HomeMy WebLinkAboutLIB Buck Family Foundation Grant $5k____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
File No.: 9-3-61
Council Meeting: 1/16/2018
Disposition: Resolution 14450
Agenda Item No: 5.f
Meeting Date: January 16, 2018
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: Library
Prepared by: Sarah Houghton, Library Director
City Manager Approval: ______________
TOPIC: Immigration Support Services at the Library
SUBJECT: Resolution Accepting a grant for $5,000 to train Library staff to provide limited
immigration support services at the library
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the resolution to accept the $5,000 initial grant from the
Buck Family Fund designated to train the San Rafael Public Library (Library) staff to provide limited
immigration support services at the Library.
BACKGROUND:
One of the Library’s key roles in the community is to provide information and referral on any and all
topics as requested by community members. These topics can range from how to apply for a job, to
finding books to help a reluctant third grader improve reading abilities and genealogical research, to
finding information on a newly diagnosed medical condition. In addition to finding accurate and reliable
information for our community, Library staff also routinely makes referrals out to other agencies when
appropriate—such as health providers, legal aid, local non-profits, and specialized research institutions.
Over the last decade, the San Rafael Public Library has seen an increase in community members
seeking information about immigration and naturalization options. While some local community-based
organizations, such as Canal Alliance, may provide legal services in this area, they simply cannot meet
the growing demand. The Buck Family Fund has offered grants to several local agencies, including the
Marin County Free Library and the San Rafael Public Library, to train specific Library staff to gain U.S
Department of Justice (DOJ) Recognition and Accreditation with the intention of providing limited
immigration support services at the Library.
ANALYSIS:
The San Rafael Public Library seeks to gain DOJ Recognition and Accreditation with the intention of
providing limited immigration support services at the library. DOJ-accredited representatives provide
essential immigration law assistance to the public, including educating the public about U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services (USCIS) rules and laws, as well as providing legal services to help
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
immigrants navigate the immigration system. DOJ Recognition allows for providing the following
general areas of assistance:
1) Outreach: Letting the public know what immigration services are available in the community.
2) Education: Letting the public know their rights and protections according to the law (ex:
Know Your Rights workshops)
3) Intake/Screening: One-on-one counseling to help those seeking immigration benefits
determine what benefits are available to them and assist them within a limited scope. This
includes referrals and possibly assistance completing forms.
4) Case Management: Representing clients in court.
Of the four types of services mentioned above, the Library intends to only provide services 1 through 3
and has no intention of representing clients. The Library has initiated collaboration with Canal Alliance
in an effort to determine what services we can provide that would be most helpful to our community,
while helping to alleviate the burden at Canal Alliance where interested parties must presently wait to
get an intake appointment.
In the initial phase of this project, the Library plans to offer the following services:
1) Intake/Screening service: Interested parties could receive a short appointment with one of
two trained staff members at the Pickleweed Library to discuss their situation and consider
if they have a potential immigration benefit, and determine what path should be taken to
pursue that benefit.
2) Workshops: In collaboration with Canal Alliance, the Library could offer periodic workshops
for groups with the intention of assisting interested parties to complete immigration-related
forms. Examples would include Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewal or
naturalization applications.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
Collaboration with Canal Alliance and the Marin County Free Library has begun, as Library staff wishes
to coordinate efforts for the most meaningful impact. Outreach to the community itself has not begun as
the service is not yet being offered.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no net fiscal impact in accepting this project. The $5,000 initial grant will pay to backfill staff for
training.
OPTIONS:
• Option 1: Adopt a resolution authorizing the Library Director to accept a Buck Family
Foundation Grant in the amount of $5,000 to provide training for Library staff to provide
limited immigration information services
• Option 2: Do not adopt the resolution.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt the resolution authorizing the Library Director to accept a Buck Family Foundation Grant in the
amount of $5,000 to provide training for library staff to provide limited immigration information services.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Resolution authorizing the Library Director to accept a Buck Family Foundation Grant in the
amount of $5,000 to provide training for library staff to provide limited immigration
information services
RESOLUTION NO. 14450
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
AUTHORIZING THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR TO ACCEPT A BUCK
FAMILY FOUNDATION GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000
WHEREAS, one of the Library’s key roles in the community is to provide information and
referral on any and all topics as requested by community members; and
WHEREAS, over the last decade, the San Rafael Public Library has seen an increase in
community members seeking information about immigration and naturalization options; and
WHEREAS, The San Rafael Public Library seeks to gain Department of Justice
Recognition and Accreditation with the intention of providing limited immigration support services
at the library;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of San Rafael
hereby authorizes the Library Director to accept a Buck Family Foundation Grant in the amount of
$5,000 to provide training for library staff to provide limited immigration information services.
I, LINDSAY LARA, Interim City Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing
Resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council
of said City held on Tuesday, the 16th day of January 2018, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Bushey, Colin Gamblin, McCullough & Mayor Phillips
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
______________________________
LINDSAY LARA, Interim City Clerk
STAFF REPORT APPROVAL
ROUTING SLIP
Staff Report Author: Sarah Houghton Date of Meeting: 01/16/2018
Department: Library
Topic: Immigration Support Services at the Library
Subject: Accepting a grant for $5,000 to train Library staff to provide limited immigration support services at
the library
Type: (check all that apply) ☒ Consent Calendar ☐ Public Hearing
☐ Discussion Item ☐ Resolution ☐ Ordinance
☐ Professional Services Agreement ☐ Informational Report
*If PSA, City Attorney approval is required prior to start of staff report approval process
Was agenda item publicly noticed? ☐ Yes ☐No Date noticed: ☐Mailed ☐Site posted ☐Marin IJ
Due Date Responsibility Description Completed
Date Initial / Comment
DEPARTMENT REVIEW
FRIDAY
noon
Director Director approves staff
report is ready for ACM,
City Attorney & Finance
review.
12/27/2017
☒
SH
CONTENT REVIEW
TUESDAY
morning
Assistant City Manager
City Attorney
Finance
ACM, City Attorney &
Finance will review items,
make edits using track
changes and ask questions
using comments. Items will
be returned to the author
by end of day Wednesday.
1/4/2018
1/4/2018
1/2/2018
☒
DS
☒
LG
☒
MM
DEPARTMENT REVISIONS
FRIDAY
noon
Author Author revises the report
based on comments
receives and produces a
final version (all track
changes and comments
removed) by Friday at
noon.
1/5/2018
☒
SH
ACM, CITY ATTORNEY, FINANCE FINAL APPROVAL
MONDAY
morning
Assistant City Manager
City Attorney
ACM, City Attorney &
Finance will check to see
their comments were
adequately addressed and
sign-off for the City
Click here to
enter a date.
1/5/2018
☐
☒
Finance
Manager to conduct the
final review.
Click here to
enter a date.
LG
☐
TUES
noon
City Manager Final review and approval Click here to
enter a date.
☐