HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-17-1996 Special Council Mtg CITY OF AUBURN
CITY COUNCIL/LIBRA;RY BOARD
JOINT STUDY SESSION
January 17, 1996
Mayor Booth convened the joint study session at 6:00 PM in the Roberson Room
located in Auburn Municipal Library.
Io Opening of Meeting
Those in attendance included Mayor Charles A. Booth and members of the Auburn City
Council as follows: Gene Cerino, Fred Poe, Sue Singer, Trish Borden, Jeanne Barber,
and Rich Wagner. Councilmember Stacey Brothers was absent. Library Board
members in attendance included Mel Lindbloom, Kim Harlington, Nancy Colson, Phillip
Jenkins, and Joan Mason. King County Library System representatives included
William Ptacek, Director of the King County Library System, Esther Rickelton, Associate
Director for Public Services, and Jeanne Thorsen, Community Relations Manager.
Sonya Campion from the The Collins Group was also in attendance.
Other members of the Mayor's Task Force on Future Library Services in Auburn
included Charlie Clarke, John Corr, and Auburn staff representative Anita Shunberger.
Staff members Len Chapman, Director of Parks & Recreation, Josie Emmons, Cultural
Programs Manager, Andy Waters, Library Director, Ann Woodbridge, Library Assistant,
and Robin Wohlhueter, City Clerk.
II. Mavor's Charge to the Libran/Task Force
After introductions, Nancy Colson briefly summarized the purpose in forming the
Mayor's Task force on Future Public Library Services in Auburn. She presented an
overview of the study session. At the request of Mayor Booth formation of the Mayor's
Task Force On Future Library Services was established in 1994. The Task Force was
created to advise the Mayor and City Council on the best options for providing quality
public library services in Auburn in the future.
III. Tour of Library
At 6:15 PM members of the City Council and Library Board members were given a tour
of Auburn's existing Library.
IV. Review of Task Force's Work
The meeting reconvened at 6:45 PMo
Mel Lindbloom briefly summarized the Mayor's Task Force function and process during
the last fourteen months as appointed by Mayor Booth in 1994. There were four major
functions of the Task Force; to educate itself and the Auburn Community; conduct an
objective study of the options; gather input; and evaluate, identify and assess the
benefits and costs of future library services in making an advisory recommendation to
the Mayor and City Council on the best way to provide library services to Auburn. Mr.
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Library Board
January 17, 1996
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Lindbloom highlighted the Task Force review process. He reported events and findings
in each of the four phases and reported on the number of meetings artended by the
Task Force.
Nancy Colson introduced Sonya Campion. She is a consultant hired by the City to
provide a community input study to assist the Task Force in assessing Auburn
community's interest for improved public library services. She works for the The Collins
Group who specializes in non profit planning and fund raising.
Ms. Campion explained the process used in evaluating seven focus groups. Each
focus group consisted of 10-20 participants representing various groups throughout the
community. Ms. Campion explained members of the focus group covered a broad
range of people from those who use Auburn's library on a regular basis to non-library
users, to users who currently use King County Libraries on a regular basis, and
generation X. Generation X are people who are 30-years or younger. Ms. Campion
stated they asked each focus group what they would like to see before consideration of
a bond issue to improve library services in Auburn. With these groups, Ms. Campion
stated they focused on the role of existing library services, library operations, and
facility/locations. Interviews with each focus group were conducted and it was
determined that a majority of people go to larger regional libraries for services, and that
people want the library to consider creative public/private partnerships to maximize
funding levels for computerization and other ways to provide information.
Ms. Colson stated the Task Force learned what the community wanted through the
focus groups and community meetings. There are two different points of view as a
result of their work; to retain Auburn Municipal Library for its historical sentiment; or join
the King County Library District without requiring people to go out of Auburn to receive
library services. Ms. Colson stated that they learned that providing good library
services are more important to the citizens rather than who is actually providing the
service. She stated the Task FOrce looked at other municipal libraries with field trips to
city-run libraries in Bellingham and Everett and toured Federal Way Regional Branch of
the King County Library District. The Task Force recommended that the public library
services in Auburn be improved substantially and that King County Library District is
best qualified to provide library services in Auburn, and that Auburn residents be given
an opportunity to vote to join the Library District. Joining the King County Library
District would cost homeowners $.50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.
This is compared with the approximately $.30 cents per $1,000 already paid for city
library services.
Mayor Booth outlined the objective and procedure of the Task Force which included
educating itself and the community on issues and challenges affecting services at the
Auburn Public Library, what opportunities are available for providing better service in
the future; conducting an objective study of the options; gather input from members of
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Library Board
January 17, 1996
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the community and evaluate, identify and assess the benefits and cost of future service
recommendations into a final advisory recommendation to the Mayor and City Council.
VI. King County Library System Information
Mr. William Ptacek presented a slide show showing King County's District Library
System. Prior to this presentation, Mr. Ptacek briefed the Council/Library Board
members on how this entity is governed and explained prior history in establishing
some of the branch libraries within the King County Library System. The King County
Library District is not part of the County government; it is a separate taxing district voted
on by the people it serves and paid through property taxes.
Mr. Ptacek explained the King County Library District has a Library Board. Membership
on this Board is appointed by the King County Executive and confirmed by the
Metropolitan King County Council. Mr. Ptacek pointed out that he is not here to solicit
Auburn joining the King County District Library system, but rather to answer any
questions or comments as Auburn proceeds to review its service options.
As pointed out earlier, the community wants to have access to the information it needs
and who provides it is not an important issue. In Auburn, Mr. Ptacek recommends a
Resource library because Auburn is already surrounded by two Regional libraries; Kent
and Federal Way. According to Mr. Ptacek Regional size libraries are somewhat more
comprehensive than a Resource size library. The major difference is that Regional
Libraries have very large reference collections to supplement smaller branches.
Resource size libraries have slightly smaller reference collections and are more focus
on the local communities in which they are locate. Capital improvements to develop
existing libraries were either paid by cities or through voter approved bond issues.
Operating expenses are paid through the library's portion of property taxes, and Mr.
Ptacek stated it takes approximately $1.3 to $1.7 million to operate a library on an
annual basis.
Annexation of Auburn to King County's Library system will transfer the City's obligation
to pay for these services from its General Fund, and allow the King County Library
District to levy taxes for library services within the city limits of Auburn. Programs such
as children's programs are centralized and would be enhanced if Auburn chose to join
King County Library's District.
VI. Questions and Answers
Some of the Councilmembers questioned Mr. Ptacek's past experience in joint efforts
of funding facilities, space requirements to run a library, and the importance of visibility
to the people it serves as a central location. Discussion centered around the
importance of the locality in providing library services in Auburn. The Task Force
recommended expanding the current facility as a major center of the community. Some
of the Councilmembers questioned the viability of its current location and other services
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Library Board
January 17, 1996
Page No. 4
associated with it. If annexed into King County Library District, all operating costs
would shift to King County Library District.
Mr. Ptacek explained how several communities transitioned from municipal libraries to
regional libraries. Further, it was pointed out that if Auburn decided to annex, and the
voters approved annexation and later found they were unhappy with the services, they
could annex out of the Library District after a period of three years by election.
V. Next Steps
Mel Lindbloom expressed a sense of urgency in implementing the recommendations
made by the Task Force. Nancy Colson presented a timeline if Auburn choses to join
the King County Library District by January, 1997.
File: City Council Minutes, 1996