CITY COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
DEPARTMENT(S)
Library
CEQA
Not a Project, File No.
PP17-003,
Agreements/Contracts
(New or Amended)
resulting in no
physical changes to
the environment.
COORDINATION
City Attorney's Office;
City Manager’s Budget
Office
Director Approval
/s/
Jill Bourne
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S)
Citywide
CMO Approval
6/10/25
SUBJECT: Grant Agreement with the San José Public Library Foundation
REASON FOR ADDENDUM
This item should be added to the next City Council Agenda outside the normal administrative process timeline for consideration by City Council to ensure continued implementation, without interruption, of the citywide grants, Library programs, and services referenced in the Recommendation.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or her designee to negotiate and execute an agreement between the City of San José and the San José Public Library Foundation in the amount not to exceed $1,095,000 for the fiscal administration of the San José Learns funds ($1,000,000), administration of the San José Learns Tutoring Expansion, fiscal administration of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion programs and workshops in the amount not to exceed $55,000, and fiscal administration of the SJ Access Grant Program ($40,000), in Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
BASIS FOR RECOMMENDATION
Approval of the recommendation will allow the San José Public Library Foundation (Foundation) to fundraise and seek donations to maintain and enhance Library collections, programs, and services; continue to serve as the fiscal agent for the San José Learns (SJ Learns); SJ Learns Tutoring Expansion Program; SJ Access Grant Program; and enhance the Library’s ability to provide cultural enrichment programming from small-scale local vendors for fiscal year 2025-26.
The San José Public Library (SJPL) and the Foundation enter into an agreement on an annual basis by which the Foundation leverages City in-kind support (office space, technical support, mail services) within the fiscal year to fundraise a minimum of $500,000 per year to support Library programming and initiatives. The Foundation was established as a grantmaking entity with the professional expertise and skill in administering fundraising activities, enhancing SJPL’s core values towards lifelong learning and access to information, library materials, and digital resources.
Since 2018, the City Council has taken annual budget actions of various amounts to fund the SJ Learns, SJ Learns Tutoring Matters Expansion, and the SJ Access Grant Program, which have been managed by the Foundation as the fiscal agent.
SJPL will report on the ongoing program administration and outcomes of these funded programs to the Library and Education Commission, Neighborhood Services and Education Committee, and City Council.
COUNCIL AGENDA: 6/17/25
FILE: 25-773
ITEM: 2.47
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION AND INPUT
The Library and Education Commission receives reports on the fundraising efforts and activities of the Foundation on an annual basis. The Foundation’s 2024 report and action was provided to the commission at the April 16, 2025, meeting.
COST AND FUNDING SOURCE
The recommended agreement of $1,095,000 between the City of San José and the San José Public Library Foundation will be funded by various appropriations in the General Fund.
FOR QUESTIONS CONTACT: Fiahna Cabana, Administrative Officer at [email protected]