Foes Blast Library Tax Plan

The El Cerrito City Council Chamber

Opponents of a proposed new library tax dominated public comment at the City Council meeting on Dec. 2, arguing that the proposal is risky, expensive, and not the type of library that El Cerrito needs now.

People also spoke about the city’s general fund reserves, a service delivery study, the city’s agreement with Caltrans to repave San Pablo Avenue, a trail-building plan, a grant to remove eucalyptus, and the Sundar Shadi Holiday Display.

Library Tax Vote Likely in 2026

A proposed new library tax is likely to appear on the ballot in 2026 after its supporters turned in to the city initiative petitions containing 2,468 signatures. To qualify their initiative for the ballot, they must submit valid signatures from 10 percent of the registered voters in El Cerrito, or about 1,780 signatures.

Signatures are still being verified, but opponents are gearing up to campaign against the measure.

By putting the tax on the ballot as a citizens’ initiative, campaigners for the tax can win with only 50% plus one vote. Normally a tax requires “yes” votes from two-third of voters.

Opposes Library Location and ‘Yes’ Campaign’s Approach

At Tuesday’s council meeting, Dianne Brenner objected to the strategy to work around the need for a two-thirds vote. She said supporters are using a citizens’ initiative because research paid for by the taxpayers twice showed a city proposal to build a new library in the planned El Cerrito Plaza transit-oriented development would not pass.

The tax initiative does not specify that a new library must be located in the Plaza development. However, the campaign for it is funded and run by the Committee for a Plaza Station Library. The measure’s author is Greg Lyman, treasurer of the Plaza Station Library committee. Building a library at the BART site is a goal in the city’s strategic plan. A majority of council members have supported a library there since at least 2019.

Brenner said congestion will get much worse at the BART location where approval is in place to build 743 apartments in six buildings. The library would be on the ground floor of a six-story affordable housing building.

If the city agrees to become the tenant of a 20,000-square-foot retail space there, it benefits the developer by providing a locked-in tenant, Brenner said. The proposal calls for leasing the space at $1 per year for 99 years.

A Need for ‘Honest, Complete Information’

Betty Buginas said she opposes the plan to move out of the library building on land the city owns in order to lease a space at a highly-congested site that the city will never own. Working with other agencies and private developers adds to the complexity and risks, she said.

Buginas, a retired newspaper editor and teacher who produces the El Cerrito Wire Facebook page, said residents are not getting the honest, complete information they need to make an informed decision.

“If we had the kind of newspaper coverage we once had, we would know the actual costs of this project (and) that in-person use is declining, the city has more pressing needs, and that this will only add to the city’s financial problems,” Buginas said.

Not the Library People Need Now

Justin Chang said the proposed 20,000-square-foot library would be three times bigger than the existing building at 6510 Stockton Ave., and that much space is not needed.

“I know this has been talked about for 10 or 15 years,” he said. “But times have changed. You can access the entire world of knowledge from your home now.”

Chang said a library in the Plaza development has been “proclaimed as a $20 million library” but even if that were true, the true cost to taxpayers would be more like $70 million over 30 years due primarily to interest on the loan.

‘A Reckless Proposal’

Laurie Schrey said she uses the library almost weekly and does not want to start paying taxes for a future library when there is not a “well thought-out detailed plan to build a modern library.”

She said other options like rebuilding the current library or repurposing empty buildings have not been given serious consideration.

“This is a reckless proposal that will only benefit the developer and the few people behind it,” Schrey said.

Expand or Renovate Existing Library

Marlene Metcalf, who said she is in her 70s and living on a fixed income like many of her neighbors, expressed her “deep opposition” to the proposed project, saying the proposal is not well thought-out.

“We have a nice well-placed library on Stockton Street that is owned by the city,” she said. “I would prefer a thoughtfully designed expansion or renovation of it.”

Support Trail Building Effort

In other public comments, Brian Richmond and another speaker for the El Cerrito Trail Trekkers said they would like more support from the city in their efforts to build a planned trail in El Cerrito.

“The city has created more roadblocks than any city around us,” Richmond said.

Check Plan to Remove Eucalyptus

Richmond also congratulated the city on obtaining a grant to remove eucalyptus. However, he said the area where the trees would be removed did not seem to be in the highest risk area. He asked the city to look closely at the plan.

Keep the 17% Reserve

Michael McDougall, vice chair of the city’s Financial Advisory Board (FAB), said the board does not want to see the city’s general fund reserve go below the 17% level that was achieved in recent years.

At its Oct. 21 meeting, the City Council endorsed a plan to spend $6.1 million on the swim center, a new fire engine, and a new audio-visual system – a decision that would cause the city to dip below its target of 17% in general fund reserves for about a decade if nothing else changes.

Wants to See Service Delivery Study

In addition, McDougall said the FAB is “very interested” in the service delivery study that is underway and would like to see it as soon as possible.

A consultant is under contract with the city to look at how the city might deliver services in the most cost-efficient way. Council members have said they hope the study will provide ways to cut costs.

Contract to Repave San Pablo Avenue

Steven Price, co-founder of the advocacy group El Cerrito/Richmond Walk & Roll, said he is concerned about the city’s agreement with Caltrans to repave San Pablo Avenue. He said he questions whether the work should go forward without considering “that there may be an opportunity to restripe the street for Complete Street use.” Price said recent collisions on San Pablo show there is a need to improve the safety of the street.

Sundar Shadi Holiday Display

Greg Lyman, in his role with the nonprofit group that maintains, sets up, and takes down the holiday display left to the city by the late Sundar Shadi, said volunteers are needed to help with set-up on Saturday, Dec. 13, and for other jobs. Visit the website for more information.