HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 5307COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 5307
A RESOLUTION CALLING A CITY ELECTION ON
NOVEM ER 3, 2020, FOR THE PURPOSE OF REFERRING
TO THE LEGAL ELECTORS OF THE CITY OF EUGENE A
MEASURE AUTHORIZING A FIVEYEAR LOCAL OPTION
LEVY FOR THE FUNDING OF LIBRARY OPERATIONS.
PASSED: 6:2
RE.IECTED:
OPPOSED: Syrett & Zdl
ABSENT:
CONSIDERED: July 27, 2020
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RESOLUTION NO. 5307
A RESOLUTION CALLING A CITY ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 3, 2020,
FOR THE PURPOSE OF REFERRING TO THE LEGAL ELECTORS OF
THE CITY OF EUGENE A MEASURE AUTHORIZING A FIVE-YEAR
LOCAL OPTION LEVY FOR THE FUNDING OF LIBRARY
OPERATIONS.
The City Council of the City of Eugene Finds as follows:
A. The Eugene Public Library's mission is to support an informed community, lifelong
learning, and the love of reading by providing access for all city residents to the universe of ideas
and information. The library provides inclusive and equitable information access for all of Eugene
that contributes to the education, development, and growth of our community. The library is a
leader in the areas of community building, public computer access, early literacy, and free,
enriching programs for all ages. The library is heavily used by our community and has been
repeatedly recognized as being within our nation's top three percent of public libraries for
excellence in cost-effective delivery of key services.
B. The City of Eugene has a history of supporting its library. In 1906, the first Eugene
Public Library, named the Carnegie Library, opened at 1lth and Willamette. Over time, the
Carnegie Library no longer met the needs of the growing community. In 1959, the library moved
into a new building at Olive and 13th. By the 1990's, Eugene had grown significantly, and the
community desired a larger library to meet its new needs. The Mayor and City Council, supported
by the voters, decided to open two branch libraries as well as build a new downtown library. Since
its completion in 2002, the Downtown Library has been an anchor to downtown redevelopment.
In 2000, the Bethel and Sheldon Branch Libraries opened in leased facilities with levy funding.
These neighborhood locations are vital to accessible service delivery for community members in
all parts of the city, especially for kids after school. After two years with reduced hours, voter -
approved levy funding doubled open hours at both branches beginning July 2016.
C. In FY19, the library served over 3,000 visitors daily at three locations, and the
library's collection was utilized over three million times. Annually, the library provides almost
2,300 free programs, ranging from story -times and classes to entertainment. Over 65,000
community members of all ages attend these free programs every year. The library's three
locations provided over 1.7 million wireless sessions and over 145,000 Internet computer user
sessions.
D. The City's library services are funded by the City's General Fund, donated funds,
and the five-year operating levy approved by the voters in 2015. The FY21 General Fund budget
of $12,271,893 pays for the following services:
a. Downtown Library services - 61 hours across seven days a week.
b. Bethel and Sheldon Branch services - 26 hours over five days a week.
c. Publicly available technology to use at the library.
d. Ability to use one's own technology to access library services online 24 hours per day.
e. A limited amount of new material acquisitions.
f. Approximately 1,200 free public programs offered at the library annually, for all ages.
g. Some off -site programs, all of which serve those unable to come into the library.
E. On November 3, 2015, the City of Eugene voters approved Measure 20-235 to fund
library services for five years beginning July 2016. The services included more hours and access,
more programs and services, and more materials and technology. The five-year levy is set to expire
in June of 2021.
F. Since the passage of the 2015 levy funding, the library has seen a 16% increase in
cardholders. Currently, 65% of community members hold a Eugene Public Library Card.
Similarly, since the addition of the 2015 levy funds, program attendance has increased 37%. More
recently, the library has seen dramatic growth (over 75% increase during the past two years) in
usage of the Maker Hub, which has almost 5,000 users per year.
G. The Eugene community has heavily utilized the services provided through the 2015
library levy funds. Renewal of the levy funds will maintain the high level of service the community
has come to enjoy and expect from the library.
H. The goals of additional hours and access, more programs and services, and more
materials and technology were attained through passage of the 2015 levy and can be seamlessly
maintained for another five years through the continuation of that levy funding. Specifically, the
2020 levy will:
a. Preserve the 47 additional open hours weekly across all three locations.
b. Maintain the 1/3 increase in number of free, enriching programs for all ages.
c. Maintain the Maker Hub area providing community members with access to and
training on tools and equipment they might not be able to afford individually.
d. Maintain increased off -site delivery of programs and outreach.
e. Maintain high level of library collection and shorter wait times for high demand items.
f. Maintain and replace internet-ready devices at the Bethel and Sheldon locations.
g. Maintain programming and upkeep for the library Maker Van, which provides
additional opportunities for outreach and access to tools and equipment the community
wouldn't be able to afford otherwise.
L The most recent feedback that the library has received from the Library Advisory
Board, community partners, and through patron surveys, reaffirms the community's desires
expressed in a 2015 community survey around hours and access, materials and technology, and
programs and services.
J. In order to continue the services currently funded by the 2015 levy, the City Council
developed a proposal for library levy funding. The levy proposal would pay for services identified
in paragraph H, above. All other library services would continue to be funded by the General Fund
and donated funds.
K. On July 27, 2020, the City Council agreed that a five-year Local Option Levy of
$2,850,000 per year should be placed on the November 3, 2020 ballot. The typical Eugene taxpayer
is estimated to pay an average of $37 per year over the five-year period of the levy. The tax rate
for this levy will be $0.15 per $1,000.00 of property value per home, which is two cents less than
the $0.17 tax rate for the current (2015) levy.
L. In order to ensure accountability in the use of levy funds, several components will
be included in the levy implementation:
a. Levy funds will be budgeted and accounted for in separate funds that are easily
identifiable by members of the public, in accordance with state law.
b. Staff will prepare an annual summary of levy spending and performance measures.
The report will clearly lay out the library's budget and the split between the General
Fund and Levy Funds. The Library Advisory Board will annually review the report to
determine whether spending complied with the intention of the ballot measure.
c. The City Manager will provide an annual memorandum to the City Council about
library levy spending and key performance measures for the services. The
memorandum will include the staff report and any comments from the Library
Advisory Board after their review.
NOW, THEREFORE, based upon the above findings,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EUGENE, a
Municipal Corporation of the State of Oregon, as follows:
Section 1. A city election is called for the purpose of referring to the legal electors of
the City of Eugene a measure authorizing a five-year Library Local Option Levy in the amount of
$2,850,000 per year, beginning July 1, 2021, to continue to maintain the current level of library
services.
Section 2. The City Council orders this city election to be held in the City of Eugene,
Oregon, concurrently with the election on November 3, 2020, in accordance with the provisions
of Chapter 254 of the Oregon Revised Statutes, and the ballots shall be counted and tabulated and
the results certified as provided by law.
Section 3. The City Recorder is directed to give not less than ten days' notice of the
city election by publication of one notice in the Register Guard, a newspaper published in the City
and of general circulation within the City.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
The foregoing Resolution adopted the 27th day of July, 2020.
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