March 3, 2026
Library and Community Services
DATE: March 3, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Kate Eppler, Deputy Director of Community Services -
Library
Abigail Sims-Evelyn, Library Literacy Program Manager
Subject:
Appropriate Grant Funds from the California State Library for Literacy Education
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Project expenditures will be funded by the California State Library grant. There is no impact on the General
Fund.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Richmond Public Library has been awarded
$137,058 from the California State Library to support
adult learners and family literacy services offered at the library’s literacy program, Literacy for Every Adult
Program (LEAP), for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution to ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE the
California State Library grant award of $137,058 for adult learner and family literacy services; and AUTHORIZE the city manager or their designee to execute the grant
agreement and certify related grant reports – Community Services Department/Library Division (Kate Eppler 510-
620-5452/Abigail Sims-Evelyn 510-307-8082).
AGENDA
REPORT
March 3, 2026
DISCUSSION:
The Richmond Public Library’s Literacy for Every Adult Program (LEAP) provides essential educational services to adults seeking to strengthen their literacy skills, learn English, or support their family’s learning at home. LEAP offers Adult Basic Education, English as a Second Language (ESL), and family literacy services through a combination of group classes and individualized one-to-one tutoring. These no-cost services are made possible, in part, through funding from the California State Library’s California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) program.
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2024–2025, LEAP achieved several meaningful outcomes:
• Six adult learners earned their GED (General Education Development) certificates; • Two adult learners successfully completed the Richmond Builds workforce program; • Forty-two ESL learners demonstrated measurable literacy gains; and • Numerous families created home literacy collections to support reading with their children.
LEAP’s Adult Basic Education services have been supported by California State Library grant funding since FY 1984–1985, and ESL services have been funded since FY 2021–2022. In anticipation of the FY 2025-2026 award, $115,000 was accepted and appropriated into the Library/LEAP operating budget for 2025-2026 during the annual budget process. However, the actual FY 2025-2026 grant award of $137,058 exceeds the planned amount and must be separately appropriated by City Council. The grant funding provides continued support for Adult Basic Education and Family Literacy services, enabling LEAP to expand learning opportunities for the Richmond community.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution
Attachment 2 – Grant Award Letter
Attachment 3 – Grant Agreement
Attachment 4 – Grant Augmentation Notice