LAKEPORT, Calif. – With the Lake County Library facing a major funding shortfall, the Board of Supervisors this week will consider a plan to help the library take on new services in an effort to avoid service and staff cuts.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport. TV8 will broadcast the meeting live, with the video available online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Boards/Board_of_Supervisors/calendar.htm .
In an untimed item, the board will consider options to address the shortfall in the library's operating budget, the primary proposal being to have the library to provide visitor information services.
Earlier this year the Board of Supervisors voted to close the Visitor Information Center in Lucerne, as Lake County News has reported.
County Administrative Officer Matt Perry's report to the board for Tuesday's meeting explains that in this month's budget hearings, the board directed County Librarian Christopher Veach to develop alternatives to canceling reserves to address the shortfall of approximately $50,000 in the library operating fund.
While Veach has completed a report proposing cost-saving alternatives, Perry is proposing the board instead consider a possibility put forward at the budget hearings – having the library provide visitor information services.
Primary services that the Visitor Information Center provided included assisting visitors already in the county, answering calls to the toll-free telephone number, responding to emails sent to the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. email account, and mailing the Destinations magazine and other information as requested.
While the first responsibility – assisting visitors to the county – will continue to be provided by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce at the Visitor Information Center at Vista Point and by kiosks and trained employees at businesses hosting the kiosks, Perry added, “The remaining services could easily be provided by the Library.”
He continued, “Library staff is already trained in serving the public and providing information. Travelers and tourists already stop at the Library to access free Wi-Fi, restrooms, and information such as maps. Library staff has assisted many travelers by printing out directions, looking up information about community events, and providing other tourist information. Providing helpful, courteous service is a core value and skill of the entire staff at the Library.”
He added that the Lake County Library has a special collection of materials about Lake County and is planning a lecture series about Lake County titled, "Know Lake County," to start next year.
He said the proposal to have the library take over those services “is a cost effective way to provide these visitor services with the limited resources available.”
Perry is recommending that the county funds that had once been used to staff the Visitor Information Center “could be leveraged to augment the Library's budget and preserve service levels without depleting the Library's reserves and still provide visitor information services in those three areas discussed.”
He said library staff will be on hand in case the board should wish to consider other options to reduce the library's budget services; however, staff is recommending the board adopt the plan to allow library staff to take on the additional duties.
If approved, the library could begin providing these services on Oct. 7 to allow time for training and also to provide some overlap of services prior to the closing of the Visitor Information Center later in October, Perry said.
Staff also is recommending that $53,000 of general fund money be transferred to the library's budget to avoid canceling library fund reserves and provide some increase in the library's postage budget. Perry said the specific budget adjustments can be incorporated into the mid-year budget adjustments later this winter.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
7.1: Adopt Resolution authorizing the deputy county administrative officer to sign a notice of completion for work performed under agreement for the Lucerne Hotel Elevator Project.
7.2: Approve Lakeport Fire Protection District's Resolution (1415-03) ratifying conflict of interest code, pursuant to district's approval on Aug. 12, 2014.
7.3: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and Marta Fuller, for FY 2014-15 dental health education and prevention services, in the amount of $15,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
7.4: Approve the purchase of four compactor wheels, in the amount of $60,500 including shipping, and authorize the Public Services director to issue a purchase order to MACPACTOR Inc. for Said Wheels.
7.5: Adopt resolution by governing body of County Service Area #22, Mt. Hannah Water System authorizing Lake County Special Districts to enter into a funding agreement and designating authority to sign a funding agreement and related documents for funding under the Public Water System Drought Emergency Response Program.
7.6: Sitting as the Kelseyville County Waterworks District No. 3 Board of Directors, award bid for one new backhoe to All American Rentals and authorize Special Districts administrator to issue a purchase order, in the amount of $103,510.00, for said equipment.
TIMED ITEMS
8.2, 9:30 a.m.: Hearing, nuisance abatement assessment confirmation and proposed recordation of notice of lien in the amount of $5,699.64, for 12514 Foothill Blvd., Clearlake Oaks, CA (APN 035-141-36 - Hector Cardenas and Aiko Katzumiayala).
8.4, 10 a.m.: Sitting as Lake County Sanitation Board of Directors, (a) consideration of proposed agreement with Absolute Aeration LLC to install sludge removal equipment at Southeast Regional Water Treatment Plant; (b) consideration of budget transfer to transfer $400,000 from account 23.79 - Professional Services Projects-Outside to account 61.60 Buildings and Improvements in BU 8354 - LACOSAN – Southeast.
8.5, 1 p.m.: Sitting as the Lake County Local Board of Equalization, assessment appeal hearing – Marva Brandt – Application No(s). 43-2012, 6750 Wilson Road, Kelseyville, CA (APN 007-014-090); 44-2012, 6504 Plunkett Lane, Kelseyville, CA (APN 007-012-060); 45-2012, 1810 Eastlake Drive, Kelseyville, CA (APN 044-164-100).
UNTIMED ITEMS
9.2: Consideration of options to address shortfall in library fund operating budget and assigning library to provide visitor information services.
9.4: Consideration of county employee health plans - EIA health, dental, vision, and life renewal for 2015.
9.5: (a) Consideration of naming landlord as additional insured; and (b) approval of lease agreement between Lake County Social Services and Penna Realty Property Management.
9.6: Consideration of resolution authorizing approval of memorandum of understanding between California Department of Social Services and Lake County Department of Social Services/Child Welfare Services and Lake County Probation to Participate in the California Title IV-E Child Welfare Waiver Demonstration Project.
CLOSED SESSION
10.2: Conference with legal counsel: Decision whether to initiate litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9 (d)(4) .
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.