body,date,page,text,path
LibraryBoard,2008-03-12,1,"OF
TERKA
RATED
Minutes of the
ALAMEDA FREE LIBRARY BOARD MEETING
March 12, 2008
The regular meeting of the Alameda Free Library Board was called to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present:
Leslie Krongold, President
Mike Hartigan, Board Member
Alan Mitchell, Board Member
Absent:
Karen Butter, Vice President
Ruth Belikove, Board Member
Staff:
Jane Chisaki, Library Director
Marsha Merrick, Recording Secretary
CONSENT CALENDAR
An asterisk indicates items so enacted and adopted on the Consent Calendar.
A.
*Report from Library Director highlighting Library Department activities for the month of
March 2008. Accepted.
B.
*Draft Minutes of the Regular Library Board meeting of February 13, 2008. Approved.
C.
*Library Services Report for the month of January 2008. Accepted.
D.
*Report from Finance Department reflecting FY 2007-08 Library expenditures (by fund)
through February 2008. Accepted.
E.
*Bills for ratification for the month of February 2008. Approved.
President Krongold asked for a motion to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. Member
Mitchell so moved; Member Hartigan seconded the motion which carried by a 3-0 vote.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA (Public Comment)
None.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.",LibraryBoard/2008-03-12.pdf
LibraryBoard,2008-03-12,2,"Page 2 of 4
Minutes of the Alameda
Free Library Board Meeting
March 12,2008
NEW BUSINESS
A.
Wood Museum DVD (M. Merrick)
Nancy Ely, Wood Middle School teacher and curator of the Wood Museum of History, had
dropped off a DVD of the Museum's 2007 showing at the Main Library, and it was played for
the Board. The Wood Museum of History will be hosted once again this year at the Main
Library from April 21st through May 3rd.
B.
Budget Discussion (J. Chisaki)
Director Chisaki reported that all departments had been asked to under spend by 2% at the
mid-year mark, and are now being asked to cut an additional 8% off their respective budgets
for the next fiscal year. Library staff members have been meeting to come up with ways to
reduce costs and increase revenues; ideas such as raising meeting room fees, late fees and
fines; charging for inter-library loan service and obituary searches are all being considered.
Reducing the Library open hours to save part-time salary dollars has also been discussed. The
Board had no objection to these proposed measures, so Director Chisaki will bring the ideas to
the City Manager as a next step.
C.
Strategic Planning Committee Update (M. Hartigan)
Member Hartigan called the Board's attention to the Strategic Planning Committee's timeline
contained in their packets. There had been meetings on February 20th and the previous night,
March 11th Consultants Kathy Page and Ruth Metz explained their process; brainstorming
and 10-year visioning goals were discussed. The phone survey is underway, and the pollster
will be at the next meeting to disclose the information collected in the process. Director
Chisaki advised the Board that they would need to hold a special meeting sometime between
April 15th and May 7th to talk about the telephone survey results and provide feedback for the
committee to consider. The date for this special meeting will be set at the April 9th Library
Board meeting.
D.
Art Exhibit Committee (R. Belikove)
Member Belikove was not in attendance, and Director Chisaki pointed out that the first art
display had been hung. There was a general feeling that the pieces seemed slightly askew,
and that was because they were each hung from one line; there had not been enough hardware
to place two lines on each piece. There is a catalog of all the items sitting at the information
desk for people to look over if they would like additional information about the pieces or the
artists. Once the current showing comes down, the Wood Museum of History will be next up.
Two other groups have their display applications in at this point, so they will be next in line
for showings. Everyone was in agreement that the tracks that were installed looked really
good, and the work had been done for significantly less of a cost than originally proposed.",LibraryBoard/2008-03-12.pdf
LibraryBoard,2008-03-12,3,"Page 3 of 4
Minutes of the Alameda
Free Library Board Meeting
March 12, 2008
E.
Alameda Free Library Foundation (A. Mitchell)
Director Chisaki had attended the last Foundation meeting and thanked them for paying for
the art display track. Marc Lambert announced there would be a significant fund-raising
event held this year, with a good possibility of author Michael Pollan as the guest speaker.
The Marketplace is very interested in partnering with the Foundation for this event.
F.
Friends of the Alameda Free Library (M. Lambert)
Marc Lambert had a copy of the Book Sale Task Force report, which had been provided for
review so it could be discussed at the next Friends meeting. The Café is doing very well; they
had $1,200 in sales for the month of January. The Friends newsletter is now being sent out
via e-mail; hard copies are still available. Friends President Dorothy Fullerton has been
meeting regularly with the Alameda County Friends Association; they will be meeting at the
Alameda Main Library on March 18th. Due to the current budget crisis, Lambert encouraged
that a large contingent visit Sacramento on State Legislative Day coming up on April 16th
G.
Patron suggestions/comments (Speak-Outs) and Library Director's response.
There was a request for children's Chinese/English language learning materials on CDs/DVDs
and anything that would teach conversational Mandarin to kids; orders have been placed.
Patron called looking for books; the Library did not have them so the patron requested ILL
service. The staff member he was requesting this of told the patron to come in and make the
request, but it would be the same information the patron had already given to the staff member
so it seemed unnecessary. Staff will be instructed to take ILL requests by phone in the future.
A request for ""Across the Universe"" DVD was made; it has already been ordered. Director
Chisaki read a request about banning laptops in the Quiet Reading Room due to the noise they
create, and asked for the Board's advice on an appropriate response. After some discussion,
the Board recommended that the sign on the Quiet Reading Room be revised to include the
laptop restriction.
LIBRARY BOARD COMMUNICATIONS
Member Mitchell said that after reading the Library Hotline newsletters, it appears that everyone is in
a financial crisis right now. Director Chisaki told the Board that because she cannot count on PLF
funding, she did not use it in her projections for next year's budget - this was on the advice of the
Finance Director.
DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS
The public art pieces by Michael Carey are about 50% complete, so Chisaki will be visiting the artist
to inspect the work along with Art Consultant Regina Almaguer and Honora Murphy. Carey feels he
is on target for installation of the pieces by the end of June. The contract with Thomas Hacker for the
design of an awning and shelf at the book return area is finally complete, so that will be moving
forward. CALTAC membership is up for renewal; the Board decided to let it go for this year. Word",LibraryBoard/2008-03-12.pdf
LibraryBoard,2008-03-12,4,"Page 4 of 4
Minutes of the Alameda
Free Library Board Meeting
March 12, 2008
has come from Sacramento that a new Library construction bond is being pitched. It is expected to be
placed on the general ballot in 2010. Chisaki passed out the ""Across the Pages"" brochure that had
been created for the Alameda Community Reads program.
Director Chisaki queried the Board on how they felt about the 6:00 p.m. start time, and they all
agreed that it had worked out fine, SO future meetings will now have that new start time.
ADJOURNMENT
President Krongold asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:04 p.m. Member Mitchell so
moved; Member Hartigan seconded the motion which carried by a 3-0 vote.
Respectfully submitted,
Jane Chisaki
Library Director and
Secretary to the Library Board
This meeting's agenda was posted 72 hours in advance in accordance with the Brown Act.",LibraryBoard/2008-03-12.pdf
PublicArtCommission,2008-03-12,1,"MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC ART COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2008
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
2263 SANTA CLARA AVENUE - 7:00 PM
CONVENE:
7:10 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT:
Vice Chair Lee, Commissioners Rosenberg and Wolfe
ABSENT:
Vice Chair Lee read Chair Huston's resignation letter into the
record
STAFF PRESENT:
Jon Biggs, Planning Services Manager/Secretary to the Public Art
Commission; Tony Ebster, Intermediate Clerk/Recording
Secretary
MINUTES:
Minutes for the meeting of January 9, 2008
Motion (Rosenberg)/Second (Wolfe) to approve minutes as amended
Ayes: 3; Noes: 0. Motion passed unanimously
ORAL COMMUNICATION:
Ms. Debra Owen thanked the Commission for meeting diligently. She asked about the
procedure for being more proactive in supporting developers with their public art requirements.
REGULAR AGENDA:
(4-A) Election of Chair and, if necessary, Vice Chair.
Motion (Rosenberg)/Second (Wolfe) to table the item until vacancies on the Commission have
been filled.
Ayes: 3; Noes:0. Motion passes unanimously
(4-B) Review the draft of changes to Chapter 30-65 of the Public Art Ordinance.
Mr. Biggs noted the agenda report included in the packet and the changes that the report
outlined.
Commissioner Lee asked who the ""public"" would be if a public meeting were to be held to
discuss the issue of the cap.
Commissioner Wolfe suggested prioritizing a charette to discuss the cap issue and feels that it
is high on the priority list.
Draft Minutes of March 12, 2008
1
Regular Public Art Commission Meeting",PublicArtCommission/2008-03-12.pdf
PublicArtCommission,2008-03-12,2,"Mr. Biggs stated that the Commission needed to develop language to address the phasing of
larger projects. He read his suggested language.
The Commission considered the language and indicated that it was along the lines of what they
had in mind.
The Commission also discussed in-lieu fee contributions and the proposed change to the Public
Art Ordinance, which was the elimination of a cap of $150,000, and other methods of calculating
public art contributions.
Motion (Rosenberg)/Second (Wolfe) for staff to research what other cities required developers
to spend on public art and what percentage of in-lieu fees is spent on administration.
Ayes: 3; Noes:0
Motion passed unanimously
(4-C) Discussion on the development of procedures to recommend the acquisition or purchase
of public art to the City Council.
Mr. Biggs began the discussion by reading the staff report.
The Commission noted that many of the points in the report are already in the guidelines for the
acquisition and purchase of public art.
Commissioner Lee pointed out that all of their conversations come back to the need for a web
resource.
The Commission had questions about how to generate and distribute proposals for future art
projects.
The Commission made suggestions including the possible creation of a map of art that is
currently in place and potential locations for future art.
Mr. Biggs asked if the Commission could generate a list of where public art is in Alameda.
A photographic inventory of public art in Alameda was also suggested.
Ms. Owen told the Commission that they have a resource of about 50-100 photographers
available to help with the project. She suggested a challenge or a scavenger hunt to get all the
art documented or having a call to the public for people to help out.
Motion (Rosenberg)/Second (Wolfe) to give the Commission a homework assignment to
document and photograph the art and where it is located in Alameda.
Ayes: 3; Noes: 0. Motion passed unanimously
The Commission then talked about how diversity and variety is necessary with public art.
It was also suggested that the Commission should be open to other funding sources and
opportunities.
Ms. Owen mentioned that there is a photo exhibit coming up and would like the opportunity to
show some of the pieces at City Hall.
Draft Minutes of March 12, 2008
2
Regular Public Art Commission Meeting",PublicArtCommission/2008-03-12.pdf
PublicArtCommission,2008-03-12,3,"Commissioner Rosenberg pointed out that it is not very easy to display works on the walls at
City Hall due to security issues.
It was suggested to look into purchasing cases for art with the in-lieu money for display
purposes.
(4-D) Discussion on enforcement and noncompliance with the approvals granted by the Public
Art Commission.
Mr. Biggs distributed a comprehensive list of projects that had a value of more than $250,000
since 2004.
(4-E) Set date for the next Public Art Commission meeting.
The Commission approved the proposed calendar through July by unanimous vote.
STAFF COMMUNICATIONS:
Staff reported
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS:
None
COMMISSIONER COMMUNICATIONS:
None
ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting adjourned at 8:53 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Jon Biggs, Planning Services Manager/Secretary
Public Art Commission
Draft Minutes of March 12, 2008
3
Regular Public Art Commission Meeting",PublicArtCommission/2008-03-12.pdf