HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/23/1970MINUTES
ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
November 23, 1970 - 7:30 P.M.
City Hall
Pledge
Roll Call
Present: Emmons Blake, Myron Graham, Donald Q. Miller,
Arthur F. Spring, Kenneth E. Schwartz
City Staff
Present: Miss Patricia Clark,.Librarian; J. H. Fitzpatrick,
City CleFk; R. D. Miller,.Administrative Officer
Library Board of Trustees
Present: Chairwoman, Mrs. Frances Reynolds; John A. Heinz;
Mrs. Esther Davis; William Fredman, Mrs. Margaret Nybak
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1. The City Council met with the Library Board of Trustees in joint session
to discuss possible consolidation of the City Library System and the County
Library System.
Mrs. Frances Reynolds reviewed for the City Council the long history of co-
operation between the City Library System and the County Library System. She
stated that starting with 1959, a reciprocal plan for library service for the
citizens within and without the City of San Luis Obispo was initiated without
charge and since that time, the cooperation between both systems had been
excellent. She felt it had improved services for the citizens of the City
and the County. She also explained the benefits derived by the City Library
from the operation of the Black and Gold Cooperative Library Group. She
then presented and explained for the Council's information the Coit Cooledge
Library Consultant Report of February 1968 entitled "A Library Service Plan
for San Luis Obispo County ". One of the alternates included in the report
called for consolidation of the City and County systems, under one head,
the County Livrary System. Mrs. Reynolds then presented the recommendation
of the City Library Board of Trustees on this matter as follows:
It is recommended that a new library building be planned and built by the
City and County as a joint venture. Application for federal financial
assistance for construction under Title II of the Library Services and
Construction Act, and any other possible grants, should be made as soon as
both governmental agencies can take the necessary steps to become eligible
for such funds.
The Committee further recommends that'the County levy a library building tax,
beginning with fiscal year 1970 -71, of sufficient amount to achieve construc = -',::
tion within five years. Until such time as legal consolidation of the two
present libraries takes effect, the City should also be accumulating assets
to be contributed toward this construction.
On the basis of the requirements of the application for Federal funds, it
is recommended that legal consolidation be accomplished subsequent to the
approval of the application and not later than the date of occupancy of
the building.
Mrs. Patricia Clark, City Librarian, presented for the City Council's in-
formation comparative data sheets for the City and County systems for the .
fiscal year 1969/70 listing the revenues to the City and County library
systems, the expenditures for each, assigned personnel, physical facilities
and also the book and periodical circulation of each system. She also pre-
sented for the Council's information what she felt would be the projected
needs for library services for the citizens of San Luis Obispo by 1985. She
also explained what she felt were the benefits that would be derived for the
citizens via consolidation of the library services.
City Council Minutes
November 23, 1970
Page 2
The City Council then discussed with the Board of Library Trustees, the possi-
bility of the City turning over a well -run library system to the County
government without really knowing what the County proposed to do in consolidating
the systems.
Mrs. Reynolds Then read for the Council's.information from the California Library
Association issue dated December 13, 1969, entitled "Master Plan for Total
Library Service ".
Councilman Miller was in favor of consolidation of unification of the City and
County library systems. He based his opinion on what he felt would be a more
efficient library service for the people of San Luis Obispo City and County.
He listed other services that have been consolidated and assumed by the County
which he felt worked well such as health services, welfare, jails, tax collection
and assessment, etc. He hoped that the City Council would take the necessary
steps to turn the City Library System over to the County for operation.
R. D. Miller, Administrative Officer, explained the City of Ukiah's experience
with joint operation of a City and County Library System, different set -ups
were tried with the City final,hy, turning its new building over to the County
for administration. The City Manager warned abput, the ability of the County
to create a higher tax rate within a city where it could be justified through
better service than the rest of the County.
Esther Davis, member of the Library Board, felt the majority of the Board
members joined in favor of the consolidation because of the higher availability
of taxes due to the higher County rate and the possible advantages of receiving
more funds from the Federal government.
Mayor Schwartz read proposal number three by Colt Coolidge which apparently
was the one being accepted by the Library Board. (page 33 in the report)
Mrs. Reynolds felt that what the Library Board wanted from the City Council,
was a general statement of approval of the philosophy of consolidation, so
that the Library Board could proceed with negotiations with the Supervisors
and the County Librarian.
Mr. Heinz, Board member, stated he felt that whether the City went it alone or
joined with the County, the City's present facility was being used to its maxi-
mum and that the City should start looking for implementation of branches to
keep the service level adequate for the citizens of the City and further felt
that some time in the next ten to twenty years the City must come up with a
more realistic allocation of funds for library services and further construc-
tion of branches within the City.
Mayor Schwartz asked if the Library Board had looked into establishing branch
libraries throughout the City, where needed to serve the citizens of the
separate neighborhoods of the City.
R. D. Miller, Administrative Officer, explained the provisions of the CIP as
it related to future library development in the City as seen by the present
City Council.
Mrs. Reynolds then presented the City Council a summary of replies to inquiries
made by her to other areas of the State that recently had consolidated City and
County Library Systems, and that she felt indicated good results.
' Councilman Blake asked how the County Board of Supervisors had reacted to this
proposal of consolidation.
Mrs. Reynolds stated that the County goverhment had not been approached by the
City Library Board on the consolidation proposal. The Board wished to first
make its presentation to the City Council, receive its approval and then pro-
ceed to work towards an agreement.
R. D. Miller, Administrative Officer, asked whether he should contact the cities
which had withdrawn from County Systems to see the reasons for their withdrawal.
There was general agreement on this suggestion.
City Council Minutes
November 23, 1970
Page 3
Mayor Schwartz asked if the Council committee of himself and Councilman Graham
should continue to look into the Board's proposal, meet with the. Supervisors and
discuss further steps to possible consolidation.
On motion of Councilman Miller, seconded by Councilman Graham, the suggestion
of the Mayor was accepted and ordered implemented. Motion carried.
2. Mayor Schwartz presented for the Council's consideration Assembly Bill 1856,
the Airport Land Use Commission, which will be responsible for preparation and
control of a comprehensive land use plan for the orderly growth of public air-
ports compatible with the surrounding areas. The Mayor continued that the law
allowed the appointment of a separate commission, consisting of two members
appointed by the Mayors Select Committee, two by the Board of Supervisors, two
by the public airport managers and the seventh member to be selected by the
previous six. The other alternative would be to allow the County Supervisors
to appoint the commission or to turn it over to another existing County
commission. Mayor Schwartz stated the County Mayors' Association recommended
that on an interim basis, the County Planning Commission act as the County
Airport Land Use Commission.
Councilman Blake was opposed to the recommendation of the Mayors' committee as
he felt the San Luis Obispo City Council should be represented on the Airport
Land Use Commission in order to protect and develop the San Luis Obispo County
Airport. He further felt that otherwise the County Airport development would
only be directed by its own Planning Commission.
Councilman Spring agreed that the San Luis Obispo City Council should be
represented on the new airport land use commission.
Councilman Miller agreed that City representatives should be on the airport
land use comma,ssion in order to protect the City's interest in airport
development.. He continued that he hoped this City Council would take a
strong interest in developing the local airport.
R. D. Miller, Administrative Officer, was asked to contact all mayors in the
County to let them know of the City Council of San Luis Obispo feelings that
they wished to have City representatives on the new Land Use Committee and
not have it handled by the County Planning Commission.
3. On motion of Councilman Spring,, seconded by Councilman Graham, the
Salvation Army's request to place annual Christmas kettles at three locations
in San Luis Obispo was approved. Motion carried.
4. On motion of Councilman Graham, seconded by Councilman Blake, the meeting
was adjourned.
Fi atrick, City Clerk
APPROVED; January 4, 1971
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