City Council

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes City Council Tuesday, February 25, 2020 6:00 PM Special Meeting - Study Session (Audio Only) Study Session - 6 PM 6 P.M. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING (Study Session) 1 Call to Order in the West Conference Room (Open to the Public) Vice Mayor Smith called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2 Roll Call Present: Mayor Larry Klein Vice Mayor Nancy Smith Councilmember Glenn Hendricks Councilmember Russ Melton Councilmember Michael S. Goldman Councilmember Mason Fong Absent: Councilmember Gustav Larsson 3 Public Comment Vice Mayor Smith announced Council will hear agenda item 3-Public Comment after agenda item 4-Study Session. 4 Study Session 20-0026 Discussion of Options and Recommendation on Elimination of Fines for Overdue Library Materials (Study Issue LCS 19-02) Cherise Brandell, Director of Library and Community Services and Ellen Giarrizzo, Circulation Manager delivered a presentation that discussed the options for elimination of fines on overdue library materials to remove barriers to library use. Councilmembers asked questions and made the following comments: • Fails to see connection between declining library usage and increasing balance of City of Sunnyvale Page 1 City Council Meeting Minutes February 25, 2020 billed fees. • Agrees with the purpose of having fines and fees; materials should be returned so others may use them. • Consider lower cost fines and fees. • Does not want to subsidize fine revenue losses by using the Service Level Set Aside. • Would be interested in a one-year pilot program. • Would want to review policies to determine the best way to waive fines and fees. • How would we encourage patrons to return materials? We should have a caveat for patrons that don’t return multiple materials. • If we are unable to wipe fines and fees for all, let’s do it for the children, they should have access to books. • Framework policy should be in place to allow the Director of Library and Community Services to waive fines and fees, no need to come to Council. • Is curious about removing fines (amnesty) for adults every three to five years. • We should hire a consultant to run a fines amnesty program like other cities do. • Supports the amnesty program to remove past fine debt. • Agrees to amend schedule for fines but keep the fee schedule the way it is. • Wants to eliminate all fines, not just for children. • How would we envision piloting a year-long program? • Are we requesting anything different than what other libraries have done? • Likes the approach of taking the increase in revenue from Community Services class fees and using it to help with the loss of revenue offset. • What percentage of disabled accounts are fine vs fee based? • We should ask patrons for donations to go towards children’s blocked accounts. 3 Public Comment Members of the public made the following comments: • Is in favor of the study issue. • Concerned about not billing patrons for expensive items. • Fines and fees on unique collections vs printed books. 5 Adjourn Special Meeting Vice Mayor Smith adjourned the meeting at 7:00 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 2