To request City Council approval to apply for the California Reading and Literacy Improvement and Public Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 2000 Funds and Approve the Agreement for Library Cooperative Joint Use Between the City of Burbank and the Burbank Unified School District (BUSD).

On March 11, 2003, City Council adopted an ordinance approving the Civic Center Master Plan, Planned Development PD 2002-2. Part of this Master Plan, included the development of a new two story Central Library. The City is being presented an excellent opportunity for major funding contribution to complete this project via the California Reading and Literacy Improvement and Public Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 2000 ("Bond Act"). This Bond Act authorizes library construction grant awards on a competitive basis to communities for new or expanded library facilities.

This Act allocates $350 million to be distributed to public libraries in three rounds over a three-year period. The first round closed in June 2002, the second round will close on March 28, 2003, and the final round is scheduled to close in January 2004. The maximum grant per project is $20 million. The State will fund 65% of the cost to construct new or expanded public library facilities. The grant applicant must identify a local funding match for the remaining 35% at the time of application.

The Bond Act requires each applicant to provide evidence of its ability to provide a 35% local match at the time of application. On November 26, 2002, the Burbank City Council approved a Resolution to place a General Obligation Bond Measure (Measure L) on the February 25, 2003 ballot. Measure L stated that the $14,000,000 raised by the issuance of General Obligation Bonds would be used to provide the City�s 35% local match required for the State Grant to construct its new Central Library. The remaining money from Measure L would be used to finance construction of a new Northwest Branch Library. Bonds would be issued contingent upon the City receiving the State Grant.

On February 25, 2003, Measure L was approved by 67.9 percent of Burbank voters, receiving more than the required two-thirds majority vote. With the passage of Measure L, voters showed their support for the construction of a new Central Library and a new Northwest Branch Library. With Measure L approval, the City can guarantee its required 35% local match.

Projected costs for the City of Burbank�s proposed new 65,500 square foot Central Library, including the Library�s 55%¹ pro-rata share for a five-level parking structure and common plaza area, is $33,379,963.

Why should the City apply for the Grant and build a new Central Library?

Library services have changed � public access computers are a great example of a new library service need that wasn�t envisioned when the present Central Library was constructed in 1964. Other major facility inadequacies that need to be addressed are:

• Insufficient parking for public and staff
• Space needs for technology
• Inadequate electrical capacity
• Inadequate space for programming needs
• Recurrent plumbing problems
• Accessibility issues
• Lack of student study areas

The State Grant represents an excellent opportunity for the State to contribute 65%, or a maximum of $20,000,000, to the cost of constructing a new Central Library for the City of Burbank. The 35% balance shall be funded by City resources. Since Burbank residents are already paying a portion of their property taxes to fund the Public Library Construction and Renovation Bond, applying for and receiving the State Grant allows the community to benefit directly from this tax.

The State Grant Application and various addenda are attached as Exhibit A. The requirements for application submittal to the State are quite detailed and have necessitated extensive inter-departmental assistance. The State requires this information to assess the Grantee�s capability to build and operate the facility for the next 40 years.

With the passage of the Resolution before Council tonight, the Council is agreeing to the following items:

• Commitment of Local Matching Funds
• Commitment of Supplemental Funds
• Commitment to Meeting Cash Flow Requirements
• Certification of Project Budget of Application Form & Supporting Documents
• Certification of Accuracy and Truthfulness of Application and Supporting Documents
• Commitment to Operate Public Library Facility
• Commitment to at Least 40 years of Public Library Direct Service

The new Central Library�s expected occupancy is February 2007 once the State Grant has been successfully awarded to the City of Burbank. We anticipate the State�s decision by early October 2003.

Joint Venture Agreement with the BUSD

Under the Bond Act, first priority is given in the award of grant funds to joint use projects in which the public agency which operates the library and one or more school districts have entered into a cooperative agreement. The Resolution before Council also includes an "Agreement for Library Cooperative Joint Use between the City of Burbank and the Burbank Unified School District" per Exhibit B. The Agreement is part of the application packet and is contingent upon the City receiving the State Grant.

Project SHARE (Student Homework and Research Enrichment) focuses on joint activities between the Library and the District at critical times in a student�s school career, to reinforce reading and research skills. The program focuses on children just entering the District-either through kindergarten or because they are new to the District, 4^th grade students as they begin to do research, 8^th grade students as they prepare to enter high school, and the technology needs of all students. In addition, the program provides a Homework Center for students in elementary and middle schools, with homework assistance staff and software. The description of each element follows:

• Kindergarten Roundups and New Parent Orientations - The District will include the Library in the orientation they provide for parents whose children are just entering the Burbank Unified School District. The library staff will distribute library card applications, explain the reading programs available, introduce the Homework Center and, most importantly, stress the importance of parents reading to their children for success in school.
• 4th Grade Classes - The District elementary schools each have a library. Library research skills are taught by classroom teachers using curriculum designed by the District for elementary school grades. It is in fourth grade that students begin to do independent research. The SHARE program will reinforce the educational instruction 4^th grade students receive in classrooms. Each 4^th grade class will come to the Public Library for an orientation and introduction to research tools. Teachers will provide library staff the research upon which the students are currently working, so that appropriate library resources will be highlighted. For schools too far away from the Library to walk, the City will provide bus transport. The intent of this SHARE component is to strengthen student research skills and their ability to use the Library�s resources.
• 8^th Grade Classes - By 8^th grade, students are preparing for the more advanced research and report writing required in high school. The District will write a curriculum for research skill development for 8^th grade that focuses on both print and electronic resources. Library staff will use this curriculum to introduce the students to both Library and Internet research resources. With the structure of the school day in segments less than an hour, it is difficult for middle school students to leave the campus to come to the Library. Library staff will provide instruction to all 8^th grade social science classes in school computer labs. By the time the SHARE program is implemented, the school computer labs are expected to have multi-functional computers with direct access to the District�s online catalog, the Burbank Library�s online catalog and the Internet. These classes will upgrade research skills.
• Technology Support - The District has developed a Technology Based Education Program and Standards to ensure that its students are able to use technology effectively. There are recommended skills for each grade level. The Library will provide software in the Homework Center and Computer Lab so that students can practice the skills that they are learning in school. The skills range from keyboard use to PowerPoint presentations. The Library will also dedicate at least ten hours per week in the Computer Lab for use by students.
• Homework Center and Group Study - There are two places in the new Central Library dedicated to students doing homework. Group Study Rooms in both the Teen and Children�s areas of the Library provide space and acoustical isolation for up to six students to work together on school projects or assignments. The second is the Homework Center that provides a safe place for students after school and on weekends to work on their school assignments independently, or to receive assistance from staff and volunteers. The Homework Center will include 32 seats at tables and 8 technology workstations. The Center will be supervised by a Library Assistant dedicated to the SHARE program. Volunteers will be recruited from local high schools to provide assistance to elementary and middle school students. The volunteers will be trained jointly by the District and the Library on a quarterly basis. The volunteers will be primarily those with community service requirements or Key Club members. The Homework Center computers will have software used by students in their classrooms to build technology skills, homework assistance programs or links to the Internet and curriculum based skill building software.

Under the terms of the Agreement, an Advisory Committee will be established to implement and evaluate the SHARE program. This Agreement may be modified as long as it meets the spirit and intent of the original cooperative agreement as well as the intent of the Library Bond Act. The City of Burbank and the Burbank Unified School District commit to providing joint use library services consistent with the intent of this agreement and build into the project a mechanism for review and modification of the conditions of the agreement. The commitment to provide services over the 20 year period is contingent upon the award of this grant funding.

Projected costs for a new 65,500 square foot Central Library, including only the Library�s 55% pro-rata share for a five-level parking structure and common plaza area, is $33,379,963 per Exhibit C. The 55% pro-rata cost share is based on the shared parking utilization between the future Development & Community Services Building (DCSB) and the proposed new Central Library, viz. 205 and 249 parking spaces, respectively.

Central Library costs are generally comprised of:

Total available funding resources, including the $20,000,000 maximum State Grant is $29,664,000; $9,500.000 from the issuance of the General Obligation Bonds approved through Measure L; and the allowable $164,000 Architect-Engineer (A-E) Application Fee the City has already appropriated. In addition to the available funding sources, it�s important to note that the Bond Act also recognizes City-owned land as a viable project funding source. Therefore, the total project cost in real dollars can be reduced by the $4,382,267 in land value contribution.

The total increased recurring operating costs for the new Central Library is estimated at $662,413. There is also a one time only cost of $479,573. The current plan is to ramp up the additional necessary funding over a three year period, starting in fiscal year 2005/2006. Corporate funding is another possible means of financing portions of the anticipated operating costs.

Based on Staff�s evaluation, we certify that the estimated cost for the new Central Library, including its 55% pro-rata cost of a five-level parking structure and common plaza area consistent with the previously accepted Master Plan, is $33,379,963; that the sum of the City�s local match, excluding land value, is $9,664,000; and that net of the State�s projected $20,000,000 contribution, the City will need to commit $3,715,963 in supplemental funds that is more than off-set by the combined $4,382,267 appraised land value.

Finally, please note that an additional $3,593,025 is required above and beyond the estimated Library project cost to address the 45% of the parking structure and common plaza area per Exhibit C. The ultimate disposition of the existing Central Library, including a potential future sale, represents a viable consideration to off-setting this real project cost to complete the five-level parking structure and common plaza area.

Staff recommends that Council approve the following: Resolution of the Council of the City of Burbank Approving Submittal of Application for Funds from the State of California Reading and Literacy Improvement and Public Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 2000; Certifying Project Budget, Local Funding Commitment, Supplemental Funds and Public Library Operation; Approving a Joint Use Agreement with the Burbank Unified School District.

¹ The 55% pro-rata share is based on the shared parking utilization between the future Development & Community Services Building (DCSB) and the proposed new central library, viz. 205 and 249 parking spaces respectively.

² A recent certified appraisal for the Library, parking structure, and common plaza area parcels stated the land value at $55.00 per square foot. This represents $4,382,267 in real dollars toward the project cost. Only 55% of the appraised value of the parking structure and common plaza area parcel can be accounted for per State application requirements.

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