PURPOSE: 

The purpose of this report is to update the Burbank City Council on the status of Coffee Cart Service at the Buena Vista Branch Library.

BACKGROUND:

As early as June 1999, there were plans to have a coffee cart at the proposed Buena Vista Branch Library.  The Omni-Group Architectural Program for the Buena Vista Branch Library included a sentence in the Outdoor Patron Service Area section stating, "Provision should also be made in this area for power and water utility services to support the introduction of an outdoor coffee/snack cart." 

Because the Buena Vista Branch Library is a destination library with no nearby shops or restaurants, it was always planned by staff to implement the Omni Group suggestion to provide outdoor coffee cart service. From the earliest conceptual plans to the actual blueprints, a designated storage area for a coffee cart was included to make such service feasible.  The attached Exhibit A indicates where the cart storage area is at Buena Vista and where the cart will be operated.

ANALYSIS:

At the time of the Grand Opening of the Buena Vista Branch in December 2002, the cart storage room was not ready for occupancy.  Even though we had planned for and built in utility services, there were health codes imposed and special electrical and water requirements needed to be installed specific to the operation of a cart. With the assistance of Public Works, these requirements were finally completed last month.  The coffee cart storage area meets current health codes.

With the storage area ready for occupancy, the Library Services Department is ready to identify a vendor.  Requests for proposals for a coffee cart vendor have been submitted with a closing date of May 20, 2003.  A five-member committee of avid coffee drinkers has been appointed to make the final selection based primarily on the quality of beverages and food product to be sold.  

In accordance with the present policy, patrons will not be allowed to bring coffee and food inside the Buena Vista Branch Library.  It is expected that the service will be available seven days a week, during most of the hours that the Branch is open.

Library patrons have long awaited the opportunity to check out a book, buy a beverage and linger in Lincoln Park.  The target date for beginning service is expected to be late spring.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The only fiscal impact to the Library Services Department to implement or provide the coffee cart service is the minimal cost of providing water and electricity to the vendor.  The selected vendor is responsible for all costs incurred in setting up and maintaining the coffee service.

The vendor selected will return a percentage to be negotiated of gross sales to the City of Burbank. 

RECOMMENDATION:  Note and file.

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