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
10/29/25
SUBJECT: Amendment to the Grant Agreement Between the City of San José and the San José Public Library Foundation
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or her designee to negotiate and execute an amendment to the grant agreement between the City of San José and the San José Public Library Foundation in the total amount not to exceed $1,180,000 for:
(a) Fiscal administration of the San José Learns funds ($1,000,000); (b) Administration of the San José Learns Tutoring Expansion; (c) Fiscal administration of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion programs and workshops in the amount not to exceed $55,000;
(d) Fiscal administration of the SJ Access Grant Program ($50,000); and (e) Fiscal administration of the Ignite Fellowship ($75,000) in Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
BASIS FOR RECOMMENDATION
On June 17, 2025, the City Council approved the recommendation to adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or her designee to negotiate and execute an agreement between the City of San José (City) and the San José Public Library Foundation in an amount not to exceed $1,105,000.1 The proposed recommendation will increase the grant agreement by $75,000 to $1,180,000.
The San José Public Library Foundation (Foundation) seeks donations and pledges to support and enhance Library collections, programs, and services; continues to serve as the fiscal agent for the San José Learns (SJ Learns), SJ Learns Tutoring Expansion Program, SJ Access Grant Program, and enhances the Library’s ability to provide cultural enrichment programming from small-scale local vendors.
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) to garner additional funding. In fiscal year 2025-2026, the Foundation will raise a minimum of $500,000, 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.
1 City Council Action Request – June 2025:
https://sanjose.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=14287376&GUID=6A3DA7EB-95DE-4972-AA73- DE757F810E5D
COUNCIL AGENDA: 11/18/25
FILE: 25-1201
ITEM: 2.18
In the Mayor’s June Budget Message for FY 2025-2026, the City Manager was directed to allocate $75,000 in one-time funding from the Emergency Services Reserve to continue the Ignite Fellowship in East San José schools and work with the SJPL and the Mayor’s Office to explore securing long-term philanthropic funding partners to expand this evidence-based work in partnership with local school districts.
SJ Learns previously awarded the Franklin McKinley School District $75,000 to implement Teach for America's Ignite Reading program from August 2024 to June 2025. Virtual Teach for America's Fellows provide high-dosage tutoring to two to three third-grade students for two to three hours weekly during regular school hours. Students achieved reading proficiency gains on assessments, with some demonstrating two years of academic growth. The integrated classroom model enables teachers to conduct targeted interventions while tutors deliver structured small-group instruction in a collaborative environment. The continued program will run through June 2026, with an anticipated reach of 40 students.
Since 2018, the City Council has continuously 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, the Neighborhood Services and Education Committee, and the City Council.
Approval of this recommendation will allow for an amendment to the agreement between the City and the Foundation, allowing the Foundation to serve as the fiscal agent for the Ignite Fellowship.
As a result, the amendment to the agreement between the City and the Foundation will increase in the amount not to exceed $1,180,000.
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 amendment to the agreement between the City and the Foundation in the amount not to exceed $1,180,000 will be funded by the Library’s Non-Personal/Equipment appropriation in the General Fund (Fund 001).
FOR QUESTIONS CONTACT:
Fiahna Cabana, Administrative Officer, Library Department, at [email protected].