September 21, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

Council rejects library gift

by Suman Mudamula and Bill D'Agostino

One would think a $100,000 gift to the libraries would be graciously accepted. But in Palo Alto, where the future of the libraries has become an emotionally charged issue, a recent gift from the Friends of the Palo Alto Library brought more consternation than congeniality.

The City Council voted 5-4 Monday night to deny a $100,000 donation from the aggressive organization, which hoped the city would use the funds to purchase a modular building to maintain public space in the city's Downtown Library, while the Children's Library temporarily closes for renovation next year.

The city is planning to move some technical staff to the downtown branch during the construction, allowing some of the Children's Library programs and collection to move to the larger, more popular Main Library.

But the city's library director, who had been at odds with the Friends over a plan to shrink the number of libraries in town, thinks the donation "makes no financial sense."

In a memo presented to the council, Library Director Paula Simpson said the donation is "a costly endeavor that doesn't solve the longstanding problem of inadequate library facilities."

The total cost of purchasing and operating a modular building would exceed $400,000, Simpson wrote.

The library director also noted that the city's librarians are already overworked. To have staff oversee a new building during the Children's Library construction "eliminates the possibility of relief, albeit temporary, for a staff that is stretched unacceptably thin."

Elaine Meyer, president of the University South Neighborhood Association, expressed disappointment at the council's action. "Perhaps citizens' views come after that of the staff and the council," she said. Meyer worried the city would eventually close the Downtown Library because fewer people would use it.

In the memo, Simpson also warned "about the growing demands of the Downtown Branch interest group" and noted "the Main Library serves almost four times the number of people who use the Downtown Branch."

Underlying the night's discussion was last year's controversial recommendation from Simpson and City Manager Frank Benest to close the Downtown and College Terrace branches to improve service at the larger, more popular branches. The Friends of the Palo Alto Library had lobbied against that plan, which the council ultimately rejected.

The Library Advisory Commission is surveying residents this fall to gather input about the future of the city's library service, and plans to return to the council in March with new recommendations.

The city manager's office rejected the Friends' gift earlier this year but the organization appealed that decision to the council.

Technically, the council voted against placing the issue on a future meeting's agenda. Councilwomen LaDoris Cordell, Hillary Freeman, and Yoriko Kishimoto urged their colleagues to reconsider.

"We should remove the emotional baggage and discuss the issue rationally," Kishimoto said. Freeman underlined the need for the council to take a leadership role and build relationships between differing library organizations.

Councilman Jack Morton, who said he was "conflicted" and "torn," also voted in favor of reconsideration. Both Kishimoto and Morton are running for re-election this fall.

Also at Monday night's meeting, the council unanimously supported the city staff's plan to allow property owners to place a lien on their properties as an option for paying their portion of the cost to underground utility lines in their neighborhood.

Communications companies and the city Utilities Department pay for much of the program. But property owners have to pay to connect the utility lines to their individual properties, a cost that reportedly exceeds $10,000 for some homeowners and has been spiraling in recent years.

The new city program is designed to offer relief to homeowners who can't immediately pay for the work.

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