| From: Elizabeth Lewis Date: July 20, 2012 8:52:02 AM PDT To: Athertonians@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Athertonians] Atherton Library Summary |
Dear Atherton Neighbor,
There has been a lot of controversy, questions and turmoil relating to the proposed new Atherton Library. Many of you are concerned about the process, the funding, the impacts of the project on the park, on traffic and other things.
I have spent a lot of time looking into these issues, talking to residents and attempting to bring about a positive result for our community. At long last, I am happy to report: the council finally heard resident demands to allow residents to vote on location of the library on the November ballot. Getting this item on the agenda has not come about easily but I believe it is the right result.
Building a new library is far too important for a committee or even the Council to decide alone—especially with council being closely divided on the issue.
I supported the right of residents to participate in deciding where the library should be located. And, now that residents have successfully stood up for their right to vote on the location of the project, I will support the decision that the Atherton voters make at the ballot box.
In order to share what I have learned in this process, I have written a brief summary of the Atherton Library project as I understand it and answered frequently asked questions on an attached Q&A. I hope this is helpful to you.
There is a very important council meeting next Wednesday, July 25th, starting at the special time of 4:00 pm. I hope you will consider attending as both the final Library EIR and the ballot language for the Library vote will be decided at this meeting.
Regards to All,
Elizabeth Lewis
Vice Mayor
Town of Atherton
650-533-8830 cell
THE ATHERTON LIBRARY, ITS FUNDING & MANAGEMENT:
History and Overview of the Issues
by Elizabeth Lewis, Vice-Mayor, Atherton City Council
When Proposition 13 passed in 1978, it was decided that 3.2% of every $100.00 of Atherton’s property tax revenue would go to support Atherton’s library. Thirty-five years ago that amount seemed reasonable -- but now it is excessive.
Over the years Atherton's property values and property taxes have increased. The 2012 Property Tax allocation for the library is projected to be $824,000. Because our library’s operational costs are relatively minimal, it is estimated that we will have a net surplus of $750,000. This net surplus is called "Donor City Funds." Atherton’s Donor City Funds have grown to a staggering amount totaling approximately $6,000,000.
In 1999, Atherton joined the San Mateo County Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to enhance library operations. Since 2002, all of Atherton’s Donor City Funds had been held by the Town. However, in May of 2012, the Library JPA board voted to keep all of Atherton’s future Donor City Funds, without getting Atherton City Council approval, raising some questions about why this change occurred.
In the Fall of 2009, the Library JPA and the Atherton Friends of the Library formed a committee called the Library Needs Assessment Task Force to look at Atherton’s library needs. They conducted a brief survey, with only 69 Atherton residents responding, most of whom indicated that they loved Atherton’s small, quaint and neighborly library. In February 2010, the JPA presented to the Atherton Council a 105-page Needs Assessment report, recommending that Atherton nearly triple the size of its existing library.
Then in June 2010, the Library Needs Assessment Task Force recommended that the Atherton Council: 1) approve a new 15,000 square foot library for the town of Atherton; 2) create a steering committee to design the library with input and engagement from residents; and 3) build the new library in Holbrook-Palmer Park. The council approved the recommendation—except for the approval to site the library in the park because the council felt strongly that such a decision had to be made by the residents. The council instructed the steering committee to engage the community in deciding the location of the library, rather than have that decision made by the council.
By August 2010, the Atherton Library Building Steering Committee (ALBSC) was formed and began meeting. Instead of reaching out to the community for input about library location and size, as instructed by the Council, they met for the next ten months, before holding their first community workshop in the summer of 2011. Frustration and controversy began around these facilitated workshops, which consisted of an hour and a half of presentation to the community by teams of ALBSC consultants and only 30 minutes for residents to “workshop” ideas. Residents became upset when facilitators limited discussion about where the new library should be built.
In summer of 2011, the ALBSC went to, but did not get approval from, the Atherton Park and Rec Commission to build the library in Holbrook-Palmer Park. The Commissioners felt that a town-wide survey should be done first, an idea that many residents applauded. When brought to the Council, the majority of McKeithen, Widmer and Dobbie dismissed the Park and Rec's recommendation and a resident petition requesting a master plan; voting instead to approve the ALBSC’s motion designating Holbrook-Palmer Park as the "preferred" location for the new library. Council Member Carlson's and my motion to conduct a town-wide survey before designating the park as the preferred location, was defeated. Because of this controversy a full EIR review was required to meet CEQA's environmental requirements costing an additional $86,000.
This controversial split vote has resulted in a long and divisive period for the Town. Residents have tried many ways, including earlier petition efforts, to have the council majority address their concerns. Council Member Carlson and I continued to try to get residents' requests for a survey, a discussion of a Master Plan, or a town-wide vote on the agenda, but were repeatedly overruled.
Recently, with a large group of residents circulating a written petition calling for an official ballot vote, the council majority finally agreed to place the question of giving residents the right to vote on its July agenda. In addition, Councilmembers Widmer and McKeithen have recommended the addition of two other issues to the ballot.
The good news is that over 250 petitions were signed by residents demanding their right to vote on the location of the library, and while it took a long time, the council majority finally listened. I urge residents to attend the July 25th council meeting at 4:00 pm where Council will address both finalizing the EIR and the language that will be used on the ballot. If that is approved, residents will have a final say on the matter in the ballot box this coming November. I am happy about this.
There will be continuing opportunities to participate in defining Atherton’s future. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about the issues and expressing your opinions and preferences. For answers to more questions, please see the additional Q&A below.
Questions and Answers from Elizabeth Lewis, Vice Mayor
Q: WHAT CAN THE DONOR CITY MONEY BE USED FOR?
A: We are bound by the JPA Agreement which says:
”Excess funds shall be spent on library related activities within that city (“ Donor City”) including, but not limited to: facility maintenance, facility remodeling or expansion, increased service hours, or increased book purchases, as mutually agreed by the Library JPA and the city council of the affected Donor City.”
Our money can only be used for “library related activities” within our Town. There are many ways that this could be defined. The list in the agreement is not exhaustive and comes with “but not limited to” and “as mutually agreed to” catch-all phrases.
Here is a link to the JPA Agreement:
http://www.smcl.org/sites/www.smcl.org/files/file/Organization/JPA/JPAAgreement.pdf
Q. DO WE HAVE TO BUILD A LARGE NEW LIBRARY LIKE THE COUNTY WANTS US TO? A: No. We are not forced to. We can decide the size of library we want just like Portola Valley did.
Q. CAN WE USE SOME OF THE MONEY TO HELP FUND LIBRARY SERVICES IN SOME OF OUR TOWN SCHOOLS?
A. Yes, with mutual agreement between Council and the Library JPA.
Q: WHY NOT RE-MODEL THE EXISTING LIBRARY WITH NEW SOUND-PROOF WINDOWS, ENHANCE THE READING GARDEN AND KEEP OUR SMALL, COZY LIBRARY?
A: If that is what Atherton residents want, they can do that. We definitely should use some of our millions to fix the seismic issues with the building the library has been occupying for over fifty years, which pose some risks right now to library users.
Q: CAN WE WITHDRAW FROM THE JPA?
A: Yes. Clause E. Terms of Agreement; Termination and Withdrawal, section 1 of the JPA Agreement states:
“…An individual Party may withdraw from this agreement upon the giving of written notice by July 1st of its intent to withdraw from the Library JPA effective July 1st of the following fiscal year….”
Q: WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH A WITHDRAWAL?
A. It is not entirely clear but the interim Town Manager will research this issue.
Q: DID RESIDENTS FORCE COUNCIL TO ADDRESS THE RIGHT TO VOTE?
A : A large group of residents were circulating a Petition to require that the Council hold a Special Meeting to discuss a vote on library location and other related issues. Hundreds of petitions were received and the council had to address its preparation for the November ballot, so they decided to add that issue as an agenda item for the July meeting.
Q: DOES THIS MEAN THAT RESIDENTS WILL DEFINITELY HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT THE LIBRARY IN THE PARK?
A: Discussion and vote on this matter is on the July 25 Special Council agenda. The City Attorney has written objective language for the ballot measure without Council input. The council still has to vote to approve this, however.
Q: IS THERE A CHANCE THAT THE COUNCIL WON’T APPROVE THE VOTE?
A: There is a chance but approval appears likely. However, it is not clear how many additional ballot items the council will vote to include on November ballot.
Q: WHAT OTHER MATTERS ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT?
A: The June 29 agenda item stated: “other potential park and town center improvements.”
Mayor Widmer stated that he was thinking about the proposed Little League field as the other potential park improvements. The Little League project is still being reviewed by the Town’s Planning Commission, and I believe should not be included on the November ballot. The other matter involves a vote on the Town Center proposed project. I do not think this item should be on the ballot at this time because it is in the very preliminary stages. There is unanimous agreement among all 5 Council members that we need new facilities. Town Staff is also in agreement that new Administration, Building, Public Works, and Police facilities are critically needed. Our buildings are literally falling down around us. The only controversy at this time is regarding the location of the library.
Q: WILL A CLEAN VOTE ON THE LIBRARY PUT THE MESSY CONTROVERSY BEHIND US?
A: I am very hopeful. I believe the only way to get this behind us and heal the town from this divisiveness is to have a full, official, objective vote of the people. In the Democratic process you accept your losses and embrace the winner. I will support whatever the majority of the town of Atherton wants for the library.
