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APPROVE A MOTION AUTHORIZING AND RATIFYING THE CITY MANAGER SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION FOR A CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY GRANT - THE BUILDING FORWARD INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM FOR THE CHAVEZ LIBRARY REMODEL PROJECT
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that City Council approve a motion authorizing and ratifying the City Manager’s submission of a grant application to the California State Library requesting an award of up to $10,000,000 from the Building Forward Library Infrastructure Program.
It is also recommended that the City Manager be authorized to take appropriate and necessary actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this motion.
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Summary
The California State Budget Act of 2021 (SB129, Chapter 69, Statutes of 2021) allocated $439 million in one-time funds to the California State Library to address life-safety and critical maintenance needs of public library facilities throughout California. The California State Library Grant: Building Forward Library Infrastructure Program (“Infrastructure Grant”) prioritizes library facilities in high poverty areas such as Stockton. The City of Stockton 2021-2026 Capital Improvement Plan (“CIP”) includes the Cesar Chavez Library Remodel (“Project)” with a budget of $8,080,000. The CIP budget is not sufficient for the current critical needs and deferred maintenance of the Chavez Library. Library staff have sought additional funding opportunities for this Project.
The Infrastructure Grant is a competitive grant that focuses on prioritizing infrastructure projects for local libraries located in high poverty areas of the State of California. This grant has a short application period of less than 60 days. The application period will close on March 21, 2022, before a staff report could be submitted with the full application for review and approval by City Council.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library System provides free library services at 16 library branches to 781,600 residents in San Joaquin County. The Cesar Chavez Library (“Chavez Library”) is a 70,000 square foot facility first dedicated in 1964 and partially remodeled in 2004. Chavez Library serves as the Central Library, or “hub” of the library system, housing a central library book collection, special historical collections, the Community Services administration department, technical services, and delivery staff who support library operations.
Years of deferred maintenance have affected the practical use of the facility. The building is outdated, and modifications have been hindered by the cost of removing hazardous materials such as asbestos in the floor tiles, spray-on fireproofing, pipe fittings, and roofing. The current floorplan, deteriorating interior, and operating systems need updating for modern library customer needs.
In 2016 the Measure M ballot initiative was passed, and a long-range expenditure plan was created. The plan has earmarked $8,080,000 for the Cesar Chavez Library renovation project, which begins in FY2022-23. The Public Works department estimates that the allotted Measure M funding will not cover a majority of the needs for a meaningful renovation of the Chavez Library.
In the fall of 2021, the State Library announced the Building Forward Library Infrastructure Program Grant. It will be funded by the State of California in Fiscal Year 2021-22 and administered by the California State Library. The grant intends to expand library services and program opportunities in underserved communities across California. Guidelines allow a library system of our size to apply for an award not to exceed $10,000,000. Staff is seeking the full $10,000,000 based on the overall estimated costs of the Project. The Infrastructure Grant requires a dollar-for-dollar match for the Project; however, the required match is predicated on the Library’s Local Income Per Capita (“LIPC”) level, which is derived from the California Public Library’s Survey Data. Our Library’s LIPC is considered a Level 2, which allows the match to be reduced by 50%. Should the City be awarded the full 10,000,000, the maximum required City match would be $5,000,000. It is recommended the remaining $3,080,000 be held for contingency, FF&E, and other essential construction costs not deemed eligible for grant funding use.
Present Situation
The Infrastructure Grant application period opened on February 4, 2022 with a submittal deadline of March 21, 2022.
Staff recommends that City Council approve a motion authorizing and ratifying the City Manager’s submission of a grant application to the California State Library requesting an award of up to $10,000,000. The staff will return to City Council for authorization to accept the grant and refine the matching funds CIP schedule if the grant is awarded.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
There is no impact to the general fund or any other unrestricted funds as a result of taking the recommended action.
Staff will return to City Council for authority to accept the grant and confirm funding. The allocation of $5,000,000 in matching funds has been identified in the Strong Communities Expenditure Plan. Those matching funds will be appropriated via the annual Capital Improvement Plan budget process.