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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRDA 3 LIBRARY STUDY 05-16-94  RDA NO. 3 5.316-94 Inter-Com DATE: May 16, 1994 TO: WILLIAM A HUSTON, CITY MAHAGER FROM: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY SERVICES STUDY RECOMMENDATION Pleasure of the Agency FINANCIAL IMPACT See previous. Redevelopment Agency report of March 7, 1994, attached. DISCUSSION On March 7, 1994, the Redevelopment Agency authorized the issuance of a Request for Proposals to undertake a study of the library services needs of the community and to prepare recommendations concerning the most efficient and effective means of improving the existing services. The study was originally requested by Councilman Saltarelli's' belief that Orange County was not maintaining an acceptable level of library services. Agency Member Doyle has requested a reconsideration of this authorization. The original report to the Redevelopment Agency is attached for your review. If the Agency reaffirms the issuance of the Request for Proposals, staff will return with a draft of the request for Agency approval within the next sixes ~ ~hristine A: Shi~leton , ' a~ -J il/~..n~er Assistant city MWnager . elo?t Program Manager Inter-Com DATE: March ?, 1994 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: WILLIAM /% HUSTON, CITY MANAGER CHRISTINE SHINGLETON, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER LIBRARY SERVICES STUDY RECOMMENDATION le · It is recommended the Agency authorize the Assistant city Manager to prepare a Request for Proposals for approval by the Redevelopment Agency to study the City's options concerning the provision of library services and recommend an action plan for upgrading library services for the-City's residents. It is further recommended that' the Agency reappropriate $50,000 currently appropriated, in the Town Center Redevelopment Project Area Budget for the Old Town Urban Design and Implementation StUdy to this Library Services Study. FINANCIAL IMPACT The Budget for the Town Center Project Area currently includes an appropriation of $50,000 for the issuance of a Request for proposals and a contract to undertake an Old Town Urban Design and Implementation Study. This recommendation would reappropriate this money to a Library Services Study. The actual cost of the study will not be known until proposals have been received and analyzed and a contract negotiated. The Agency will approve the final cost when it approves the contract. DISCUSSION There is considerable discussion in the community concerning the current status of the County Library in the civic Center. This discussion ranges from concern about the current level of services at the existing County operated library to proposals to build a new library~in coordination with the school district. Further, some Orange County cities, most notably the City of Mission Viejo, are considering opting out of the County Library System and developing their own library. The County is undertaking its own review concerning funding and level of library services in the branches it operates. In the Library Services Study Page 2 shift of the property tax approved by the Legislature and. Governor last June, the County system lost 34% of its funding. In response to this, the Board of Supervisors is appointing a task force to review options for the County's system. The Board is anticipating receiving recommendations from this Task Force by June in time for their budget considerations for the next fiscal year. There are a variety of actions the City can take concerning the Library. The Staff believes that a thorough review of these options, as well as an analysis of their costs and benefits to the City and its residents, is needed before specific recommendations can be made to the city Council for action. To this end, the staff recommends that the Redevelopment Agency authorize the staff to prepare and return to the Agency a request for proposals for consulting services to undertake this study. In the current budget for the Town Center Redevelopment Project Area, the Agency appropriated $50,000 for the issuance of a Request for Proposals and subsequent contract to develop an Old Town Urban Design and Implementation Plan. Based on the current level of activity by the Redevelopment Staff, this money is not likely to be expended in this fiscal year. It.therefore can be used to fund a study on library services. .~ If the Agency approves this recommendation, staff will return with a Request for Proposals for Agency approval by the Agency's second meeting in April.