October 13, 2026
Agenda Item No. 12
TO:
HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
Melissa Hartson, Library Services Director - 949-717-3801, [email protected] PREPARED BY:
Rebecca Lightfoot, Library Services Manager - 949-717-3819, [email protected] TITLE:
Budget Amendment to Accept a Grant from California Library Literacy Services and Appropriate Funds to the Library’s Fiscal Year 2026-27 Operation Budget ABSTRACT:
The Newport Beach Public Library’s Project Adult Literacy (PAL) program is funded by the City of Newport Beach (City) General Fund, grants, donations and the fundraising efforts of the Library Foundation of Newport Beach. One of the major funding sources is through the California Library Literacy Services’ (CLLS) annual grant program. For the City Council’s consideration is a budget amendment to accept a grant from CLLS to support the PAL program.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
a) Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and b) Accept a grant in the amount of $46,456 from California Library Literacy Services and approve Budget Amendment No. 27-024 to increase expenditures by the same amount in Division 01060604 (Literacy).
DISCUSSION:
The Newport Beach Public Library’s PAL program has offered one-on-one tutoring and small group classes to patrons with low literacy skills for 40 years. These services currently support over 70 learners and are making a significant difference in the lives of the participants, both learners and volunteers. One of the goals of the program is to assist the participants in becoming more engaged citizens and active members in the community.
The grant funds will be used towards staffing to ensure that the high-quality program that the community has come to expect continues.
The Fiscal Year 2026-27 City contribution to the literacy program is $108,637. Program expenses are augmented by the CLLS annual grant program and through private donations and other grants. The CLLS grant funds literacy programs on an annual basis based on an application submitted in August.
There are three parts to the funding formula:
Each approved California literacy program receives a base grant amount of $25,000; A per capita amount per adult learner served; and
Additional funding based on local funds raised and expended for adult literacy services.
As a result, PAL received a total award of $46,456. Ninety percent of the award, $41,810, is given upfront in September. The remaining 10% is eligible for distribution after PAL has completed mid-year reporting to CLLS and spent 75% of the total award.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The budget amendment appropriates $46,456 in additional revenue from CLLS and $46,456 in increased expenditure appropriations with no impact on fund balance. The revenue will be posted to the California Literacy Campaign account in the Library Services Department, 01060005-431070, and the purchases will be expensed to the following Library Services Literacy accounts:
Salaries P/T 01060604-711003 $41,690.75
Retirement Part-Time/Temp 01060604-723004 $ 4,160.74
Medicare 01060604-727016 $ 604.51
TOTAL $46,456.00
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment A – Budget Amendment
Budget Amendment to Accept a Grant from California Library Literacy Services and Appropriate Funds to the Library’s Fiscal Year 2026-27 Operation Budget October 13, 2026
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