Minutes

LIBRARY CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Draft Minutes

Meeting of September 17, 2008

Room 278, City Hall

San Francisco, California

Chair Sue Cauthen called the meeting to order at 6:02 PM.

Roll Call: Present: Ted Bamberger, Enne Braun, Sue Cauthen, Lucille Cuttler, Linda Guitron, Carlyn Halde, Margaret Lee, Neil Mills, Clarice Moody, Michael Olinger, Jan Seeman, Gladys Soto, Peter Warfield, Dan Weaver.

Absent:  Roger Kallen, Douglas Ryan, Jenny Situ.

Guests: Charles Moody, husband of member Clarice Moody: time keeper and tape recorder monitor; Joanna Schaller, volunteer taking the meeting minutes; Luis Herrera, City Librarian, San Francisco Public Library (SFPL); Jill Bourne, Deputy City Librarian; Brian O’Flynn, panelist discussing North Beach Branch Library; members of the public: Sal Busalacchi, Julie Christensen, Dorothy Danielson, Ellen Egbert, Joan Wood, Zach Stewart.

Minutes: Joanna Schaller agreed to take the minutes for this meeting. Charles Moody, husband of member Clarice Moody, volunteered to monitor the tape recorder and public comment speaking time.

General Public Comment: There was no public comment at this time.

North Beach Library & BLIP Budget

There were presentations and discussion regarding the renovation and rebuilding of the North Beach Library branch, and its potential impact on the library budget and services. Pro and con panels were each invited to speak for 7-10 minutes. City Librarian Luis Herrera and Deputy City Librarian Jill Bourne gave an overview of the potential sites for the project, discussed benefits and challenges of each option, and tried to address the varying concerns surrounding the library’s choice of its preferred site, the “Triangle” at 701 Lombard. The library is on land controlled by the Recreation & Park Department (RPD). Mr. Herrera said that whichever site is chosen, environmental reports will need to be conducted if the existing library is demolished and Mason Street (in front of the library) is closed.

Panelist Brian O’Flynn spoke about (1) the seizure of his property at 701 Lombard by eminent domain for the purpose of creating open space, and (2) the historic nature of the current North Beach Library building. He argued that it should not be torn down, since expanding and remodeling instead would be greener, cheaper and more efficient. Mr. O’Flynn argued that there are practical design reasons for not building the new library on the Triangle, and said the site is opposed by many North Beach residents.

Chair Cauthen discussed the poor design of the proposed new library site on the Triangle and said that the library originally preferred another site and that the closure of Mason Street would require an environmental report. Chair Cauthen argued that obtaining this report, along with one for dismantling the current library (considered a good example of 1950s architecture), would severely delay the process. Chair Cauthen also noted the impact this design site would have on the library budget. The architect said that after a one year delay, the project would cost over $10 million, and a two year delay would cost $11.5 million. Even with no delay, the project will cost an estimated $9.6 million. The library’s budget for the North Beach library is about $8 million.

Public Comment:

Zach Stewart said a historic building like the North Beach Library should not be torn down, and that older buildings can be more environmentally friendly than new buildings.

Sal Busalacchi said closure of Mason Street would greatly impair traffic flow.

Joan Wood said the Triangle space should be used for open space as originally planned, and not the new library facility, and that the closure of Mason Street would cause traffic problems.

Ellen Egbert said the problems facing North Beach Library are similar to the problems the Bernal Heights Branch Library faced, and that community dissension causes years of delay. She urged cooperation between the different groups to avoid high costs and more delay.

Dorothy Danielson said she opposes building the new library on the Triangle, that the Triangle should be used for open space, and that closing Mason Street is a bad idea.

Julie Christensen said much thought and planning has gone into the design of the Triangle site for the proposed new North Beach Library, and that the Triangle site is a good solution to the problem.

LCAC members discussed the matter but did not take any action. There was concern that neighborhood groups and library advocates were not represented in SFPL’s discussions with the Recreation & Park Department. The issues surrounding the proposals for the new library will be on the October agenda for further discussion.

The meeting recessed from 7:40 to 7:46 p.m.

Library Bathrooms Resolution

There was discussion about continuing issues relating to the restrooms at the Main Library and SFPL branches. Dan Weaver moved and Margaret Lee seconded a motion to pass a resolution requesting that the SFPL better maintain the library bathrooms and regularly monitor bathroom maintenance. After discussion and amendment, the following resolution passed:

RESOLUTION: LIBRARY BATHROOM ACCESS & MAINTENANCE

Whereas, the bathrooms at the Chinatown and Main libraries have been closed or otherwise unavailable at certain times, and despite considerable effort by the facilities department, instances of poor maintenance have been observed there and at other branch restrooms;

Therefore be it resolved that:

The Library Citizens Advisory Committee (LCAC) urges San Francisco Public Library to assure that bathrooms at the Chinatown branch and the Main Library are open, clean, and in good working order.

The LCAC further recommends a restroom maintenance schedule that is adhered to for all bathrooms in the system and sufficient funding to initiate a bathroom monitor program at the Main Library and as required in the branches.

Yes: Bamberger, Braun, Cauthen, Cuttler, Guitron, Halde, Lee, Mills, Moody, Olinger, Seeman, Soto, Weaver.

No: Warfield.

Motion carried 13-1.

SFPL Website and Mission Statement for LCAC Webpage: LCAC will have a webpage on the SFPL website, which will include such things as general LCAC information, mission statement, and photos. The design of the LCAC webpage will be discussed in more depth at a later time.

Minutes: Olinger moved and Guitron seconded a motion to approve the draft minutes of the August 20, 2008, meeting. The minutes were approved by a vote of 12-2.

Yes: Bamberger, Braun, Cauthen, Cuttler, Guitron, Halde, Lee, Mills, Moody, Olinger, Soto, Weaver.

No: Seeman, Warfield.

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 15, 2008, at 6:00 PM in Room 278 of City Hall.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:24 PM.