SunnyvaleRTC

The Board of Library Trustees met in regular session in Council Chambers, 650 West Olive Avenue at 7:02 p.m. with Jim Griffith presiding.

2. Review Draft RTC: Consider Options for Use of Raynor Activity Center (Study Issue):

Assistant to the Director Merrill provided the Board with an overview of the report regarding options for use of the Raynor Activity Center. The RTC will be presented to Council at their August 19 meeting.

Discussion ensued regarding staff assistance to the Friends of the Sunnyvale Public Library in locating a new space site for the Friends should the Raynor Activity Center be sold.

Chair Griffith opened the public hearing and reminded speakers to adhere to the three minute speaker limit. Chair Griffith clarified that the Board of Library Trustees acts in an advisory capacity to Council for issues relevant to the Library.

Demitrios Traintafyllou, Raynor Park Neighborhood Association, said neighbors met and discussed the various recommendations. The group opposes options 1 and 2. The group supports alternative 4, option 3. The group suggests the property be rented at competitive market rates and be utilized as revenue producing. Also existing non-revenue generating uses should be eliminated.

Chair Griffith clarified that the speaker recommends the property be used for profitable revenue generating uses only and non-revenue generating services should not be supported.

Mr. Traintafyllou stated that in the case of Library related services proper accommodations should be made. He stated that the property should not be sold and the City should have the tenants pay for the renovations and/or upgrades to the property.

Assistant to the City Manager Merrill presented the Board with copies of the draft joint meeting minutes of the Arts and Parks and Recreation Commissions from Wednesday, July 23. She also shared copies of a letter from the President of My Dream Academy.

Flo Oy Wong, artist with studio in building eight, said she is a noted recipient of art awards and an active community member. She asked the Board not to displace the artists.

Diane Ammon, Sunnyvale resident and Sunnyvale Gymnastics Club member, hopes that the City will continue to support the Gymnastics Club at Raynor.

Dale Lampson, Sunnyvale resident, inquired on the appropriateness of the Board of Library Trustees recommending an alternative to Council on the deposition of an asset.

Chair Griffith clarified that it is unclear if this issue is within the Library Board’s purview.

Vice Chair Lilly asked what Mr. Lampson believes the Board’s role should be regarding this issue.

Mr. Lampson stated that it is relevant for the Board to review the report for potential impacts on Library services/functions.

Pastor Nordean Baxter requested that the City not sell the property as the property serves as a cultural center for the community.

Kostadis Rovssos, Sunnyvale resident and Vice President of the Raynor Park Neighborhood Association, stated that the Raynor Activity Center contributes to the character of a neighborhood. He supports the recommendation proposed by Mr. Triantafyllou.

Eugene Garcia, President of the Raynor Park Neighborhood Association, stated that his group does not support the staff recommendation of selling the property.

There being no further public testimonies, Chair Griffith closed the public hearing.

Vice Chair Lilly thanked community members for taking the time to address the Board on this matter. He also stated that due to the Board’s charter it is difficult to support a recommendation that seems to have no impact on the Library.

Chair Griffith moved, and Vice Chair Lilly seconded, that the Board take no position on Alternatives 1, 2, 3 and 4. Chair Griffith recommended that if the current use of Raynor facilities is discontinued, staff make every effort to relocate the Friends of the Sunnyvale Public Library to another location but not pay for it and attempt to assist the Western Philatelic Library (WPL) in locating alternative space.

Chair Griffith stated he would have liked to have made a motion in favor of one of the recommended alternatives; however, it is not in the Board’s scope. He stated that the Friends should be supported because of the financial support and hard work they provide to the Library. There is no direct connection between Sunnyvale and the WPL and the WPL is considered a regional asset which makes it difficult for Sunnyvale to support. Chair Griffith believes the WPL is a useful service and he is a member of the WPL. He believes it is the Board’s charter to support library services of any type and the library services provided by the WPL are unique.

Boardmember Su stated he attended the joint meeting of the Arts and Parks and Recreation Commissions and he supports the services and activities located at the Raynor Activity Center. However, there is no impact to Library services to support staff’s recommendation.

Motion carried 3-0. (Boardmember Pathak was absent)

Interim Director Denniston provided an overview of the Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct. No comments were provided.

Chair Griffith opened the public hearing and there being no public testimonies, closed the public hearing.

§ Contingent upon passage of the State Budget, the Library in partnership with the Sunnyvale Historical Society has received a digital storytelling station grant grom the California State Library. The grant will provide a digital storytelling station, onsite training in use of the station and promotion of the project and a small grant to support the operations of the stations.

§ Librarian Garrett Kuramoto will be attending a statewide reference think tank to help rethink and redesign the California Statewide Reference model.

§ Library statistics for FY 2007/08, when compared to FY 2006/07, show an increase of 3.6 % in circulation; 2.9% in reference questions; 44.4% in items borrowed through Link+; 4.7% in program attendance and 4.1% in total vistors.

§ The first part of the 5-part Jewish Literature program series had 59 participants to discuss Portnoy’s Complaint by Phillip Roth with guest scholar David Mesher.

§ Opera San Jose brought singers to preview arias and story summaries from the 2008-09 San Jose Opera season on Monday, July 21 with a crowd of more than 300 listeners.

§ Astronomer/Foothill College professor Andrew Fraknoi gave a lively, interactive program on space for 170 children and families, with the assistance of his 14 year old son.

§ Summer Children’s programs included ventriloquist Steve Chaney, Carnival of Chaos and singer/songwriter Patricia Shih, each drawing 147 to 276.

§ The Children’s Catch the Reading Bug Summer Reading had 1,951 participants; the Teen Metamorphosis Summer Reading had 421 participants and the Adult Summer Reading had 200 participants.

§ The next Board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, September 8 in the Library Program Room.