY 2024-2025, and $138,915 for FY 2025-2026.
PREPARED BY: Pedro Jimenez, Assistant City Manager
Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Attachments
Draft Resolution
Exhibit A – Proposed City of Oakland Library Agreement FY2023-2024 through FY 2025-2026 Library Services
City Council Meeting | February 6, 2024
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM