A long, bookish trip A long, bookish trip (October 30, 2002)

Measure D vote culminates years of discussion, lobbying

by Bill D'Agostino

What a long, bookish trip it's been for libraries and Palo Alto.

The Nov. 5 vote on Measure D is the culmination of what seems like an endless process, consisting of more than seven years of public debate about the future of Palo Alto's libraries.

The tale began quietly in 1994 when the city approved funding to study the libraries and come up with a master plan for their future. As part of that process, the city held a series of focus groups in 1996 where residents came forward with their suggestions. They wanted to make the libraries a community gathering place.

After collecting more data, then-City Manager June Fleming -- herself a former library director -- released a controversial library master plan in March of 1998 recommending the closure of three of the city's six library branches: Terman, College Terrace and Downtown. She felt the six branch system spread resources and staff too thinly.

But the plan was reviled especially by neighbors around the three libraries slated for closure.

In response to the outcry, the City Council formed a library advisory commission in October of 1998 to oversee library issues. It was a victory for hundreds of library advocates who had, for years, put pressure on the city to form a committee similar to ones present in most other California cities. For the seven commission spots, 41 people applied.

After its formation, the commission spent the next year studying the six libraries. In April of 2000, they released a new library master plan that advised keeping all six libraries open.

The plan suggested repairing and expanding two of the libraries, Main and Mitchell Park, making them the city's two main libraries. Although Terman, College Terrace and Downtown Libraries would remain open, they would be smaller, more neighborhood oriented, according to their plan.

The plan became the guiding document for the next two years of discussion.

In 2001, a community group called Libraries Now! formed to push for more library funding, and to "fast-track" library discussion.

Both the new group and the city began surveying residents to see how much money the community was willing to ante up for its libraries.

The Libraries Now! poll suggested that the community would be willing to vote in favor of a $60 million bond for the libraries. But the city-conducted survey showed that neither a $78 million nor a $96 million library bond would pass in the November election, forcing library advocates to rethink their plans.

Eventually -- after more than 40 public meetings, community and council meetings and a variety of library bond proposals ranging from over $100 million on down -- the council voted on July 15, 2002 to place a slimmed-down Measure D ($49.1 million in bonds) on the Nov. 5 ballot.

"D" would fund improvements and expansion for Children's Library, Mitchell Library and Mitchell Community Center. Measure D does not, however, include any renovations for the Art Center or Main Library, despite their inclusion in earlier talks.

The bond measure, however, immediately upsetted some South Palo Alto residents because two tennis courts would be removed from Mitchell Park to make room for the new library and community center. So on Sept. 23, the council tweaked Measure D to keep the tennis courts, in an effort to get as many votes possible.

On Nov. 5, it's do or die time for libraries. If Measure D passes -- and it needs two-thirds of voters to do so -- construction for the Children's Library could begin during the summer of 2004, reopening possibly in early 2005. The Mitchell Park Library and Community Center would close for construction as soon as the Children's Library reopens and would likely take more than a year to construct.

Also if Measure D passes, it would open up some funding for the Art Center from other funds currently earmarked for libraries.

Later this year, on Dec. 2, the city plans to apply for $19 million in state money. If they get the grant, less money will be taken from Palo Alto residents to pay for the Mitchell Park buildings' expansions and improvements.

Even if "D" passes and the state awards the city the grant, it will not be the end of the road entirely for libraries. Library advocates are still hoping to press for more money to expand Main Library in the future.

E-mail Bill D'Agostino at bdagostino@paweekly.com