October 4, 2022
Library and Community Services
DATE: October 4, 2022
TO: Mayor Butt and Members of the City Council
FROM:
LaShonda White, Interim Director of Library and
Community Services
Diana Lopez, Deputy Director of Community Services –
Library
Christopher Larsen, Librarian II
SUBJECT:
California State Library Building Forward: Library
Infrastructure Program Grant Award of $9,712,979
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The grant requires a 50 percent (50%) cash match in the amount of $4,856,490. Per the grant application, the City proposes the match come from the following sources:
$3,656,490 from Richmond‘s American Rescue
Plan Act (ARPA) fund allocation
$700,000 from Library Impact Fee fund
$500,000 from FY 2021-2022 CIP Fund (approved
HVAC funded from ARPA - Project Code AR231)
There is no impact to the City’s General Fund.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
City staff members are seeking City Council approval to accept and appropriate the California State Library award of $9,712,979, for the renovation of the Richmond Main
Library building, appropriate matching funds, and
authorize the City Manager or her designee to execute
the grant agreement and necessary documents to
accomplish the purpose of this grant.
AGENDA
REPORT
October 4, 2022
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution to ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE the
California State Library Building Forward: Library
Infrastructure Program grant award of $9,712,979 to
significantly renovate the Richmond Main Library;
APPROPRIATE matching funds in the amount of
$3,656,490 in American Rescue Plan Act funds,
$700,000 from Library Impact Fees, and $500,000 from
the Capital Improvement Program budget; and
AUTHORIZE the city manager or designee to execute
the Grant Agreement and other documents necessary to
achieve the purpose of this grant award – Library and
Community Services (LaShonda White/Diana
Lopez/Christopher Larsen 510-620-5524).
DISCUSSION:
The California State Library made the Building Forward Infrastructure Grant Program available in the Fall of 2021 to address life-safety and critical maintenance needs in libraries. The City of Richmond applied for the maximum amount of grant funding ($10,000,000) and a 50 percent (50%) reduction in required matching funds (Attachment 1). On September 12, 2022, the City was notified of a $9,712,979 grant award to fund infrastructure improvements to revitalize the historic Richmond Main Library (Attachment 2).
The Main Library building opened in 1949 as part of the historic Richmond Civic Center.
The Main Library was not included in the 2009 renovation of other Civic Center facilities, and instead pursued statewide library construction funding for a new library building through Proposition 81. Proposition 81 failed to pass and no statewide funds were available to fund much-needed improvements at the main library. Since then, significant deferred maintenance of the main library has resulted in missing floor tiles, fraying carpet, non-functioning single-pane windows, an inadequate electrical system, and unhealthy interior air quality during adverse air quality events.
The City is committed to improving the library facility so that it remains the jewel that it was when it was originally constructed. This includes the repair and upgrading of building systems and structures, many of which have not been improved since the building was built in 1948. To achieve this goal, the proposed project includes funding for a broad array of improvements that will increase the accessibility, sustainability, and safety of the library facility. The Richmond Public Library Foundation funded a contract with Noll & Tam Architects to create a schedule of priorities and associated costs. Then- Interim Deputy Director Melinda Cervantes led this project and consulted with Public Works and other City departments to determine priorities, costs, and sources of
October 4, 2022
matching funds. The proposed work may include but is not limited to:
• upgrading of public and staff restrooms to make them ADA accessible; • replacement of acoustical ceilings to reduce noise;
• installing improved lighting and controls throughout the building; • replacing asbestos-containing floor tiles with new resilient flooring; • replacement of the existing electrical power system;
• installation of a new HVAC system;
• installation of a new fire alarm and sprinkler system; • providing safety and accessibility improvements to the library entrance; • replacement of the existing staff-only elevator with a new ADA compliant elevator accessible to the public;
• replacement of existing windows throughout the building with new energy- efficient windows; and
• and seismic upgrades to increase the safety of the building in an earthquake.
When the California State Library notified the City of the grant award, they also acknowledged the approval of the 50 percent (50%) reduction in matching funds, thereby requiring a cash match of $4,856,490. City staff have identified the following sources of matching funds: $3,656,490 from American Recovery Plan Act of 2021 funds received by the City, $700,000 from Library Impact Fees, and $500,000 from the Capital Improvement Program budget.
The grant provides significant funds to address the outstanding life-safety and critical maintenance needs of the Main Library building which the City would otherwise be unable to accomplish. The renovation work will require the Library to vacate and empty the building, and therefore, it will be necessary for the Library to identify an alternate location(s) for the Main Branch, as well as additional space for the collection. It is expected that the work included in this project will be accomplished in one calendar year, with completion occurring in 2024. The Library will also work with the Library Foundation and other community organizations to maximize grant funds and address community-driven programmatic renovations that are outside the scope of this grant.
The City is requesting approval of a resolution to accept and appropriate the grant funds, appropriate the necessary matching funds, and authorize the city manager or her designee to execute the grant agreement and any other associated documents, which are forthcoming (Attachment 3). Additional details, including a specific timeline for design and construction, will be determined once the grant agreement is received and the project commences.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Application for Building Forward Library Infrastructure Program Grant Attachment 2 – Grant Award Letter
Attachment 3 – Resolution