HomeMy WebLinkAboutLib Sp. Library Parcel Tax; Special ElectionCrryOF Agenda Item No: 5. d
Meeting Date: September 8, 2015
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: LIBRARY
Prepared by: SARAH HOUGHTON, LIBRARY
DIRECTOR
City Manager Approval:_
TOPIC: INFORMATION ABOUT A MEASURE TO RENEW THE SPECIAL LIBRARY
SERVICES PARCEL TAX AT THE JUNE 7, 2016 ELECTION
SUBJECT: PLANNING FOR A SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON JUNE 7, 2016
TO SUBMIT TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL A
MEASURE TO RENEW THE SPECIAL LIBRARY SERVICES PARCEL TAX
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council accept this report regarding plans to place the Special Library
Services Parcel Tax renewal on the ballot for June 7, 2016.
BACKGROUND:
On June 8, 2010, San Rafael voters passed Measure C, a Special Library Services Parcel Tax to
provide for the Downtown and Pickleweed Libraries' staffing, hours of operation, services, equipment,
facilities, materials, and programs, and to help with the City's long-term goal of setting aside funds for
necessary facility improvements to the San Rafael Public Library. This tax is set to expire in 2017. The
San Rafael Public Library has made the determination that without a renewal of the Special Library
Services Parcel Tax, there will be an immediate and inevitable reduction in services, in the form of a
loss of open hours to the public, amount of materials available in the libraries and through the digital
branch, facility maintenance, and outreach to schools. Since the passage of the Special Library
Services Parcel Tax in 2010, the Library has been in higher demand than ever for its services, with
remarkable increases in circulation of physical materials, computer use, eBook and digital material use,
attendance at storytimes and programs, and research questions.
For the five years of the tax thus far, the Library has been able to use the parcel tax funding for the
following purposes:
• Expanding hours at the Downtown Library by 7 hours per week and at the Pickleweed Library
by 5 hours per week
• Adding hundreds of new classes, storytimes, workshops, and other events for pre-schoolers,
school age children, teens, adults, and seniors
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
File No.: q -- 4 5' -Ll
Council Meeting: 9 /91)or '
Disposition: t p�L� f 2 , .
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
• Increasing outreach, programs, and coordination with San Rafael schools, students, and
teachers
• Purchasing $390,000 in additional books, magazines, and newspapers for use by the San
Rafael community
• Licensing $152,000 in additional eBooks and other digital resources for use by the San Rafael
community from the comfort of their homes, workplaces, or schools
• Performing $74,000 in additional facility maintenance and improvements
• Saving $541,195 for the purpose of building a new library for San Rafael
ANALYSIS:
In early 2016, Staff will return to City Council with a Resolution placing a measure on the June 7, 2016
election ballot to renew the Special Library Services Parcel Tax. At this time, the Library seeks only to
inform the community about the intention to seek renewal of the parcel tax and to allow for a campaign
committee to form and begin work on this issue.
If placed on the ballot and passed by two-thirds of the electors voting on the tax measure, the measure
would adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 3.36 of the San Rafael Municipal Code to extend the
existing Special Library Services Parcel Tax. The amended ordinance would impose a $59 per parcel
tax (increased from the current $49) for a period of nine (9) years, and the tax rate would increase
annually commensurate with the annual percentage increase to the San Francisco -Oakland -San Jose
Price Index for All Urban Consumers ("CPI"), not to exceed 3% annually. On parcels with multiple
residences, the tax adds $10 per living unit up to a maximum tax of $1,000 per parcel. The tax would
be collected by the County Assessor and Tax Collector in conjunction with County property taxes.
As with the parcel tax passed in 2010, the ordinance would provide for an exemption for single family
residential parcels owned and occupied by senior citizens, upon application to the City, and certain
other tax-exempt parcels would also be exempt from the special parcel tax; however, no additional
exemptions are proposed. Under the proposed ordinance, proceeds of the special parcel tax would be
placed in a separate fund to be used only locally and for the prescribed library services. A citizens'
oversight committee, appointed by the City Council, would continue to review the collection and use of
the funds with an annual report to City Council. The tax would commence to be levied in FY 2017-2018.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
The Library has conducted extensive community outreach from 2012 to the present in the form of
surveys, community meetings, visioning sessions, and workshops to determine what the community of
San Rafael wants to see in its library services. In addition, the Library Board of Trustees meets monthly
to review library services, expenditures of both General Fund and Parcel Tax monies, and to advise on
changes or expansions to library services. Finally, the Special Library Parcel Tax committee has met
and reported to City Council annually in review of the Library's use of the Special Library Parcel Tax
monies.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3
OPTIONS:
The City Council has the following options to consider on this matter:
1. Accept the staff report
2. Ask for additional staff work and for staff to return to the City Council
3. Do not accept the staff report
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Accept the staff report concerning planning for a special municipal election to be held on June 7, 2016
for a renewal of the measure to levy the Special Library Services Parcel Tax to be submitted to the
qualified voters of the City of San Rafael at that election.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
ROUTING SLIP / APPROVAL FORM
INSTRUCTIONS: Use this cover sheet with each submittal of a staff report before approval
by the City Council. Save staff report (including this cover sheet) along
with all related attachments in the Team Drive (T:) 4 CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEMS 4 AGENDA ITEM APPROVAL PROCESS 4 [DEPT -
AGENDA TOPIC]
Agenda Item # EA
Date of Meeting: 9/8/2015
From: Sarah Houghton
Department: Library
Date: 8/26/2015
Topic: INFORMATION ABOUT A MEASURE TO RENEW THE SPECIAL LIBRARY
SERVICES PARCEL TAX AT THE JUNE 7, 2016 ELECTION
Subject: PLANNING FOR A SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON JUNE 7,
2016 FOR A RENEWAL OF THE MEASURE TO LEVY THE SPECIAL LIBRARY SERVICES
PARCEL TAX TO THE QUALIFIED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL AT THAT
ELECTION
Type: ® Resolution ® Ordinance
❑ Professional Services Agreement ❑ Other:
APPROVALS
® Finance Director
Remarks: approved 8/31 - MM
® City Attorney
Remarks: LG -approved 8/31/15 with recommended revisions
❑ Author, review and accept City Attorney / Finance changes
Remarks:
City Manager
Remarks:
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
File No.:
Council Meeting:
Disposition: