Library Advisory Commission - Regular Meeting

Usually, you have some kind of an armada over there. Woah. Cheer squads here. Yeah. Are we ready? Everybody okay. Here we go. Alright. Good evening, everybody. Today is 10/20/2025. Meeting of the library advisory commission is called to order. Madam secretary, would you call order to determine quorum, please?

Chair Golterra?

Here.

Vice chair Meeker?

Here.

Commissioner Gabbitt? Here. Commissioner Laverne Davis?

Here.

Commissioner Nicole Davis?

Here.

Let the record reflect all commissioners are present.

Okay. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. Okay. Commissioners, are there any chain oh, I'm sorry. Let's move on to the approval of the agenda first. Do we have any changes to the agenda, commissioners?

Nope. None

at this time then. K. Seeing none, go ahead and use your, touch pads there. May I call for a motion and a second, please, to approve the agenda? I don't think so.

I don't see it. Of us on here.

Vern Davis moved to accept the agenda.

And a second? I second the motion.

Okay. We have a motion and a second.

Yes.

Okay. Let's go ahead and move on to the administrative update. Mister Rasalis, may we have your update, please?

Sure. I'll give, the general library updates, then I will invite our assistant management analyst, Gretchen Sedlacek, come, come down and give a presentation on our library closure. So first and foremost, our, an update for the children's library expansion project mobilize mobilization has begun. You could see that fencing has been installed around the Carol Carson Garden of Verses and kind of extends out into the dirt lot just north of the the library. So Town Square Parkway along that that area is closed through for through traffic, but the parking lot remains open in its entirety.

So the that can still be used. However, the the road closure will remain in effect throughout the entire duration of the construction project. Right now, site demolition is underway. So if you have been to the library lately or if you haven't been to the library lately, you will see that the Carroll Carson Garden versus looks vastly different. We have or the the construction company has removed a large portions of the wall.

The trees also have been removed, and they're just getting the site ready. The site preparation will continue through October through early November and with grading and compaction. So that's we're looking forward to that. From October to through mid December, the crews are gonna focus on-site utilities, which relates to storm drainage utility structures and tie ins to existing systems. So all of that work is going to be happening quite soon.

And then according to the schedule foundation and slab on grade work is scheduled to to go through mid November through through mid January. So that's gonna be pretty exciting stuff when we see the concrete actually being laid down. The library does intend to remain open throughout the duration of the entirety of the construction project, but there is going to be some changes. There will be a closure from December November 3 through the seventh where we will be shifting collections, and I will let Gretchen speak about that when when she comes down and gives her presentation. Continuing to fundraising and community support, currently, the Murida Library Foundation has raised over 168,000.

So they've been doing fantastic with the fundraising. Friends of the Murrieta Library has con it has is slated to give a 104,000, but it could raise also as time goes on. And we are working with the water districts, and right now we've secured 110,000 in in funding for for the exterior garden. So the garden will be renovated and expanded as mentioned before. So combined right now, the total community and agencies board exceeds about $382,000.

So there's a lot of community support for this project. The foundation and library staff continues community outreach to get the word out and help raise funds. We recently were at the cars and bikes rally at Murrieta Mesa High School, and so that was with a in conjunction with their band. And we did recently give a presentation to the Murrieta Lions Club, which did result in a few few donations as well. Speaking of fundraising, the foundation is going to be hosting two restaurant fundraisers to help support the project.

First one is at Chick fil A this Wednesday actually, October 22, the Chick fil A location on Madison. So you can go to the go to that restaurant, mention the fundraiser, and a portion of the sale portion a percentage of the sales will go to benefit the expansion. And then on Tuesday, October 28, the foundation has set up a fundraiser with Epic Wings, and they will be donating 20% of all sales that day. And you can just go in all day and mention the fundraiser as well. So both fundraisers are offer an easy way to get involved.

So hopefully, we see you all there and and get your dinners and lunches and all of that. We continue to work with the city's public information office to get all of these messaging out all the messaging out. We have messages on right now about the closure on our city website. We're posting we're gonna be posting stuff on social media, and we're also going to be posting a sign on the digital display board right here on CALMEA and Jefferson. Moving on to some staffing updates.

We have conducted several recruitments, and we have done two internal promotions. We have one internal promotion. One of our staff members promoted to full time library assistant two and another one to part time library assistant one. And we also have hired externally for one part time library assistant two and also two part time library pages. I know kind of confusing.

There's a lot of titles there with the ones and the twos, but we soon we soon should be fully staffed. And I just wanted to, you know, also make make clear that all hiring and promotion decisions were were basically based on merit and experience and with demonstrated qualifications in in, consistency with city policies and procedures. Right? So right now, the new staff is is onboarding, and so we are excited to have them help us with this move that we're gonna be conducting. Some programs and events.

We in September was National Library Card Sign Up Month. The campaign resulted in seven four four hundred seventy five new or renewed accounts, and several patrons received a tote bag through a opportunity drawing. So that was exciting. Regular programs such as story time, library for all, maker workshops, chess club, and garden rock throughs continue to gain strong attendance as you can see in the attached statistics report. The library did participate in the great shakeout this year, so we actually evacuated patrons as well.

Those of those of them that wanted to participate. Those that didn't wanna participate just came back after the the great shakeout, but it's never too it's never too much to be prepared for the next earthquake. And the teen advisory council will be hosting the library's booth at the upcoming dark in the park trunk or treat event on October 24, so we're excited to see what kind of booth they come up with, and they I'm sure they will represent the library quite well. Regarding technology and operations, the library recently went over an update to Polaris, our integrated library system, which is basically the the system that we use to check-in and out materials, you know, take care of patients' accounts, fines and fees. So that went went well.

And now just moving forward, we're gonna look look forward to the the upcoming construction progress, continue to communicate, to the public all of these changes and efforts and support the foundations and the Friends fundraising opportunities and and the closure. So as I mentioned earlier, the closure will happen on November seventh. During the closure, we will offer curbside pickup which will be from the fourth through the seventh. So to for on more on that, I'd like to invite Gretchen Sedlacek, our assistant management analyst, to give a short presentation on some of the details of our closure.

Good evening, commissioners and members of the public. My name is Gretchen Sedlacek, assistant management analyst for the library, and I'm here this evening to talk about the upcoming temporary closure of the library. The library will be closed, as Melvin mentioned, for five days, Monday through Friday, November 3 through November 7, to safely relocate materials and furniture in preparation for construction on the children's library expansion project. This short closure allows staff and project partners to complete the move efficiently and safely before renovations to the current children's area begin later in November. Library staff and moving contractors will move the children's collection, furniture, and shelving to temporary locations within the library and storage areas.

This will ensure that the library can continue to serve the community during construction. The library will be offering curbside pickup for holds on Tuesday, November 4 through Friday, November 7, next to the staff entrance on the south side of the building. When an item or items are ready, the patron will receive a notification with instructions for pickup. Browsing the collection inside of the library will not be available during the closure. The outdoor book returns will remain open throughout the closure, and Library of Things items can be returned at the curbside pickup location next to the staff entrance.

Digital resources, e books, and audiobooks will remain available 20 fourseven via the library's web page, and library staff will be available by phone and email to answer questions during the closure week. However, in person programming, computer use, and printing will be paused and will resume after reopening. When the library reopens on Saturday, November 8, the layout will look a little different. For example, the current children's area will be blocked off for construction and renovations. The children's collection and seating area will be temporarily located in the current teen area.

The teen collection will be partially moved into the adult area, and some furniture and shelving will be stored off-site during construction construction to make room for the work area. Library programs and events will take place in the lab. These changes are temporary and will remain in place until the new children's area is completed in the 2026. Construction has begun in the Carol Carson Garden of Verses, as Melvin mentioned, and will begin in the children's area later in November and is anticipated to continue through October 2026. As always, you can follow the city of Murrieta and Murrieta Public Library on social media and visit the library's web page for construction updates, service changes, and reopening news.

This concludes my presentation. Are there any questions or comments? No. Thank you. Okay. Thank you very much.

Okay. That concludes, our administrative updates. If there's no, questions or or comments.

We have a question.

Yes, sure.

Are the restaurant fundraisers on social media so we can share them?

Yes. They should be on our social media. We did post the flyers. And I believe they're also on the foundation's social media page as well.

Okay. Thank you.

I did have one thing. Remember the folders that I think the city made out about the expansion?

Yes. The brochure you're referring to back a couple years ago?

It's big.

Yes. Uh-huh.

Yeah. Do we have any more of those?

No. I think we've given all of those out, so we haven't reprinted any. But we do have some flyers available. They're available at the front of the of the library. Okay. And then also we've just given some to the front desk here at City Hall.

Okay. Thank you.

Okay. At this time, let's go ahead and move on to public comments. We'll take any public comments. Any person, may address the library let me try that again. Any person may address the library advisory commission on any subject pertaining to city business, which does not relate to any item on listed on the agenda. Normally, no action may be considered or taken by the library advisory commission on any matter not listed on the agenda. Speakers are limited to three minutes. Madam secretary, do we have any non agenda public comments?

Thank you, chair. We do not have any non agenda public comments.

Okay then. Let's go ahead and move on to the consent calendar. All matters listed on the consent calendar are to be considered routine by the governing body and will be enacted by one motion in the form listed. There will be no discussion of these items unless before the governing body votes on the motion to adopt specific items are removed to the sorry, removed from the consent calendar for separate motions. Okay. So at this point, using your touchpads, may call for a motion and a second, please, to approve items one and two on the consent calendar.

Motion carries unanimously five zero.

Okay. Let's go

ahead and move on to discussion items. Mister Siles, may we have your report on the bulletin board handouts and petitioning policy, please?

Sure. So the bulletin board handout and petitioning policy basically outlines guidelines for our community information boards and information racks. And so basically, our mission is to provide educational and cultural and civic information to the community while maintaining a safe and neutral welcoming environment for all patrons. So with this in mind, we took a look at our our existing policy, and we decided to to revise, accordingly. So what this purse what's this policy does is basically it, establishes procedures for submitting materials for posting and distribution.

It ensures equitable access of the limited display pace displays space that we have in the library. It clarifies prohibited content, and it also manages expressive activity such as petitions consistent with the First Amendment. So the last revision to this policy took place back in 2022. And this year, we conducted a review of the policy in coordination with the city's attorney's office to ensure that the policy remains compliant with constitutional standards governing public spaces and that the language also reflects the best practices for for library spaces. So with that, I'd like to open it up to the commission for any questions, comments, recommendations regarding the the policy.

Otherwise, the the recommendation tonight is basically to, recommend that the commission review and recommend the approval of the revised, policy if there are no, recommended edits.

Okay. Commissioners, does anyone have any comments on the policy?

I don't know if I have a comment, but a question. Sure. Can and I don't wanna put you on the spot by any means.

But Yeah.

Can you kind of talk about some of the changes that were made? Do we make any changes from the 2022 policy?

Yes. So there was one the major change was a redundancy. So there was an extra section in here that talked about basically the distribution guidelines and the commonly posted materials again. And so we reduced that redundancy by just incorporating it all into one section. Another change was that since we are allowing community newspapers, we, took out some verbiage regarding, like political candidates, ads, things of that nature because community newspapers could potentially include some of that content.

Okay. So like candidates aren't putting anything on the bulletin boards or any like candidates for local office, you say?

Yes. So this was more in the community newspapers. If a community newspaper if we accept community newspapers, we would have to allow if they put a candidate's information inside of that community newspaper, we would have to allow it. Otherwise, it would be content based prohibition, which would be, I guess, against the First Amendment I'm not too with the attorneys. So they recommended that change.

Okay. Thank you. Okay.

Seeing no other comments or or having any questions at this point, can we use our touchpads and make a motion and a second, please, to recommend the adoption of the bulletin board handouts and petitioning policy.

Motion carries unanimously. Five zero.

Okay. Let's go ahead and move on to commission member announcements. Commission member announcements is the opportunity for commissioners to provide miscellaneous reports and announcements. You will I'm sorry. At this let me fast forward here. So if you have any miscellaneous reports or announcements to make, this would be the time for that. We'll start with vice chair Meeker.

Oh, none for me. Thank you.

Commissioner Gabbitt?

No. I don't have anything.

Commissioner Laverne Davis?

No. Thank you.

Commissioner Nicole Davis.

I have a question.

Yes. Sure.

Are we you doing the booth at the Santa's arrival?

Oh, yes. Oh, thank you. I totally forgot to put that in in my update.

Yes. Okay. Good.

We will be participating, at the arrival, I guess, event at the Temecula Promenade on on November 15. And so we are very excited about that. My apologies. Commissioner Davis was actually the one that was able to connect us with the event coordinator of it. And so I think this is gonna be a fantastic opportunity for us to get the word out, not only about the library, but primarily about the expansion and all the exciting things coming up. So we're we're excited to participate on that. So that'll be November 15 from 4PM to 7PM.

Okay.

Great. I just wanna make sure it worked out.

Thank you. Yes. Thank you.

That took some getting started,

so thanks for doing that. Yeah.

Let's go ahead and continue with commission member request to add items to future agendas. Commission members request to add items to future agendas is the opportunity for commissioners to request a particular item or items to be added to next meeting agenda. You will I'm sorry. I almost said that differently again. Vice chair Meeker, do you have anything?

No. Thank you.

Commissioner Gabbitt? No. Commissioner Laverne Davis? No. And commissioner Nicole Davis?

No. Thank you. I

really enjoyed the last time I read back through the notes of the last meeting. When you brought the high school students fantastic. Loved hearing from them. I'd like to hear almost an update on how how it's going. They said they were gonna look into some things to bring in future not future, but current students in the future. Yes. And start packing up the library. Mhmm. Just wanna know how that was going. It doesn't need to necessarily be the next meeting. Mhmm. But eventually, maybe at the semester

Yeah.

Seeing how they're doing it. Yes.

I think that'll be a fantastic idea. They actually just met, I believe, yesterday. So the group I believe we have the largest teen advisory council we have right now to to date, so we're excited about the participation. And I believe, you know, the next time we have them back, I'm sure they'll be very thrilled to be to be before you again to give another update.

That's all. And that's all I have, you guys. Mhmm. Okay. So with no further business, may I ask for a consensus to adjourn the meeting? We have nothing else, pending. Each commission will respond. So can I get I don't need a first and a second for this one, but I'll just read through here? Vice chair, Maker. Aye or nay? Oh, aye. Thank you. Commissioner Gabbitt. Sorry. I probably should've. Aye. Commissioner Laverne Davis. Aye. And commissioner Nicole Davis.

Aye.

It's helpful not to go off script very often. This meeting is now adjourned. Thank you all for being here. Really appreciate it.