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Page 1
ATTACHMENT #1
PR&CE Committee Meeting of 04/13/2009
Library Services for Dover
and Kent County
OPTIONS FOR THE FUTURE
PR&CE Committee Meeting of 04/13/2009
ATTACHMENT #1
Page 2
Range of Choices
• Exploratory Exercise by Executive Staff
• Options Defined by Major Distinctions
• Not Exhaustive - Other Permutations Possible
• Pros and Cons Debated
Page 3
Options:
• City Built & Owned Anchor Library
• Equal Share Funding Option
• Consolidation Option
•B n
ranched C nonsolidation Option
• Dover Single Library Option
• Do Nothing Option
Page 4
The City Built & Owned Anchor
Library
• Dover Responsible for 100% of Construction
• Dover Owns Anchor Library
• Kent County Continues Reciprocal
Borrowing Library Tax
Page 5
The City Built & Owned Anchor
Library
• PROS:
– No Capital Expense to Kent County
– Continuation of County Library
– City Retains Control of City Library
Page 6
The City Built & Owned Anchor
Library
• CONS:
– Achieving Funding Goal Further Away
– Potential of Anchor Library Not Materializing
– Possible Fee for Non-City Residents
– Continued Duplication of Services
– Increased Cost to the City
– Citizen Unrest
Page 7
The Equal Share Funding Option
• Both Contribute $3.7 Million to Capital Cost
for Anchor Library
• Continue to Operate Two (2) Separate Library
Systems
• Kent County Continues Reciprocal Borrowing
Library Tax
• No User Fees for Dover Anchor Library
Page 8
The Equal Share Funding Option
• PROS:
– Capital Funding Goal Attained
– County Residents Access Free of Charge
– County Maintains County Library Services
– Anchor Library Is Built Sooner
– Less Capital Cost to the City
Page 9
The Equal Share Funding Option
• CONS:
– Depletes Capital Funding for County
– Eliminates Immediate Funding for Smyrna &
Harrington Library Construction
– D li
uplication of Services Continues
Page 10
The Consolidation Option
• Consolidate Library Services in Anchor Facility
• Cease to Operate Separate Facilities
• Each Contribute $3.7 Million to Capital Cost
• Formation of Library System is Operated by
Library District Commission
• City of Dover is included in Library Tax
• Library Tax used to Operate Library System
Page 11
The Consolidation Option
• PROS:
– Capital Funding Goal Attained
– Eliminates Duplication of Efforts
p
– Reduces Overall Operational Expenses
– Increased Reciprocal Borrowing Funds for Smyrna,
H i
arrington & Milford
– Increases Revenue for Capital & Operations
Financing
Page 12
The Consolidation Option
• CONS:
– Potential Library Tax Increase
– City and County Give Up Direct Control
– Ci i
tizen Opposition to Closure of Kent County Library
– Will Require Amendment to State Law for Commission
– Depletes Library Capital Reserve – No Immediate Funding
for Smyrna & Harrington Library Construction
– Existing Staff Anxiety Over Consolidation
– Travel Distance to Library Increases for Some County
Residents
Page 13
The Branched Consolidation Option
• Same Governance Structure as in
Consolidation Option
• Library Commission Operates Kent County
Library as a Branch Library
Page 14
The Branched Consolidation Option
• PROS:
– Creates Single Governance Structure
– Eliminates Duplication at Management Tier
– Preserves Kent County Library
– Satisfies Advocates for Both Libraries
– Provides Variety of Facilities and Programs
• CONS:
– Most Costly Option
– Depletes Library Capital Reserve - No Immediate
Funding for Smyrna & Harrington Library Construction
Page 15
The Dover Single Library Option
• Dover Builds Anchor Library
• Kent Closes County Library
• County Contributes $3.7 Million to Dover
• County Continues Reciprocal Borrowing Tax
• No User Fee for County Residents
• City May Assume Bookmobile
Page 16
The Dover Single Library Option
• PROS:
– Dover Continues to Own and Operate a Library
– Eliminates Duplicate Services & Competing
Interests
– Eliminates County Budget for Library Services
– Dover Citizens Do Not Pay Dedicated Library
Tax
Page 17
The Dover Single Library Option
• CONS:
– Kent County Library is Eliminated
– Citizen Opposition – Negative Social/Political
Implications
– Only County Residents Pay Library Tax
– Eliminates Immediate Funding for Smyrna &
Harrington Library Construction
– p
Operating Cost of Anchor Library Born Solely by Dover
– Increased Operating Cost to City for Book Mobile
Operation
Page 18
The Do Nothing Option
• Dover Postpones Anchor Library
Indefinitely
• Dover Continues to Operate Library at 45
South State Street
• County Continues to Operate County
Library
• Reciprocal Borrowing Library Tax Remains
in Effect
Page 19
The Do Nothing Option
• PROS:
– Library Services Remain Status Quo
– Capital Reserves for Library Facilities Remain
Un-Spent
– Avoids Potential Increase in Operational Costs
– Avoids Anxiety and Disruption of City and
County Work Force
Page 20
The Do Nothing Option
CONS:
– Delivery of High Quality Facility Delayed
– Opportunity Costs Will Increase Over Time
– Deterioration of Library Services Due to
Increased Usage Over Time
– Library Services in Central Delaware Remain
Below National Standards
Page 21
ATTACHMENT #2
PR&CE Committee Meeting of 04/13/2009
Dover/Kent County
Regional Library District
A Conceptual Framework for a
Unified County Library System
PR&CE Committee Meeting of 04/13/2009
ATTACHMENT #2
Page 22
A Regional Library System
z WHO: Kent County & Dover Initially
z Expandable to Include Other Municipalities
Page 23
Why A Regional System?
z Library Services – A Common Goal
z Pooling Resources Will Go Farther
z Eliminates Duplication of Efforts
z Eliminates Unnecessary Competition
z High Quality Services & Facilities
Page 24
How Would It Work?
z Inter-Governmental Agreement
z Establishment of Library District
z Formation of a Library Commission
z Supported by Library Tax
Page 25
The Intergovernmental Agreement
z Executed by City Council & Levy Court
z Forms Dover/Kent County Library System
Pursuant to Delaware Code Title 9,
Chapter 8
Page 26
Purpose
z Formation of Regional Library District
z Unified Governance Structure
Page 27
Vision
z A Hierarchy of Library Facilities and
Services Evolving Over Time to Meet
Changing Needs of Central Delaware
Page 28
The Library District
z Initial District:
z City of Dover
z Unincorporated Kent County Except Towns of
Smyrna and Harrington, and Milford Library
District
z Expandable to Include Smyrna and Harrington
at Their Decision
z To be Known as Library District #1
Page 29
The Library District Commission
z Seven (7) Member Commission
z Three (3) Levy Court Appointees
z Three (3) City Council Appointees
z One (1) State Librarian Appointee
z Expansion Members
z Two (2) Smyrna Appointees
z Two (2) Harrington Appointees
Page 30
The Library District Commission
z Officers:
z Chairman
z Vice Chairman
z One (1) Year Terms/No Limitations
Page 31
The Library District Commission
z Meetings
z At least One (1) per Month
z All Meetings Open to Public
z Minutes to be Prepared & Maintained by Staff
Page 32
The Library District Commission
z Powers and Duties
z Enactment of Management Policies
z Appointment of Library Administrator
z Adoption of Rules of Procedure
z Legislative Affairs
z Contracting Authority
z Annual Budget & Library Tax Rate
Page 33
The Library District Commission
z Powers and Duties (continued)
z Debt Management
z Asset Ownership
z Annual Reporting
z Annual Financial Audit
z Management of Revenue & p
g Expenses
z Administration of Grants
Page 34
The Library Administrator
z Powers & Duties:
z Manage all Functions of Library System
z Hiring of Employees
z Enforcing Policies Adopted by Commission
z Advisor to Commission on Policy &
Management
Page 35
Library Commission Employees
z Staffing d
Adequate to Operate System
z Transfer of All Existing City & County
Library Employees on Voluntary Basis
Page 36
Library Commission Employees
z Transferring Employees
z Commission’s Classification & Pay System
z Re-Position Employees into Positions that
Match Most Recent Job duties
z Equivalent Salary & Wages to City/County Jobs
prior to Transfer
Page 37
Library Commission Employees
z Probation Period:
z 6 Months for New Hires
z Transferring Employees are Exempt
Page 38
Library Commission Employees
z Benefits
z New and Transferring Employees shall be
offered the same benefits as are provided by
the Commission
Page 39
Library Commission Employees
z Leave
z New and Transferring Employees shall receive leave
benefits as determined by the Commission
z Transferring Employees accrued leave shall be
transferred with the employee to the Commission
p
z The City or County shall pay to stated beneficiaries
all unused transferred leave for any Transferred
Employee that retires, leaves employment, or dies
Page 40
Library Commission Employees
z City and County shall retain Personnel
Files of Transferred Employees for a
period and prescribed by State Law
z City and County shall allow Library
Administrator access to Personnel Files for
Transferred Employees
Page 41
Library Commission Employees
z Retirement Plans
z Transferring Employees vested in City or County retirement
plans shall remain in the retirement plans that they are vested in
z New Hires and Transferring Employees who are not vested in a
retirement plan shall be afforded access to Retirement Plans as
may be ff
offered by the Commission
z Transferring Employees who have at least 50% of time toward
vesting in either the City or County retirement plan shall remain
a participant in that plan
Page 42
Library Commission Policies
z Policies to Guide Administration,
Management and Governance
z Including but not limited to:
z Employment Policies
p
z Procurement Policies
z Public Service Policies
Page 43
What’s In A Name?
z Dover/Kent Regional Library Commission
z Central Delaware b
a Library o
Commission
z Kent County Regional Library Commission
z Dover Metropolitan Library Commission
z Others
Page 44
It’s Important Because:
z Provides Unified System
z More Cost Effective Approach
z Higher Quality of Facilities & Services
z Creates One Agenda & One Budget
z True Partnership
Page 45
ATTACHMENT #3
PR&CE Committee Meeting of 04/13/2009
Analyzing the Costs of
Consolidation
Consolidation:
What are the Costs?
What are the Savings?
PR&CE Committee Meeting of 04/13/2009
Capital Financing through Savings – Is this
possible?
ATTACHMENT #3
Page 46
Source of Annual Revenues
Two Existing Libraries, FY08-09 v.7
Government Source Dover Library Kent County Library
Dover General Fund 614,000 -
Kent County General Fund - 597,200*
Kent County Recip. Borrowing Fund 458,000 -
State Library Funds 247,000 187,000
Dover Fines, Fees, Membership 55,600 -
$1,374,600 $784,200
TOTAL $2,158,800
•Nets out $128,800 indirect costs
Page 47
Estimated Annual Operations Cost
Dover/Kent Anchor Library
Salary 1,150,000
Material 210,000
Utilities 138,000
Other Direct 160,000
Courier 30,000
TOTAL $1,688,000
z Assumes 46,000 square feet, 2 floors, sufficient self-checkout, Wi-Fi and other
current library technology.
z Utility uses $3.00S.F. based on comparable at $3.27 less 10% for Green Design
z Open 71 hours – Monday thru Thursday, 9 AM to 9 PM; Friday and Saturday, 9 AM
to 6 PM; Sunday, 1 PM to 6 PM.
Page 48
Estimated Annual Savings
$2,158,800 (Cost of Two Libraries)
-$1,688,000 (Cost of One Anchor)
$ 470,800 (Estimated Savings)
Page 49
How Much Money Needed To Fund
Dover/Kent Anchor Library?
$1,688,000 Annual Operating Budget
- 434,000(1) State Library Funds
- 70,000 Estimate Fines, Fees, Memberships, etc.
$1,184,000 Needed in Operating Funds Local Sources
(1)
z 187,000 Kent County
z 247,000 Dover
z$434,000
Page 50
Dover/Kent County Taxes
Current Sources of all Funds by Library
Smyrna/
Kent
Dover Harrington/
County Total
Library Milford
Library
Libraries
Kent County Library Tax - 458,000 186,000 644,000
Kent County (General Fund) 597,200 - - 597,200
Dover (General Fund) - 614,000
, - 614,000
,
TOTAL $1,855,200
Page 51
HOW DO WE FUND OPERATIONS LOCALLY?
Funding p
Option A
Using the Library Tax & General Funds
Assumptions: Library Tax stays at $.037; add Dover to Library Tax Base,
Dover and Kent contribute General Fund Revenue to Anchor
Kent Dover Smyrna/ Anchor
County Harrington/
Milford
Library Tax – current .$037 - - $186,000 $458,000
Dover added Library Tax - - - $297,000
Kent General Fund $106,000 $261,060
Dover General Fund $170, 703
$292,000 $1,186,763
$1,478,763
Page 52
What does Option A do ?
Library Tax Applied to Dover Properties Yields $297,000
Raises $1,184,000 locally needed for Anchor
General Fund Contributions Based on Kent Assessment used
for Library Tax and includes Smyrna, Harrington & Milford
Net Savings to Kent Tax Payers: $230,140
($597,200 existing - $367,060 proposed = $230,140 Net Savings)
Net Savings to Dover Tax Payers: $146,297
($614,000-$297,000(L.T) -$170,703=$146,297)
Dover reduces Property Tax $297,000 to offset new
Library Tax
Page 53
Operating Funding Option B
Using the Library Tax
Assumptions: Increase Library Tax 57% ($0.058/$100); add
Dover to Library Tax Base, Remove Library Expenses from Kent &
Dover General Fund
Kent Dover Smyrna/ Anchor
County Harrington/
Milford
Library Tax (1.57 X Existing) - - $292,000 $719,060
Dover added Library Tax - - - $467,703
($297,900 x 1.57)
$1,186,763
$1 478
,478,763
Page 54
What does Option B do ?
Increased Library Tax (5.8¢/$100) Applied to Dover
Properties Yields $467,703
Raises $1,184,000 locally needed for Anchor
Net Savings to Kent Tax Payers: $230,140
($597,200 existing - $367,060 proposed = $230,140 Net Savings)
Dover R d
educes Expenses & Property Tax - $467,703
Net Savings to Dover Tax Payers: $146,297
Increases Smyrna, Harrington and Milford Funding by 57%
Separates Dover and Kent from direct library funding.
Page 55
How does Kent County Raise $3.7million
without increasing taxes?
County savings benefit in both options = $230,000 surplus
$230,000 will finance ≈ $ 2.7 million in bonds*
+
$1.0 million Capital Reserve
$3.7million
*4.53% Average Coupon Rate, 20 Year Term
Page 56
Why is this Good for Kent, Dover, Smyrna,
Harrington & Milford?
Anchor Larger than both Libraries (more than double)
Everyone has access to a Modern State of the Art
Library
Fair to Smyrna/Harrington/Milford, increases funding 57%
Greater library support from Anchor to
Smyrna/Harrington/Milford
- Librarian Training
- Greater Material & Collection to lend
-Co-operative Programming
Efficiency of one Library
NO IMPACT ON TAXES
R d
educes overall expenses
Version # 7 2/24/09
Page 57
ATTACHMENT #4
PR&CE Committee Meeting of 04/13/2009
Page 58
ATTACHMENT #5
PR&CE Committee Meeting of 04/13/2009
Page 59
ATTACHMENT #6
PR&CE Committee Meeting of 04/13/2009
CHAPTER 114 – VEGETATION, ARTICLE II – WEEDS IN FULL CONTEXT
1 Sec. 114-31. Definitions.
2 The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed
3 to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
4 Weeds means grass, weeds, bushes and any other vegetation, other than trees, ornamental
5 shrubbery, flowers and garden vegetables that are properly tended.
6 (Code 1968, § 30-1; Code 1981, § 21-16)
7 Sec. 114-32. Maximum height.
8 It shall be unlawful and a nuisance for the owner, occupant or tenant of any premises, or any agent
9 caring for or in charge of the premises, to permit any weeds, underbrush, deleterious or unhealthful
10 growths, or other noxious matter to grow to a height of eight inches or more.
11 (Code 1968, § 30-4; Ord. of 9-13-1976; Code 1981, § 21-17; Ord. of 8-28-2000)
12 Charter references: Power of council to define nuisances, subpart A, § 18.
13 Sec. 114-33. Failure to maintain proper height; abatement by city; costs and lien.
14 (a) Summons; action by city. In the event that any owner, occupant or tenant of any premises
15 within the city, or any agent caring for or in charge of the premises, shall permit any grass, weeds,
16 underbrush, deleterious or unhealthful growths or other noxious matter to grow to a height of eight
17 inches or more as prohibited by this article, then the health inspector or fire marshal or his
18 authorized agents shall issue a summons showing a violation of section 114-32, said summons to
19 be served personally or by certified mail upon the owner, occupant, or tenant of the premises, or any
20 agent caring for or in charge of the premises. The summons shall cite the violation of this article and
21 shall be accompanied by a letter or a copy of the relevant provisions of this article stating what
22 corrective action must be taken and shall state the consequences for failure to take such corrective
23 action. If the violation is not corrected within three days from the date of personal service of the
24 summons or within seven days from the date of mailing of the summons by certified mail, then the
25 city, at the direction of the health inspector or the fire marshal, may remove the weeds, grass,
26 underbrush, deleterious or other unhealthful growths or other noxious matter growing to a height
27 in excess of eight inches or more in violation of section 114-32 and charge the responsible person
28 $50.00 per hour for such work that must be done to render the property in compliance with this
29 article. When the owner, occupant, or tenant of any premises, or any agent caring for or in charge
30 of the premises, has received summonses and fails to take corrective action, and the city has
31 corrected the violation in accordance with this subsection, then no further notification shall be
32 necessary for the city to take any further corrective action on any subsequent violations within the
33 following 12-month period starting from the date of the first corrective action by the city.
Page 60
Proposed Ordinance #2009-08 In Full Context PAGE 2
34 (b) Failure to pay charges. In the event that the owner, occupant, tenant or other agent caring for
35 or in charge of the premises is deemed to be in violation of section 114-32, and in the event that the
36 violation is corrected in compliance with subsection (a) of this section, and if the charges assessed
37 by the city for correcting said deficiency are not paid, then the city, after having corrected the
38 deficiency and violation, shall place its charges and expenses as specified in the municipal lien
39 docket as a lien against said property, and the city solicitor shall be directed to enforce said lien or
40 to collect the charges imposed by the city by any other means that he may deem desirable and most
41 advantageous.
42 (Ord. of 9-13-1976; Code 1981, § 21-18; Ord. of 7-27-1992; Ord. of 8-28-2000)
43 Sec. 114-34. Fines.
44 (a) Generally. Any person convicted of a violation of section 114-32, regardless of corrective
45 actions taken, shall be punished for that violation by a fine of not less than $25.00, nor more
46 than $100.00. Any such fine shall be in addition to any charges or assessments imposed
47 upon the violator pursuant to section 114-33(a). All fines imposed shall be in accordance
48 with the minimum fine schedule set out in subsection (c) herein.
49 (b) Each day. Every day that a violation of section 114-32 continues shall be considered a
50 separate offense, for which the violator may be tried and convicted without necessity of
51 further notice.
52 (c) Minimums.
53 (1) Any fine assessed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be no less than
54 the minimum amount set out in the following schedule:
55 a. First offense . . . $ 25.00
56 b. Second offense . . . 50.00
57 c. Third and subsequent offenses . . . 100.00
58 (2) In determining the applicable minimum fine, an offense shall be considered a
59 recurring offense only if the defendant has previously pleaded, or been found guilty
60 of causing or permitting the same nuisance at the same location within the past 18
61 months, or for every day that the violation of section 114-32 continues as per
62 subsection (b) of this section.
63 (d) Lien. Any fines imposed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section which remain unpaid
64 shall be placed by the city as specified in the municipal lien docket as a lien against the
65 property on which the violation occurred, and the procedures for enforcement or collection
66 of said lien shall be as set out in section 114-33(b).
67
68 (e) When not paid. Fines not paid within 14 days of the day the fine was issued, including
69 the day the fine was issued, shall be automatically doubled in amount.
70
71 (Code 1981, § 21-19; Ord. of 3-23-1992; Ord. of 7-27-1992; Ord. of 9-22-2003)
Page 61
Proposed Ordinance #2009-08 In Full Context PAGE 3
72 Sec. 114-35 Exceptions.
73 The following shall be considered exceptions to the eight-inch height maximum:
74 (a) Riparian Areas. Areas within seventy-five feet of the bank of a perennial stream or lake
75 or within 25 feet from the outer edge of a stormwater management pond shall be permitted
76 to include stream bank vegetation, including grasses, shrubs and/or trees.
77 (b) Agricultural Areas. Areas that are actively used for the cultivation of fields, including
78 seasonal cover crops, shall be exempt from this requirement.
79 (c) Approved Natural and/or Meadow Areas. Areas that have been planted as meadow areas
80 or areas that are being allowed revert to natural vegetation, with approval of the city
81 planner and the city manager, shall be permitted in accordance with the approvals granted
82 by these offices.
Page 62
CITY OF DOVER
PROPOSED ORDINANCE #2009-08
1 BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DOVER, IN
2 COUNCIL MET:
3 That Chapter 114 – Vegetation, Article II – Weeds, be amended by adding a new Section 114-35
4 – Exceptions, as follows:
5 Sec. 114-35. Exceptions.
6 The following shall be considered exceptions to the eight-inch height maximum:
7 (a) Riparian Areas. Areas within seventy-five feet of the bank of a perennial stream or lake
8 or within 25 feet from the outer edge of a stormwater management pond shall be permitted
9 to include stream bank vegetation, including grasses, shrubs and/or trees.
10 (b) Agricultural Areas. Areas that are actively used for the cultivation of fields, including
11 seasonal cover crops, shall be exempt from this requirement.
12 (c) Approved Natural and/or Meadow Areas. Areas that have been planted as meadow areas
13 or areas that are being allowed revert to natural vegetation, with approval of the city planner
14 and the city manager, shall be permitted in accordance with the approvals granted by these
15 offices.
16 ADOPTED: *
17 SYNOPSIS
18 The proposed ordinance would exempt riparian areas, active agricultural areas, and
19 approved natural and meadow management areas from the eight-inch grass/weed
20 height maximum. This measure would improve water quality in the City by allowing
21 these areas to take up water and filter run-off before it reaches water bodies.
22 Actions History:
23 April 13, 2009 – Introduced at PR&CE Committee