MINUTES
MALIBU LIBRARY SUBCOMMITTEE
SPECIAL MEETING
APRIL 20, 2022
TELECONFERENCED - VARIOUS LOCATIONS
9:00A.M.
The following meeting was held pursuant to AB 361 and fully teleconferenced from various locations during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
CALL TO ORDER
Councilmember Farrer called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m.
ROLL CALL
The following persons were recorded in attendance:
PRESENT: Councilmember Karen Farrer and Councilmember Mikke Pierson ALSO PRESENT: Interim City Manager Steve McClary; Interim Assistant City Manager/City Treasurer Ruth Quinto; Assistant to the City Manager Elizabeth Shavelson; Community Services Deputy Director Kristin Riesgo; Media Technician Parker Davis; and Executive Assistant Mary Linden
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION Councilmember Pierson moved, and Councilmember Farrer seconded a motion to approve the agenda. The question was called, and the motion carried unanimously.
REPORT ON POSTING OF AGENDA
Executive Assistant Linden reported that the agenda for the meeting was properly posted on April 15, 2022.
ITEM 1 PRESENTATIONS
None.
ITEM 2 OLD BUSINESS
None.
ITEM 3 NEW BUSINESS
A. Approval of Minutes — June 8. 2021
Recommended action: Approve the minutes for the Library Subcommittee Special meeting of June 8, 2021.
Malibu Library Subcommittee
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Minutes of April 20, 2022
MOTION Councilmember Pierson moved, and Councilmember Farrer seconded a motion to approve the minutes for the Library Subcommittee Special meeting of June 8, 2021.
The question was called, and the motion carried unanimously.
B. Malibu Library Set Aside Funds for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Recommended Action: Provide a recommendation to the City Council concerning the use of the Malibu Library Set Aside Funds for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.
Assistant to the City Manager Shavelson presented the report.
Teresa Earle, on behalf of Malibu schools, thanked the City for supporting public schools. She stated it was greatly helpful in a time of funding losses.
Patrick Miller, Malibu High School Principal,joined Ms. Earle in thanking the City for its past support of public schools. He discussed resources purchased with the funds previously provided. He stated the funding allowed donors to not have to reduce or cut other programs.
Laura Rosenthal, former member of the Malibu City Council and Los Angeles County Library Commission, stated funding was previously provided for an Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Library Foundation (Foundation), on the Board of Directors. She requested additional funds for the Foundation for an endowment. She introduced Andrea Carroll, the Foundation’s new Executive Director. She requested $500,000 to start an endowment that would allow other libraries in the County to have similar services as are offered in Malibu.
Andrea Carroll, Los Angeles County Library Foundation Executive Director, thanked the City for its strong support of the County Library and the Foundation.
She agreed with Ms. Rosenthal’s request for an endowment. She discussed how it would benefit Malibu and library users throughout the County. She stated it would attract more and larger gifts. She stated it would be Malibu’s investment in the future.
Jesse Walker-Lanz, Los Angeles County Library Assistant Director of Public Services, stated he was speaking on behalf of Skye Patrick, Los Angeles County Librarian. He stated the County Library supported the Foundation’s request for an endowment. He stated an endowment would support enhanced hours, the Smart Start early literacy program, Reading Machine, and Reading Stars generational tutoring program. He discussed inconsistent grant funding for the Library.
John Mazza requested an accounting of unused Set Aside Funds. He asked if the City got money back for unused hours, teen and outreach librarians, and more not used during pandemic. He questioned the amounts recommended for funding in the upcoming year. He questioned whether security guards would be needed after the Malibu Library Subcommittee
Special Meeting
Minutes of April 20, 2022
new Sheriff’s substation opened. He requested a consultant to study feasibility of a western Malibu branch. He stated no other cities were contributing to the Foundation.
Kasey Earnest, Boys and Girls Club of Malibu (BGCM), thanked the City for past funding for programs and the weilness center. She stated funds supported art, STEM, STEAM, music, and SAT programming. She stated funds allowed the BGCM team access to more specific and targeted programming. She thanked City staff for their assistance.
Councilmember Pierson asked Mr. Miller ifthe schools needed anything else. Mr.
Miller stated funding could be used to expand credentialed teachers for after-school academic support, and other programs or supplies currently funded by booster groups. Councilmember Pierson requested the school provide the City with a detailed list.
In response to Councilmember Pierson, Ms. Earnest stated funding could be used for mental health and weliness programs in partnership with Malibu public schools offered to students and parents. She stated she could provide a scope of work.
Councilmember Pierson stated all funding would have to be recognized as Libraryrelated needs.
In response to Mr. Mazza, Councilmember Pierson stated many funds were not used last year when the libraries were closed. Assistant to the City Manager Shavelson confirmed unused funds remained in the City’s Set Aside Funds account.
Mr. Walker-Lanz stated that funds not used during the pandemic, including personnel costs, were not charged to the City.
Assistant to the City Manager Shavelson stated the County’s funding report could be made available to the public.
Councilmember Pierson suggested the request for an endowment to the Foundation be provided as a written report. He thanked all the speakers for attending.
Councilmember Farrer thanked the speakers. She stated Malibu was in a unique position to have excess funds. She questioned whether any other cities in the County had excess funds. She asked if other cities or counties had library endowments and, if so, what those funds provided. Ms. Rosenthal stated the City of Los Angeles had a large endowment that was very beneficial to fundraising. She stated the three cities in the County with excess funds were Manhattan Beach with $8 million, much of which would be used to build a new library, Hermosa Beach with $4 million, and West Hollywood with $1.5 million. She stated those cities had specific plans for most of their funds at this time.
Malibu Library Subcommittee
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Minutes of April 20, 2022
In response to Councilmember Farrer, Ms. Rosenthal confirmed the City of Los Angeles had its own library system separate from the County system.
RECESS At 9:39 a.m., Councilmember Farrer recessed the meeting. The meeting reconvened at 9:46 a.m. with both Subcommittee members present.
In response to Councilmember Pierson, Ms. Carroll stated she would provide a written request for the endowment. In response to Councilmember Farrer, she stated all large cities had endowments. She stated the City of Los Angeles had an endowment that started in the mid-1980’s and now totaled over $34 million. She stated each system used the funds for different purposes. She stated it was an unrestricted pool of funds for unexpected needs for the library providing growth and reliable support.
Councilmember Farrer suggested providing funds for literacy tutoring in afterschool support. She asked ifthe schools could provide a wish list for supplies. Ms.
Earle stated a second after-school teacher for literacy could be added with funding.
She confirmed a written list could be provided.
Councilmember Farrer agreed with Ms. Earnest that the BGCM needs were unlimited following the impacts ofthe Woolsey Fire and COVID-19 pandemic. She requested a copy of the Set Aside Funds budget or audit that included indication of funds not spent during the pandemic.
In response to Councilmember Farrer, Assistant to the City Manager Shavelson stated the County provided a reconciliation for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 that included the Set Aside Funds budget, spent and unspent funds. Mr. Walker-Lanz confirmed the reconciliation could be made available to the public.
Councilmember Farrer suggested the Subcommittee meet again before early May 2022.
In response to Interim City Manager McClary, Assistant to the City Manager Shavelson stated the Set Aside Funds were not part of the City’s budget. She stated it would be helpful to vet the submitted requests with the County to confirm the requests were eligible for Set Aside Funds.
MOTION Councilmember Farrer moved, and Councilmember Pierson seconded a motion to continue the item to a future date before the budget discussions in early May. The question was called, and the motion carried unanimously.
Malibu Library Subcommittee
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Minutes ofApril 20, 2022
C. Malibu Library Speaker Series
Recommended Action: 1) Discuss the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Malibu Library Speaker Series and Local Authors Series; and 2) Provide direction to staff.
Community Services Deputy Director Riesgo presented the report.
John Mazza stated $125,000 was set as a goal for the Series, which equated to $12,000 to $13,000 per event. He stated most events were poorly attended. He stated that was a high fee for some speakers. He suggested seeking public input on topics and a review ofthe costs. He stated many authors would be available for free if it allowed them to promote their books. He suggested the goal be reduced and changed to a maximum budget. He stated virtual presentations should increase attendance and cut down on expenses.
Councilmember Farrer discussed attendance at the events. She stated she recalled only one Local Author Series event that was poorly attended. She requested suggestions for topics or speakers.
Melissa Stallings, Malibu Librarian, stated a list of topics was included in the staff report. She requested the Subcommittee prioritize those topics for three in-person events in the fall.
Councilmember Farrer stated she would recommend anything related to sustainability, environmental, or climate issues.
Councilmember Pierson stated this was an opportunity to invest in the City’s cultural and arts goals. He disagreed with Mr. Mazza that speakers were overpaid.
He recommended requesting input from the Malibu Arts Commission about topics or speakers. He agreed with Councilmember Farrer that all events he attended were well-attended. He suggested speakers about surfing, Malibu’s outdoor areas, or Chumash heritage. He stated he would like to see the Series grow.
Councilmember Farrer suggested increasing publicity for the events. Community Services Deputy Director Riesgo stated some funding went to publicity, marketing, and event costs other than paying the speaker.
Assistant to the City Manager Shavelson stated funding was set at $100,000 for several years for one event per month. She stated an additional $25,000 was added for the Local Author Series that resulted from recommendations in the Needs Assessment.
Councilmember Pierson thanked Community Services Deputy Director Riesgo and the staff for producing this important program. He stated the community looked forward to interaction and connection through these events.
Malibu Library Subcommittee
Special Meeting
Minutes ofApril 20, 2022
MOTION Councilmember Farrer moved, and Councilmember Pierson seconded a motion to 1) provide a recommendation to the City Council to approve the Fiscal Year 2022- 2023 Malibu Library Speaker Series and Local Authors Series with a budget of approximately $125,000; and 2) request staff search for speakers such as those suggested by the Subcommittee members. The question was called, and the motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION At 10:15 a.m., Councilmember Farrer adjourned the meeting.
Approved and adopted by the Administration and Finance
Subcommittee of the City of Malibu on May 2, 2022.
KAREN FARRER, Councilmember
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