HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 3.C 10/21/2013 w``AL Agenda/Ite ni #3 . 0
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DATE`. October21, 2013
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: John C. Brown, City Manager
SUBJECT: Letter Commenting on the Draft Amended Library Joint Powers Agreement
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council provide any additional comments that may be appropriate
in the attached letter from the City Manager, commenting on the Sonoma County Library Draft
Amended Joint Powers Agreement.
BACKGROUND:
At your October 7, 2013 meeting, a representative of the Sonoma County Administrator's Office
who has been providing staff support-to the effort to amend the Sonoma County Library Joint
Powers Agreement(JPA) provided an update on the progress of the:project, and solicited the
Council's comments on the draft.document. He also shared with the Council comments of those
jurisdictions.who had previously received:and comments on.his'Update, and indicated that the
County would like the comments of all member jurisdictions returned before November 1, 2013
for the Library JPA Review.Advisory Committee's further consideration.
DISCUSSION:
The Council discussed,,in the-main, three`points of concern with the Draft Amended JPA:,`equity"
associated with the application of funds obtained through local fund raising efforts;taxation; and
JPA governance structure. The Council shared predominantly similar points,of view on all these
subjects, althoughtdiffered in'degree in strength of conviction, asit might relate to;standing,in the
way of a successful completion of,the Amendment project. The item was scheduled as a
Presentation, and,therefore did not provide the opportunity for deliberation. Accordingly staff
proposed to bring the item back in the form of a draft letter to the County.
Attached for your review is a draft letter which is intended to be directed to the County over the
City Manager's signature.
Agenda Review:
City Attorney Finance Director City Manage
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
None.
ATTACHMENTS:
I. Draft Letter from the City Manager, dated October 22, 2013.
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ATTACHMENT 1
aw4;t - CITY OF PETALUMA
nV � POST OFBICE,Box 61
185g:- PETALUMA,CA 94953-0061
David Glass
,tifajvr October 22, 2013
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Chris Aihertion
Teresa Barrett
Mike a Healy ly
Mike Healy Mr. Don Schwartz�.Adm Analyst Anal st-III
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Gabe Kearney` Sonoma County Administrator's Office
Kathy Miller �.
Councimembers 575 Administration Drive; Suite 104A
7t 'ts
Santa Rosa, CA!95403 a ° ,
94 S".FFAA���121j
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Dear Mr. Schwartz:
Thank you again for your presentation to the PetalumaacityCouncil on/October 7,
2013, regarding the Sonoma unty LibraryDraft''A e
Co ded Joint Powers.
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Agreement.
As you are.aware,from the Council's conversation during and-following your
city Managers Office presentation, Council members had8"concems=is'twotareas ofthe Draft Amended
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Pe r11 En CA 9x952 Agreement, and with comments provided4by?rnembefsccOthe governing bodies of
other'member-Jurisdictions+regarding governance structure. This letter is to
Phone(707)778-4345 41 i
Fax(707)778-4419 provide the Petaluma City}�Council's comments regarding their concerns to the
E mail: tt'"":°' 141. a^!"5 .ntL "• ,ri? ‘1781h,
cOmgr(a)cepemrump.ca.as Review�Advvisory Committee prioutokyour requested November 1, 2013 deadline.
With respect to,language that ould allow a community to utilize locally raised
Economic Development fundsYo•staff additionallhbrary hours in that community only the City Council
Phone(7073'778.4549 •�' 1
Far(707)7784586 feels, as do the members°of the Petaluma.Library Advisory Board,-that this
presents-an equity issue. Some communities will have particularly effective,
Housing Division fundraising functions or populations of sufficient size to�fund thesetadditional
Phone"(707)778=4555 °
Fax(707)778 4386 hours,. while others�willnot. Over time,this-could result in inequity of access,to,
services; those communities with the least means will have less'access to services
Haman Resources Division while those with more will have more. Related to this concern is the instability
Phone(707) 778-4534 - - -
Far(707)778-4539 any additional hours, and in particular staffing that may be added through
fundraising efforts can create. This instability Will no doubt result in
Information'Techna/ogv7Division complications in labor relations, and certainly affect the job security of any
Phone(707)778-4417
Fay(707)776-3623 positions added from fund-raising sources. One of the main'purposesiofthe,JPA
into provide consistent and equal services to member libraries throughout the
Risk Management Division.
Phone(707)776-3695
Fax(707).776-3697
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County. Fundraising-efforts should be limited to.improvements'to capital
facilities,.or directed to materials equipment;and furnishings:
While Council members may differ by degree with the strength of conviction on
this issue, it is accurate to say there;is unanimity on the part of the Council with
respect to this position. The Council also has concerns with provisions of the
Draft that appear to provide the JPA with taxing authority that it currently does
not, and should not have. Any effort to increase the Library System's tax base
• should be based:on'actions of each member jurisdiction,not the JPA Board; the
results of those votes should be unanimous, and of gouge, must then be approved
by the voters. ieS
With respect:to the comments provided by other elected b dies regarding
governance structure, in the first'instancetha the County and the City of Santa
tar Rosa-should have more than one vote each,
n the Petaluma City Council
:
respectfully disagrees. Each member jurisdiction shouldihave one vote.„In the
second instance, that representatives on the JPAHlboaradrghould be electedi'officials,
the City Council also disagrees.The language of+theeJJPA is currently silent on
this point; it should be left to each‘of thetmembers to decide who will best
represent their interests. ;
On the whole, as,you heard the City Counciliis enthusiastic about the•progress
ser that has been made thus farlon the Draft rt, and is looking forward to a
successful conclusion�to this project.
/°Thank you for-thelopportunity to comment. If you have.any questions regarding
thris letter, please do not he itateto contact'me at (707) 778-4345.
Smcerel'yI
1/4 At
John,C,,Brown
City Manager