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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 02/06/2007 - POSSIBLE RESTORATION OF SOME LIBRARY SERVICES THAT ITEM NUMBER: 38 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: February 6, 2007 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Marty Heffernan SUBJECT Possible Restoration of Some Library Services That Were Discontinued as the Result of Budget Cuts. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends restoration of some services. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Does Council support a restoration of some library services before the Library District Board of Trustees assumes the operation of the library? BACKGROUND On November 7, 2006 voters approved and provided funding for the Fort Collins Regional Library District. The District was established by Council action, effective on January 1, 2007. A library district board is currently being selected and must be approved by the City Council and County Commissioners. State law requires the City,County and District to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement within 90 days after the Trustees are approved. Staff is recommending the transfer of library operations to the District once the IGA is finalized. In response to public requests, library staff would like to restore open hours of operation that were cut during budget reductions.This means restoring hours on Thursday evenings at the Main library and opening earlier on Saturdays at Harmony Library. Staff would also like to bring back book drops and provide more children's story times. The cost to restore these services is approximately $9,000 per month. The City's General Fund is now covering the cost of providing library services. The City will seek reimbursement from the District for these costs. It is reasonable to believe that the new library district board would support the restoration of these services because they are consistent with the improved library services identified in the ballot question creating and funding the District. Specifically the ballot said taxes would pay for services, such as: • Maintaining, improving and expanding library services and facilities • Increasing hours of operation at Main and Harmony Libraries February 6, 2007 -2- Item No. 38 • Opening and operating a proposed new Southeast Branch Library • Providing enhanced library services and operations such as reestablishing and adding new book drops in Fort Collins and the surrounding area, buying new books and media and improving programs for children, teens and adults. Additionally, these services can be restored on a short-term basis using temporary hourly staff afforded by current vacancy savings. Restoration of library services in this way would not lock the new district board into any set course of action and leaves the door open for the new board to design the library district's services according to their wishes. Anticipated revenues from the voter approved mill levy will be in the range of$5.6 million and the amount that would be spent for these temporary improvements before operations are turned over to the District would likely be less than $50,000. Staff would like to restore these services for the following reasons: • Citizens are eager to enjoy restoration of the library services. • Library patrons have been asking library staff daily when library hours will be restored. Community groups have requested to reserve the Main Library meeting room on Thursday evenings and the Harmony Library meeting room on Saturday mornings. • Scores ofresidents are waiting to use the Harmony Library on Saturdaymornings and in many cases, this is the only time they have to do so because of employment schedules. • Residents in outlying areas ask daily about when we will bring back the book drops that were eliminated and when more programs can be expected. • Funds collected from library district taxes will be paid to the library district beginning in April 2007.