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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 11/28/2006 - OVERVIEW OF TRANSITION OF LIBRARY SERVICES TO THE DATE: November 28, 2o06 WORK SESSION ITEM STAFF: Marty Heffernan FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION Overview of Transition of Library Services to the Fort Collins Regional Library District. GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED Does Council have any questions or concerns with the proposed process to transition library services to the Fort Collins Regional Library District? BACKGROUND A group of citizens, following the provisions of Colorado library law, initiated a ballot measure asking voters if they wanted to create and fund the Fort Collins Regional Library District. The library initiative was approved by the voters,directing the Council and County Commissioners to establish the District. The Council took action to establish the District on November 2151 and the Commissioners have also taken this action. The ballot measure establishes a 3 mill property tax on property within the District boundaries, estimated to produce $5,779,377 annually. The mill levy must be certified by the County by December 15'. The ballot establishes the District boundaries as those of PSD plus the City's Growth Management Area. The boundary area excludes Wellington and Red Feather Lakes Library District in recognition of their decision to opt-out of the District. Voter approval of the library District means that library services will no longer be provided by the City of Fort Collins. Services will now be provided by the District. Consequently, General Fund support for library services,budgeted at approximately 3.6 million dollars for 2006,will be available for other purposes. The property tax for the District will provide more funding than the 3.6 million dollars provided by the General Fund. The additional revenue will be used to restore over$500,000 in services that have been cut in recent years,increase hours of operation at the libraries,pay for support services (legal, human resources, accounting etc.) provide new services to areas outside the City, improve the collection and programs and open and operate a new southeast branch library. The City is entering into an agreement with Bayer Properties to build and operate the new southeast branch in the retail development Bayer is creating at Harmony and Ziegler roads. Bayer will provide the City with 16,000 square feet of space on the second floor of an attractive, centrally located building in the center. Bayer will also provide the parking, roads, utilities and other infrastructure for the library. The City will pay Bayer for the cost of the second floor building shell November 28, 2006 Page 2 and will finish the interior of the building, using library impact fees from new residential development.The City will own the second floor space and has agreed to use the space for a library. The Library District will be governed by a Board of Trustees, not by the City or the Council. The Trustees are like a Council for the District. The Trustees will be responsible for the District's revenues and budget, for District property, and for District employees and operations. Library employees will no longer be City employees but will become employees of the District. Library District Trustees are selected by a committee of two Council members and two County Commissioners and ratified by a two-thirds majority of the Council and a two-thirds majority of the Commissioners. On November 21', the Council selected Karen Weitkunat and Ben Manvel to be the Council representatives and the Commissioners have selected Cathay Rennels and Karen Wagner to be their representatives. State law does not impose a deadline for selecting the Trustees. However, because the District has been established and because taxes for the District will be collected and available for 2007 operations, it makes sense to select the trustees as soon as reasonably possible. The Trustee Selection Committee will need to advertise for candidates,provide an application form, determine desirable qualities and qualifications,conduct interviews and recommend candidates for approval by the full Council and the Commissioners. State library law allows for 5, 6 or 7 trustees with their initial appointments being for terms of one, two,three, four, and five years respectively. If there are 6 trustees,two have five year terms. If there are 7 trustees two have four year terms and two have five year terms. Thereafter,the length and number of terms is determined by the District by-laws. The by-laws are adopted by the Trustees. Trustees are not compensated, except for expenses, and may only be removed by a majority vote of the Council and Commissioners upon a showing of good cause. After the Trustees are selected and ratified,an intergovernmental agreement(IGA)between the City, County and Board of Trustees must be effected within 90 days.The IGA will address the use,lease or ownership of the library buildings and personal property (like the books, furniture and furnishings);the partnership with Front Range Community College;the new branch library;the use of library impact fees and Building on Basics library technology money; the provision of support services(financial,human resources,operation services,etc.);risk management and liability issues; the transition of library employees from the City to the District; and similar matters. Until the IGA is signed by all the parties, staff recommends library services continue as a City operation with a condition in the IGA that the City will be reimbursed by the District for the cost of these services. The District will begin to receive revenue from the property tax in April of 2007 and would be in a position to reimburse the City at that time. Staff also recommends that support services provided by the City to the library currently should be provided for all of 2007, without charge,to allow for a smooth and successful transition.These services are provided by current City staff and are included in the 2007 budget.