Library Deal Would Maintain Status Quo

Oakland Public Library Director Carmen Martinez sent an email to Piedmont Finance Director Mark Bichsel June 14 extending an official offer to provide library access to Piedmonters for $350,471 a year in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. Consideration of Oakland's proposal is on the agenda for Piedmont City Council's July 5 meeting. A final agreement would be voted on at a later date.

Piedmont had been paying Oakland about $350,000 annually for library services under a 10-year contract that ended in 2008. In April, Piedmont to cover 2009-2010, and again included that amount in the recently adopted city budget for the new fiscal year that began July 1.

The offer maintaining that rate comes after months of back and forths during which cash-strapped Oakland asked for more while Piedmont repeatedly refused.

among officials over whether Piedmont should pay something closer to the equivalent of what Oakland puts in per capita for library services—that would have amounted to as much as $525,000 a year for the smaller city.

Some argued that Piedmont should contribute a pro-rated amount based on the number of residents who actually use the library—administrative librarian Jamie Turbak 4,482 registered patrons from Piedmont in an email sent to the finance director last week. Others in the community suggested that Piedmont patrons should simply pay their own way so the city could take the obligation off its books.

In his staff report for the July 5 meeting, Piedmont City Administrator Geoff Grote recommends that an agreement leave the payment for 2011-2012 open for renegotiation should Oakland close any library branches. by Oakland Mayor Jean Quan's worst-case budget plan, but the city council passed a budget Thursday night that keeps all the branches open with existing service.

Service at the as the lease on the 41st Street location expires Oct. 31. Oakland is hoping to move the branch to a modular facility stationed in the Key Route Plaza parking lot across 41st Street or up Piedmont Avenue at the elementary school.