City of Santa Clara
Meeting Minutes
Board of Library Trustees
Board
Approved
6:00 PM Hybrid Meeting
Mission Branch Library
Community Room
1098 Lexington St
Santa Clara, CA 95050
12/01/2025
The City of Santa Clara is conducting the Board of Library Trustees meeting in a hybrid manner (in- person and continues to have methods for the public to participate remotely). • Via Zoom:
o https://santaclaraca-gov.zoom.us/j/85864257230
Meeting ID: 858 6425 7230 or
o Phone: 1(669) 900-6833
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN ZOOM WEBINAR: Please follow the guidelines below when participating in a Zoom Webinar:
- The meeting will be recorded so you must choose 'continue' to accept and stay in the meeting. - If there is an option to change the phone number to your name when you enter the meeting, please do so as your name will be visible online and will be used to notify you that it is your turn to speak. - Mute all other audio before speaking. Using multiple devices can cause an audio feedback. - Use the raise your hand feature in Zoom when you would like to speak on an item and lower when finished speaking. Press *9 to raise your hand if you are calling in by phone only. - Identify yourself by name before speaking on an item. - Unmute when called on to speak and mute when done speaking. If there is background noise coming from a participant, they will be muted by the host. Press *6 if you are participating by phone to unmute. - If you no longer wish to stay in the meeting once your item has been heard, please exit the meeting.
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12/01/2025Board of Library Trustees Meeting Minutes
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Evans called the meeting to order at 6:09 PM. The meeting began with the Joint Meeting of the Board of Library Trustees and the Board of the Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends (SCCLFF). All members of the Board of Library Trustees were present. In attendance from the SCCLFF Board were Janet Arsenault, Emma Atul, Kathy Betts, Lee Broughman, JoAnn Davis, Barbara Kempeny, Stephen Ricossa, Kamil Sakici, Linda Sorbi, Ken Young.
6:00 PM - Joint Meeting will begin
JOINT MEETING OF THE BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES AND THE BOARD OF THE SANTA
CLARA CITY LIBRARY FOUNDATION AND FRIENDS
25-1670 Informational Report - Role of Community Grants in Library Services and Programs
Recommendation: Note and file informational report.
The Board of Library Trustees held a joint meeting with the Board of the Santa Clara City Library Foundation and Friends. An informational presentation was shared on the role of grants in supporting library programs and services by Rachel Schmidt, Program Coordinator of Youth Services , and Shanti Bhaskaran, Program Coordinator for Read Santa Clara. The upcoming 25th anniversary of the SCCLFF will be held on May 16, 2026 at the Triton Museum. The SCCLFF Board requested volunteers and shared that support would be welcome . The SCCLFF Board indicated that it would be beneficial to have staff there to answer questions about services and programs, and to conduct joint presentations. They shared that increasing attendance and awareness of the Foundation is an important goal. Different opportunities to collaborate were mentioned, and the Board suggested they agendize this for a future joint meeting.
ADJOURN JOINT MEETING
A motion was made by Trustee Huynh, seconded by Trustee Mohammed, to adjourn the joint meeting.
Aye: Chair Evans, Trustee Huynh, Trustee Mohammed, Trustee Ricossa, and Vice Chair Tryforos
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Chair Jonathon Evans, Trustee Daniel Huynh, Trustee G. Salim Mohammed, Trustee Stephen Ricossa, and Vice Chair Debbie Tryforos Present 5 -
The joint meeting of the Board of Library Trustees and the SCCLFF Board was adjourned at 7:01 PM.
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7:00 PM (Approximately) - Start of Regular Board of Library Trustees Meeting
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
Chair Evans called the regular meeting of the Board of Library Trustees to order at 7:12 PM.
Chair Jonathon Evans, Trustee Daniel Huynh, Trustee G. Salim Mohammed, Trustee Stephen Ricossa, and Vice Chair Debbie Tryforos Present 5 -
CONSENT CALENDAR
1 25-1673 Action on the Board of Library Trustees Meeting Minutes of November 3, 2025 Recommendation: Approve the Board of Library Trustees Meeting Minutes of November 3, 2025 A motion was made by Trustee Mohammed, seconded by Trustee Ricossa to approve Staff Recommendation.
Aye: Chair Evans, Trustee Huynh, Trustee Mohammed, Trustee Ricossa, and Vice Chair Tryforos
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PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
JoAnn Davis, Executive Director of SCCLFF addressed the Board. She shared that book sale dates would be on December 5, 2025 at Northside Branch Library, and on December 20, 2025 a patio sale would be held at Central Park Library. The next regular sales will be January 16 and 17, 2026.
The bookstore will be open most library open hours, and will be closed on some weekend days when volunteers not available during the holidays, signs will be posted at Central Park Library. The SCCLFF is partnering with the Santa Clara Rotary for Christmas for Kids on December 10, 2025 from 2:20 to 4:20 PM.
The program will bring approximately 110 children from local schools and underserved communities to receive presents, coats, and presents for their family members which they can wrap. Santa Claus will be in attendance. The SCCLFF will be donating books to the children. Three SCCLFF Board members will be ending their terms at the end of June and are looking for new members.
GENERAL BUSINESS
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2 25-1676 Discussion and Possible Action on Charter Review Language for the Board of Library Trustees
Recommendation: Review and discuss charter language pertaining to the Board of Library Trustees.
City Librarian Wong shared with the Board that it will be helpful to review the charter and ordinance language for the charter review process, per City Attorney recommendation . Sections 1012 and 1013 from the City Charter were reviewed and discussed. City Librarian Wong shared that the term "qualified elector" in section 1012 prevented those who were not eligible to vote from serving on the Board. Dis cussion from the Board indicated an interest in replacing this term with "resident." The Board shared an interest in increasing the current, charter-specified number of members from 5 to 7 to strengthen community representation and enable the Board to work more effectively with other boards and commissions in their role as Library representatives. In reviewing section 1013 , City Librarian Wong reminded the Board that the name of the Library has changed since it was included on the charter because the Library predated the City of Santa Clara. The meaning of the charter language related to the administrative or advisory capacity in which the Board acts was reviewed, and the responsibilities related to that distinction. Deputy City Attorney Huyen Nguyen answered the Board's questions about administrative roles, related to administering day to day operations, compared to advisory roles in which the Board represents the community's voice in Library operations. The Board's role of selecting the City Librarian was another point that was discussed, as was the job description's degree requirements. The need to consider the long-term vision of the Board's role was considered, as was how other City boards and commissions operate. The Board requested additional information about Sec. 1013 (d) which indicates language was amended in 2000. The language in city ordinance 2.120.080 Board of Library Trustees was reviewed. The Board discussed how to proceed, and whether a special meeting might be scheduled to allow further discussion at pace with the City's timeline.
A motion was made by Vice-Chair Tryforos, seconded by Trustee Huynh to appoint Chair Evans, and Trustee Mohammed as a second or alternate, to represent the Board of Library Trustees in discussion with the Charter Review Committee.
A motion was made by Trustee Mohammed,, seconded by Trustee Ricossa to use staff discretion to schedule and agendize items as needed to meet the timeline expressed by the Trustees tonight.
Aye: Chair Evans, Trustee Huynh, Trustee Mohammed, Trustee Ricossa, and Vice Chair Tryforos
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Aye: Chair Evans, Trustee Huynh, Trustee Mohammed, Trustee Ricossa, and Vice Chair Tryforos
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STAFF REPORT
TRUSTEES REPORT
City Librarian Wong informed the Board that all Library branches will be closed December 16, 2025 for the entire day for a staff recognition and training day.
She also shared that Central Park Library would be open over the holidays except for Christmas Day, the Sunday after Christmas, and New Year's Day.
The Board was informed that Adina Aguirre, Program Coordiator at Mission Branch, would be coming back shortly, and thanked Anne Lee and all the team who helped support Mission. Information was shared about STEM BOWL, being held at the Convention Center on April 19, 2025, and asked the Board to share any STEM-related resources or contacts.
Trustee Huynh inquired about a stargazing event, and Mila Rianto, Assistant City Librarian shared that this information was in the most recent library newsletter.
ADJOURNMENT
The Board of Library Trustees Meeting is adjourned to February 2, 2026, at 6:00 PM.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 PM.
A motion was made by Trustee Huynh, seconded by Trustee Mohammed to adjourn the meeting.
Aye: Chair Evans, Trustee Huynh, Trustee Mohammed, Trustee Ricossa, and Vice Chair Tryforos
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MEETING DISCLOSURES
The time limit within which to commence any lawsuit or legal challenge to any quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City is governed by Section 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, unless a shorter limitation period is specified by any other provision. Under Section 1094.6, any lawsuit or legal challenge to any quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City must be filed no later than the 90th day following the date on which such decision becomes final. Any lawsuit or legal challenge, which is not filed within that 90-day period, will be barred. If a person wishes to challenge the nature of the above section in court, they may be limited to raising only those issues they or someone else raised at the meeting described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Santa Clara, at or prior to the meeting.
In addition, judicial challenge may be limited or barred where the interested party has not sought and exhausted all available administrative remedies.
If a member of the public submits a speaker card for any agenda items, their name will appear in the Minutes. If no speaker card is submitted, the Minutes will reflect "Public Speaker."
In accordance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA"), the City of Santa Clara will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities, and will ensure that all existing facilities will be made accessible to the maximum extent feasible. The City of Santa Clara will generally, upon request, provide appropriate aids and services leading to effective communication for qualified persons with disabilities including those with speech, hearing, or vision impairments so they can participate equally in the City’s programs, services, and activities. The City of Santa Clara will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services, and activities.
Agendas and other written materials distributed during a public meeting that are public record will be made available by the City in an appropriate alternative format. Contact the City Clerk’s Office at 1 408-615-2220 with your request for an alternative format copy of the agenda or other written materials.
Individuals who require an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or any other disability-related modification of policies or procedures, or other accommodation, in order to participate in a program, service, or activity of the City of Santa Clara, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at 408-615-3000 as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the scheduled event.
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