HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-12-07 LBOT MinutesBoard of Library Trustees Minutes: December 7, 2022 1
PALM SPRINGS PUBLIC LIBRARY
BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
MINUTES
Palm Springs Public Library December 7, 2022
Teleconference via Zoom
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Borba called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL PRESENT
Craig Borba Yes
Juanita Garner Yes
Al Jones Yes
Ed McBride Yes
David Norgard Yes
STAFF PRESENT: Jeannie Kays, Director of Library Services.
CITY STAFF PRESENT: Lisa Brock, Library Operations and Collection Manager, Kylee Otto, City
Attorney.
PUBLIC PRESENT: Robert Engel, Michael Hirschbein, Nancy Morrison, David Sidley, Bill Wiley.
2. ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA:
MOTION: (Norgard/Garner, 5-0) To accept the agenda.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.
4. CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION: (Jones/McBride, 5-0) To approve the consent agenda.
4. A. Meeting Minutes of October 19, 2022.
4. B. Library Statistics
4. C. Donation Report
5. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
5. A. Friends of the Palm Springs Library
Nanci Morrison gave the report. The Friends raised $2500 at their Holiday Bazaar.
5. B. Palm Springs Public Library Foundation
David Sidley gave the report. The Foundation had their Pride on the Page book festival at Welwood
Library. They sent out their yearend giving letter and donations are coming in.
5. C. Library Staff
Pride on the Page Book Festival: November 4-5. Festival and special event with Sharon Gless and Peter
Paige were great events and well-attended.
Board of Library Trustees Minutes: December 7, 2022 2
Santa: Visiting library December 7, 2022. Fun event every year.
Toy Drive: Happening now benefitting James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center and Leisure Center
Breakfast with Santa. December 15 is the last day to donate.
California Library Connect Grant: Awarded $99,581.24 today for technology hardware funding.
6. TREASURERS REPORT
Treasurer Jones gave the report. The trust fund balance is $1,781,310.91. The City lost money in their
investments so $36,721.22 was deducted from the trust fund.
MOTION: (Jones/Garner, 5-0) To accept the report.
7. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS
7. A. Discussion of Memorandum of Understanding between Trustees and Foundation
Kylee Otto with the City Attorney’s office went over the draft Memorandum of Understanding that
was included in the Board packet. After the Library Board gives input on the draft it will be taken to
the Foundation for their input. The MOU was left broad in certain areas to give flexibility. Trustee
Norgard asked if intended outcomes or result should be included in Article 2, section d., part iii.
MOTION: (McBride/Garner, 5-0) To submit the document to the Foundation for review and input.
Chair Borba asked Director Kays to set up a meeting between the Board, the Foundation, and the
Friends to discuss how they will handle donations with the renovation.
7. B. DISCUSS JC FREY BUILDING RENOVATION AND TIMELINE
Director Kays gave the report. The question about the JC Frey is do we try to get it done quickly to
do we hold off and add that money to the Library Infrastructure Renovation. Chair Borba said it
would be convenient to have the Frey building done so the temporary Library can open there.
Another suggestion was to bid the two buildings together, so they are both renovated at the same
time. Trustee McBride asked if the City has the capacity to do both at the same time. Trustee
Norgard asked if Director Kays feels the Frey building is the appropriate temporary branch. Director
Kays said it’s one of many options that could work; the location of the temporary branch is not
critical at this time the construction and money is more important. Trustee McBride said for him the
priority is uninterrupted service to the community. He thinks we should postpone the JC Frey
building and put that money towards the main Library renovation. Trustee Garner and Norgard
agree we should focus on the main Library. Chair Borba agrees the main Library is the priority, but
he is worried if we postpone the Frey building it won’t get done. Chair Borba suggested meeting
with the engineering department to get a timeline for the Frey building. Treasurer Jones asked what
the timeline for the main Library is. Trustee Norgard said the way he understands it is it’s not really
a matter of timing but more that we need that money for the main Library. Director Kays said she
can ask for a meeting but reiterated that the engineers are waiting on recommendations from the
Library Board to proceed. Treasurer Jones said he does not understand where we are in the project
and what the timeline is. Director Kays said that some of that falls under item 7. C. but the main
thing needed now is recommendations from the Library Board. Treasurer Jones asked if the Board
would need approval to move the money. Director Kays said the Board would make the
recommendation and Measure J or City Council would have to approve it.
7. C. DISCUSS LIBRARY INFRASTRUCTURE RENOVATION – RECOMMEND PRIORITIES
Director Kays gave the report. The infrastructure grant is for $6,569,942.00 with matching funds
from the City. The matching funds are budgeted in the five-year capital improvement plan with
Measure J. The grant only covers certain tasks; when doing the construction there will be other
Board of Library Trustees Minutes: December 7, 2022 3
things that need to be done outside of the grant funds. The City or the non-profits will need to come
up with extra money to cover. The Library Board needs to decide how much extra they are going
to be able to afford to put into the scope of work. Treasurer Jones asked if we had a dollar amount
for these extra projects. The City wants to know what the Library Board expects Phase One to have
in it. Phase One would be done concurrently with the grant projects. Director Kays went over
recommendations for projects that should be done in Phase One. They include Furniture, Fixtures
(counters, cabinetry, steel shelving, end panels), Equipment (computers and other technology),
Exterior Painting, Small Meeting Rooms, and extra costs associated with domino effect of moving
restrooms and possibly other rooms. Trustee McBride said the Library Board cannot sit back and
allow the City to expect the fundraising arms to provide what the City should be providing to the
Library and to the community. He asked what happened to the money that was set aside for the
Library before the grant came along. Chair Borba said the future phase ideas should be included
in Phase One.
MOTION: (McBride/Norgard, 5-0) To recommend that the City include in the scope of work all the
non-grant funded recommendations listed as Phase One as well as the four bullet pointed items
listed as future phase ideas.
Moved back to 7. B. at this time.
MOTION: (McBride/Jones, 5-0) To recommend that the City moves forward with the plan to
renovate the JC Frey building according to budget and present back to the Library Board with a
plan and a confirmed budget. It should not impede on the main Library renovation.
8. TRUSTEE/STAFF COMMENTS/FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
If Chair Borba and Trustee Norgard are able to meet with the Engineering Department, they will report
on the meeting at the January meeting. The Foundation reporting on their changes to the Memorandum
of Understanding. Michael Hirschbein suggested the Library Board ask the City to come up with a critical
path with specific dates and ask them to report to the Library Board on a monthly basis with updates.
The next Board meeting is scheduled for January 4, 2023.
9. ADJOURNMENT
The December meeting adjourned at 7:23 p.m.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
Jeannie Kays
Director of Library Services