TO: HONORABLE MAYOR FROM: Councilmember David Cohen
AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT: SEE BELOW DATE: October 25, 2022
Approved Date: 10/21/2022
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SUBJECT: Grant Agreement with the California State Library for the Building Forward Library Infrastructure Grants
RECOMMENDATION
1. Approve the staff recommendation and direct Library and Public Works staff to prioritize grant funded projects at the branches that were not built or modernized using Measure T funding (Alviso and Biblioteca Latinoamericana,); and
2. Direct staff to return to the Council with an analysis of any additional funding necessary to augment the grant project scope to include new finishes, furnishings, fixtures, and equipment at the Alviso Branch to improve customer experience and bring it more in line with the experience at the city’s newer branches, when grant funds are appropriated during the Mid-Year Budget Review.
BACKGROUND
We applaud staff’s diligence in applying for funding that allows for the maintenance of major infrastructure of our community libraries. While it is important that we maintain our critical infrastructure, we must also be conscious of the condition of our facilities at the point where our residents interface with the library. We must consider customer facing improvements to our older libraries and make them welcoming to the community in order to provide the customer experience our community deserves.
Though modernization of finishes, furnishings and fixtures have been made throughout most of the library system, the Alviso branch is the only branch that did not receive significant upgrades.
The branch is also not slated for improvements funded by the latest and last Library Bond issuance. We should take this opportunity to bring the Alviso branch up to the standard our communities expect, and our families deserve.
COUNCIL AGENDA: 10/25/2022
FILE#:
ITEM:
22-1571
7.1