DATE: September 18, 2007
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT: Expanding the Descanso Library
SUMMARY:
Today’s action will help expand the Descanso Library by 500 square feet to accommodate the increased usage of the library. The expansion will include adding a community room, converting the existing community room into a new children’s room, as well as interior alterations to improve circulation and parking.
The County of San Diego is partnering with the Friends of the Descanso Library whose organization has done a tremendous effort raising $100,000 on their own towards the expansion of the library.
Today’s allocation of $150,000 from the District Two Community Project funds to the Descanso Library and acceptance of a $100,000 donation from the Friends of the Descanso Library will establish the funds needed for the expansion project.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Supervisor Dianne Jacob:
- Find in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15301 that the project is categorically exempt, in that it involves the minor alterations of an existing public structure with negligible expansion of use.
- Transfer appropriations of $150,000 from District Two Community Projects budget to Contributions to Capital Outlay Fund (Operating Transfer Out), for the expansion of the Descanso Library.
- Accept a donation of $100,000 from the Friends of the Descanso Library for expansion of the Descanso Branch Library and direct the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare a letter for the Chair’s signature expressing the Board’s gratitude for the donation.
- Establish appropriations of $100,000 in the Library Fund (Operating Transfer Out), for the Descanso Branch Library, based on unanticipated revenue from a private donation (4 VOTES).
- Establish appropriations of $250,000 in the Library Capital Outlay Fund for Capital Project 1000262, Descanso Branch Library Expansion, based on Operating Transfers from the General Fund ($150,000) and the Library Fund ($100,000) (4 VOTES).
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact of this recommendation is $250,000. The funding source is FY 07-08 District Two Community Projects and a donation from the Friends of the Descanso Library. This action will result in the addition of no new staff years and no future costs.
BACKGROUND:
Prior to 1997, the Descanso Library was one of the smallest branches in the County, with only 192 square feet. In May of that year, a 2,000 square foot library was built, and it has become a huge success with the community. In 2004, the library was expanded an additional 500 square feet to improve the children’s area and community room.
Today’s action will help expand the Descanso Library an additional 500 square feet by adding a new community room to allow conversion of the existing community room into a children’s room to better support the library’s program and operations.
The County of San Diego is partnering with the Friends of the Descanso Library whose organization has done a tremendous effort raising $100,000 on its own towards the expansion of the library. Today’s allocation of $150,000 from the District Two Community Project budget and the acceptance of a $100,000 donation from the Friends of the Descanso Library will establish the funds needed to build a better and bigger library in Descanso.
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT:
The proposed expansion to the library is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines, as it involves the minor alteration of an existing public structure with negligible expansion of use. The new 500-square-foot community room will replace the existing 500 square-foot community room, and the existing children’s area is being moved from the middle of the library into the old community room to improve the efficiency and use of the existing space.
I urge your support.
Respectfully submitted,
DIANNE JACOB
Supervisor, Second District
