Life Enrichment Committee
April 21, 2026
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Jestin D. Johnson FROM: Jamie Turbak
City Administrator Director of Library Services
SUBJECT: Library Agreement with City of
Piedmont
DATE: February 5, 2026
City Administrator Approval Date:
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution 1) Authorizing The City Administrator To Enter Into An Agreement With City Of Piedmont To Receive One Million Eighty-Two Thousand Nine Hundred Fifty-Five Dollars And No Cents ($1,082,955) To Provide Oakland Public Library Services To Piedmont Residents For Fiscal Years 2025- 2026, 2026-2027, And 2027-2028; And 2) Accepting And Appropriating Said Funds
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The proposed resolution will authorize the City Administrator to enter into an agreement, accept and appropriate one million eighty-two thousand nine hundred fifty-five dollars and no cents ($1,082,955) from the City of Piedmont to provide Oakland Public Library (OPL) services for three (3) fiscal years:
a. FY 2025-26: $360,985 (three hundred sixty thousand nine hundred eighty-five dollars) b. FY 2026-27: $360,985 (three hundred sixty thousand nine hundred eighty-five dollars) c. FY 2027-28: $360,985 (three hundred sixty thousand nine hundred eighty-five dollars)
This revenue will be deposited and appropriated to the City of Oakland’s General Purpose Fund (1010) in project numbers to be assigned. Approval of this resolution initiates a three-year agreement that expires on June 30, 2028 and provides a three percent (3%) escalation over the prior year payment of $350,471.
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
City of Piedmont has never had a municipal library. Since 1918, Piedmont residents have obtained library services from OPL.
In 1973, a Piedmont library study committee recommended a joint public/school library which the school board rejected. A second committee recommended continuing the Piedmont’s contract with Oakland, but in 1974, the Piedmont City Council allowed the contract to lapse.
Jestin Johnson (Apr 9, 2026 12:41:21 PDT)
Apr 9, 2026
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Library Agreement with City of Piedmont
Date: February 5, 2026 Page 2
Life Enrichment Committee
April 21, 2026
Piedmont residents lost their ability to access OPL until 1975, when the two cities signed a new contract for approximately $37,000.
In 1984, the cities of Oakland and Piedmont entered into a new library services contract. The first year’s cost was $110,000. The contract provided for annual $10,000 increase. These contract terms continued until 1995.
In 1999, new contract terms based on per capita cost of Oakland’s general fund also included a 10% surcharge increase each year. The annual payment to City of Oakland slowly increased over the next decade until FY 2007-2008 when City of Piedmont paid $350,471.
For the past 18 years, City of Piedmont has paid $350,471 each year with no change following the last lapsed contract ending June 30, 2008. Without a contract, City of Oakland has received and appropriated $350,471 annually with the approval of Oakland City Council through the bi- annual budget process and this amount has been included in OPL’s budgeted revenue for the General Purpose Fund (1010).
Approval of this resolution will establish a library contract between the two cities for the first time since 2008. In addition, this new three-year agreement will increase the annual amount paid by the City of Piedmont by three percent (3%) from $350,471 per year to $360,985 per year.
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
Approval of this resolution will allow City of Oakland to receive $1,082,955 through June 30, 2028 for the provision of public library services to the residents of Piedmont. The revenue will enhance the General Purpose Fund (1010). There is no increase in expense to the General Purpose Fund caused by this action. Piedmont residents represent about three (3) percent of total OPL card holders.
City of Piedmont has alternative options of entering into an agreement with City of Berkeley or County of Alameda for the provision of library services. If this were to happen, OPL would continue to serve Piedmont residents because of State of California laws governing “universal borrowing” requirements for public library systems. This means that there would be neither savings to the City of Oakland nor revenue generated by declining to enter into this agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
As noted above, there is a positive fiscal impact to the General Purpose Fund. Revenue will be deposited and appropriated to the General Purpose Fund (1010) in project numbers to be assigned.
The authorization to enter into this agreement will commence on the date of the approval of this resolution and continue until June 30, 2028 for a total not to exceed one million eighty-two thousand nine hundred fifty-five dollars and no cents ($1,082,955).
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Library Agreement with City of Piedmont
Date: February 5, 2026 Page 3
Life Enrichment Committee
April 21, 2026
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
No public outreach was required in the development of this report and resolution.
COORDINATION
This report and legislation were reviewed by the Budget Bureau and the Office of the City Attorney.
SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES
Economic: This agreement provides City of Oakland one million eighty-two thousand nine hundred fifty-five dollars and no cents ($1,082,955) through June 30, 2028.
Environmental: There are no environmental opportunities identified in this report.
Race & Equity: The revenue generated by this agreement will enhance the overburdened General Purpose Fund which is the primary fund source for the The Department of Race and Equity and The Department of Violence Prevention. These two departments guide Oakland Public Library on how to better advance racial equity and minimize disparities in outcomes by race.
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution 1) Authorizing the City Administrator to enter into an agreement with City Of Piedmont to receive one million eighty-two thousand nine hundred fifty-five dollars and no cents ($1,082,955) to provide Oakland Public Library services to Piedmont residents for fiscal years 2025-2026, 2026-2027, and 2027-2028; and 2) accepting and appropriating said funds.
For questions regarding this report, please contact Jamie Turbak, Director of Library Services at (510) 238-6610.
Respectfully submitted,
Jamie Turbak
Director of Library Service