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Approve the appointments of Carole Nail, Ginger Emerson, Dotty Schenk, Kurt Overholt, Gloria Felder, Bruce DuClair and Kathryn Clark Silveira to the Measure L Library Sales Tax Measure Independent Oversight Committee for a four year term to expire on June 30, 2021
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Solano County Library Director of Library Services, Benicia City Library Director and Dixon Public Library Director recommend that the Board of Supervisors appoint the following individuals, representing the cities noted, to the Measure L Library Sales Tax Measure Independent Oversight Committee (Oversight Committee) for a four year term to expire on June 30, 2021:
Benicia: Carole Nail
Dixon: Ginger Emerson
Fairfield: Dotty Schenk
Rio Vista: Kurt Overholt
Suisun City: Gloria Felder
Vacaville: Bruce DuClair
Vallejo: Kathryn Clark Silveira
SUMMARY:
As stipulated in Article XIV, Section 11-314 of Solano County Code, the Board of Supervisors shall appoint a seven member citizen’s’ oversight committee with one member appointed from each of the seven cities within the county’s public library systems. The oversight committee shall review and report on the public libraries’ administration of and compliance with the expenditure plan and the terms of this measure (Measure L), monitor and audit the use of the funds and prepare an annual report on the expenditures for the Board of Supervisors and the community. Measure L was passed by voters on June 5, 2012, and extended a one-eighth-of-a-cent sales tax to benefit public libraries through 2030. The Directors of the three library jurisdictions within Solano County recommend the above named citizens be appointed to the Oversight Committee.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no additional impact to the General Fund. Any incurred costs for the Independent Oversight Committee shall be minimal and will be absorbed through existing appropriations of the three library jurisdictions.
DISCUSSION:
A ballot measure to extend the one-eighth cent sales tax to benefit libraries within Solano County, listed on the ballot as Measure L, passed overwhelmingly on June 5, 2012. The approval of Measure L allowed the pre-existing sales tax of one-eighth-of-a-cent to continue to support the operations of the public libraries throughout the county. Measure L extended the sales tax for 16 more years, commencing October 1, 2014. Measure L included the establishment of an independent citizen’s oversight committee to ensure that the funds are only spent on library operations, programs and acquisitions in the county public library systems. The Oversight Committee is to monitor and audit the use of funds and prepare an annual report on the expenditures for the Board of Supervisors and the community. The Board of Supervisors is to appoint seven member citizens, representing each of the cities within the county’s public library systems. There are four library jurisdictions within Solano County and include the County Library, which provides library services in five of the seven cities within the county including the Vacaville Library District, the Benicia Public Library and the Dixon Public Library.
The Solano County Library Advisory Council is a ten-member board whose purpose is to act in an advisory capacity to the Director of County Library Services and to the Board of Supervisors in all matters pertaining to County library services. Five members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors, representing each supervisorial district, and five members are appointed by various governing bodies to represent the cities served by the County Library. The cities served by the County Library system include the cities of Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun, Vacaville and Vallejo. The County Library Advisory Council has knowledge of library operations and meets bi-monthly, adhering to Brown Act and noticing requirements, and represents the five cities served by the County library system. The County Library Director in conjunction with the County Library Advisory Council recommends that five members be appointed from the County Library Advisory Council to serve on the Measure L Oversight Committee.
The Benicia Library Board of Trustees also serves as an advisory board on matters pertaining to library services at the Benicia Public Library. This Board consists of five members appointed by the Mayor and City Council for Benicia. The Benicia Public Library Director is recommending an appointment to the Oversight Committee that currently serves on the Benicia Library Board of Trustees, which concurs with the recommendation. The Director of the Dixon Public Library also provided a recommendation for appointment.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to approve the recommendation; however, this is not recommended because the Oversight Committee is stipulated in the text of the code and each of the appointments is recommended by the respective library directors and the County Library Advisory Council.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Solano County Library Advisory Council concurs with the appointments recommended by the County Library Director. The Board of Trustees for the Benicia Public Library concurs with their Library Director’s recommendation. The proposed representative for the City of Dixon was recommended by the Dixon Public Library Director.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION