Minutes
Citizen’s Library Advisory Ad Hoc Committee
January 17, 2008
Guanajuato Room,
4:00-6:00 pm
Attendance:
Ashworth, Churchman, Vavra, Battistella, Keil, Burkholder, Seltzer (city staff liaison), Blossom (library staff)
Absent:
Brown, Gibb
Guests:
Kathleen Davis,
Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 4:05 pm. Vavra added one item to the agenda: discussion of Public involvement meeting: M/S Churchman/Burkholder approval of agenda.
Citizen Issues:
None
Approval of Minutes:
Minutes of December 13 regular meeting were approved, notes from the January 3 and January 10 meetings were approved.
Vavra welcomed and introduced Kathleen Davis, Chair of the Jackson county Library Advisory Board. Batistella and Vavra thanked
The group has met with and hopes to partner with
They have discussed designing and launching a major campaign centered on the importance of literacy in
Partnering with
Burkholder asked at what point Ashland would know if the 2010 ballot is the plan and the proposed levy amount.
Vavra asked about the Jackson county Library Advisory Board liaison with other regional committees.
Vavra thanked
Ashley served on the Jackson County Library Advisory Board for eight years and as liaison to the Foundation. She now serves on the Board of Education for RCC. She supports the need to reach out to all the uninterested people and determine their objections to funding the county system. She believes that we must find out who these voters are and learn more about them and “enlighten their self-interest”.
She urges
Ashley was thanked for her time.
The group began discussion of a recommendation to the City Council and identified two issues:
1) long term library funding
2) Keeping the
The
The group identified three general choices:
1) Do nothing
2) Extend the existing levy for a period of time for until supplemental funding is in place (special countywide library district)
3) Form a smaller
Vavra reminded group that they are scheduled to update the council on February 5. Should the group present the list of alternatives they are considering?
General consensus was reached that the committee will recommend extending the existing levy for a period of four years. The group agrees that it is very important not to put “numbers on the table” until it is clear how much money is needed over the life of the levy.
M/S Keil/Ashworth Move to recommend to the City Council to place on the November 2008 ballot a local option levy of an amount sufficient to operate the
Roll Call: Keil (yes) Burkholder (yes) Vavra (yes), Ashworth (yes), Churchman (yes), Battistella (yes)
There was a brief discussion about a public involvement/input process. The group agrees it must hold meetings specifically to engage the public. Seltzer will look for available dates in Council Chambers for April.
Next meeting dates:
January 24 (study session)
January 31 (regular meeting)
Meeting adjourned 6:00 p.m.