TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Jill Bourne
SUBJECT: See Below DATE: September 8, 2026
Approved
Date:
9/17/26
COUNCIL DISTRICT: Citywide
SUBJECT: Amendment to the Grant Agreement Between the City of San José and San José Public Library Foundation
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or her designee to negotiate and execute a first amendment to the grant agreement between the City of San José and the San José Public Library Foundation, increasing the total not-to-exceed amount from $1,100,000 to $1,300,000 and increasing the fiscal administration for the SJ Access Grant Program from $20,000 to $220,000.
SUMMARY AND OUTCOME
Approval of the recommendation will amend the allocation for the fiscal administration of the SJ Access Grant Program by $200,000, from $20,000 to $220,000 total. The increase will allow the San José Public Library Foundation (Foundation) to continue to serve as the fiscal agent for the SJ Access Grant Program.
BACKGROUND
On June 23, 2026,
1 the City Council approved the San José Public Library (SJPL) and the Foundation to enter into an agreement (Grant Agreement) through which the Foundation leverages City in-kind support (office space, technical support, mail
1 https://sanjose.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=15576341&GUID=CEE6F25E-20AE-4F98-B876- 2A5B52EC74B7
COUNCIL AGENDA: 9/29/26
FILE: 26-995
ITEM: 2.12
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
September 8, 2026
Subject: Amendment to the Grant Agreement Between the City of San José and the San José Public Library Foundation
services) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2027 to garner additional funding, at a minimum of $500,000 per year, to support Library programming and initiatives. The Foundation was established as a grantmaking entity with 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.
In July 2026, the Foundation proposed a revised scope of work for the SJ Access Grant Program, which has been managed by the Foundation as the fiscal agent. In addition to the $20,000 allocated in the Grant Agreement to fund the administration costs of the grant program, the revised scope of work requires an additional transfer of $200,000 for a total of $220,000.
ANALYSIS
The recommended action will provide a portion of the funding that will be distributed to community-based organizations through the SJ Access Grant Program. The SJ Access Grant Program provides community-based organizations with funding on an annual basis to establish and maintain Tech Hubs in their multi-service centers. These Tech Hubs act as technology extensions of the San José Public Library, and offer residents free access to connectivity, devices, and digital skill-building support. Annually, these six locations aim to support approximately 3,500 resident visits to connect to the internet or build their digital skills. Each location is open a minimum of 20 hours per week and reported 7,384 total visits in the FY 2025-2026 grant term. In FY 2026-2027, the SJ Access Grant Program is expected to distribute $312,000 to six community-based organizations. In addition to the $200,000 included in the recommended action, the San Jose Public Library Foundation holds the remaining $112,000 expected to be distributed.
SJPL will report on the ongoing program administration and outcomes of these funded programs to the Library and Education Commission, Neighborhood Services and Education Council Committee, and City Council.
EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP
No additional follow-up action with the City Council is expected at this time.
FISCAL IMPACTS
The current agreement is funded in the Library Department’s non-personal/equipment budget in the amount of $1,050,000 in the General Fund and $50,000 in the Library Parcel Tax for a total of $1.1 million. If approved, the agreement between the City of
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
September 8, 2026
Subject: Amendment to the Grant Agreement Between the City of San José and the San José Public Library Foundation
San José and the Foundation will increase to $1.3 million. The source of the $200,000 allocated through this first amendment is the City’s Digital Inclusion Fund, which is dedicated to fund the initiatives carried out through the citywide Digital Empowerment and Broadband Strategy and budgeted in the General Fund. Any future amendments adding funding or programs will be subject to City Council-approved appropriations.
COORDINATION
This memorandum has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office and the City Manager's Budget Office.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
This memorandum will be posted on the City Council Agenda website for the September 29, 2026 City Council meeting.
BOARD, COMMISSION, COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION AND INPUT
No board, commission, or committee recommendation or input is associated with this action.
CEQA
Not a Project, File No. PP17-003, Agreements/Contracts (New or Amended) resulting in no physical changes to the environment.
PUBLIC SUBSIDY REPORTING
This item does not include a public subsidy as defined in section 53083 or 53083.1 of the California Government Code or the City’s Open Government Resolution.
/s/
Jill Bourne
City Librarian
For questions, please contact Ann Grabowski, Deputy Director of Public Services, Library Department, at [email protected] or (408) 808-2112.