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Home My WebLink AboutLR California State Library Grant Funding for Improvments to the Downtown and Pickleweed Libraries____________________________________________________________________________________ FOR CITY CLERK ONLY Council Meeting: December 19, 2022 Disposition: Resolutions 15175 x 15176 Agenda Item No: 4.f Meeting Date: December 19, 2022 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: Library & Recreation Prepared by: Catherine Quffa, Library & Recreation Director City Manager Approval: ______________ TOPIC: CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY GRANT FUNDING FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DOWNTOWN AND PICKLEWEED LIBRARIES SUBJECT: RESOLUTIONS AUTHORIZING GRANT ACCEPTANCE AND EXECUTION OF THE GRANT FUNDS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA BUDGET ACT OF 2021 (SB 129) FOR DOWNTOWN CARNEGIE LIBRARY RENOVATION, EXPANSION AND ADA UPGRADES AND PICKLEWEED LIBRARY RENOVATION AND EXPANSION RECOMMENDATION: Adopt resolutions authorizing the grant acceptance and execution of the grant funds from the State of California Budget Act of 2021 (SB 129) for: i)Downtown Carnegie Library Renovation, Expansion and ADA Upgrades. ii)Pickleweed Library Renovation and Expansion. BACKGROUND: The Budget Act of 2021 (SB 129) allocated $439 million in one-time funds to the California State Library to address life safety and critical maintenance needs of public library facilities throughout California. The Building Forward: Library Infrastructure Grant Program is a competitive grant program to allocate the SB 129 funds. In the Spring of 2022, the State launched the first round of Building Forward grant funding. The program prioritized the following projects: 1) Projects addressing library facility life safety and other critical maintenance needs; and 2) Projects for library facilities serving high poverty areas of the state. Based on the local agency’s library operating income per capita level, most agencies, including San Rafael, are required to provide a dollar-for-dollar match to the grant funds. All Building Forward projects are required to be completed by March 30, 2026. The City of San Rafael submitted two applications, one for life safety and infrastructure improvements at the Downtown Carnegie Library, and one to expand the programming and administrative space of the Pickleweed Library, within the current footprint of the building. Both applications were successful, and the City has been selected by the California State Library to receive two $1,000,000 grants, one for each location. SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 ANALYSIS: The Downtown Carnegie Library was originally built in 1909, with additions made to the building in 1960 and 1976. As an older facility, the Downtown Library has unique needs and challenges due to the aging infrastructure. The funding for the Downtown Carnegie Library project (titled the Carnegie Library Renovation, Expansion and ADA Upgrades project in the Building Forward application and the Resolution included as Attachment 1) will address a number of the most critical life safety and infrastructure needs in the building. Those include replacing the roof and HVAC system, installing a fire suppression system, upgrading plumbing and electrical systems to meet code, improving ADA accessibility, and addressing general safety concerns, including asbestos abatement and the removal of non-safety glass walls. The Pickleweed Library is a much loved and well-used branch located within the Albert J. Boro Community Center, in the Canal neighborhood. At 2,000 square feet, it is the smallest of the City’s three library locations. Effectively maximizing the usable space within the library is critical. Currently, there are significant opportunities to improve the design of the interior space to create a better experience for both patrons and staff. The funding for the Pickleweed Library project (titled Pickleweed Library Renovation and Expansion project in the Building Forward application and the Resolution included as Attachment 2) will be used to redesign and renovate the interior of the library to expand the space available for the public and staff, allowing the facility to better support library programming and to meet the needs of the community. If approved, staff would move initially forward with bringing on an architect to support the design process for the Downtown Carnegie Library project. For the Pickleweed Library project, staff recommend launching the design portion of the project in 2023. Given the predicted timeline for the Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project, delaying the start of the Library project would allow for a more staggered construction schedule, hopefully reducing impacts to the site. FISCAL IMPACT: The California State Library’s Building Forward program requires a dollar-for-dollar match for grant funds. As such, the City is required to match $1,000,000 for both the Downtown Carnegie and the Pickleweed Library projects. The City currently has sufficient funds to provide the required match through general Library donations (Fund 214) and memorial funds that were donated to the City for the purpose of improved Library facilities and services that are accessible to all (Fund 712). OPTIONS: The City Council has the following options to consider on this matter: 1. Adopt both resolutions as presented. 2. Adopt only one resolution as presented. 3. Adopt resolutions with modifications. 4. Direct staff to return with more information. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt resolutions authorizing the grant acceptance and execution of the grant funds from the State of California Budget Act of 2021 (SB 129) for: i) Downtown Carnegie Library Renovation, Expansion and ADA Upgrades. ii) Pickleweed Library Renovation and Expansion. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution for the Downtown Carnegie Library Renovation, Expansion and ADA Upgrades SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3 2. Resolution for the Pickleweed Library Renovation and Expansion RESOLUTION NO. 15175 RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE GRANT ACCEPTANCE AND EXECUTION OF THE GRANT FUNDS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA BUDGET ACT OF 2021 (SB 129) FOR DOWNTOWN CARNEGIE LIBRARY RENOVATION, EXPANSION AND ADA UPGRADES WHEREAS, the Legislature and Governor of the State of California have provided funds for the program shown above; and WHEREAS, the California State Library has been delegated the responsibility for the administration of this grant program, establishing necessary procedures; and WHEREAS, said procedures established by the California State Library require a resolution certifying the approval by the potential grantee’s governing board either before submission of said application(s) to the State or prior to execution of the grant agreement; and WHEREAS, the Grantee will enter into an agreement with the State of California to carry out the project; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael proposes to implement the Carnegie Library Renovation, Expansion and ADA Upgrades; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael has the legal authority and is authorized to enter into a funding agreement with the State of California; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael intends to apply for grant funding from the California State Library for the Carnegie Library Renovation, Expansion and ADA Upgrades. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council hereby authorizes as follows: 1. That pursuant and subject to all of the terms and provisions of the California Budget Act of 2021, the City of San Rafael City Manager, or designee is hereby authorized and directed to take such other actions necessary or appropriate to obtain grant funding with the California State Library. 2. The City of San Rafael City Manager, or designee is hereby authorized and directed to execute the funding agreement with the California State Library and any amendments thereto. 3. The City of San Rafael City Manager, or designee is hereby authorized and directed to submit any required documents, funding requests, and reports required to obtain grant funding. 4. Certifies that the project will comply with any laws and regulations including, but not limited to, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), legal requirements for building codes, health and safety codes, the California Labor Code, disabled access laws, and that prior to commencement of the project, all applicable permits will have been obtained. I, LINDSAY LARA, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a special meeting of the City Council of the City of San Rafael, held on Monday, the 19th day of December 2022, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None ABSENT: Councilmembers: None Lindsay Lara, City Clerk RESOLUTION NO. 15176 RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE GRANT ACCEPTANCE AND EXECUTION OF THE GRANT FUNDS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA BUDGET ACT OF 2021 (SB 129) FOR PICKLEWEED LIBRARY RENOVATION AND EXPANSION WHEREAS, the Legislature and Governor of the State of California have provided funds for the program shown above; and WHEREAS, the California State Library has been delegated the responsibility for the administration of this grant program, establishing necessary procedures; and WHEREAS, said procedures established by the California State Library require a resolution certifying the approval by the potential grantee’s governing board either before submission of said application(s) to the State or prior to execution of the grant agreement; and WHEREAS, the Grantee will enter into an agreement with the State of California to carry out the project; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael proposes to implement the Pickleweed Library Renovation and Expansion; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael has the legal authority and is authorized to enter into a funding agreement with the State of California; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael intends to apply for grant funding from the California State Library for the Pickleweed Library Renovation and Expansion. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council hereby authorizes as follows: 1. That pursuant and subject to all of the terms and provisions of the California Budget Act of 2021, the City of San Rafael City Manager, or designee is hereby authorized and directed to take such other actions necessary or appropriate to obtain grant funding with the California State Library. 2. The City of San Rafael City Manager, or designee is hereby authorized and directed to execute the funding agreement with the California State Library and any amendments thereto. 3. The City of San Rafael City Manager, or designee is hereby authorized and directed to submit any required documents, funding requests, and reports required to obtain grant funding. 4. Certifies that the project will comply with any laws and regulations including, but not limited to, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), legal requirements for building codes, health and safety codes, the California Labor Code, disabled access laws, and that prior to commencement of the project, all applicable permits will have been obtained. I, LINDSAY LARA, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a special meeting of the City Council of the City of San Rafael, held on Monday, the 19th day of December 2022, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None ABSENT: Councilmembers: None Lindsay Lara, City Clerk