Latest Library News
- Livable El Cerrito
- Feb 19
- 3 min read
Library Tax Measure Delayed
The city no longer plans to put a library tax measure on the ballot in 2025 and is working toward a 2026 ballot measure to fund a new library within the El Cerrito Plaza transit-oriented development.
Meanwhile, the library remains open at 6510 Stockton Avenue. Starting March 1, 2025, the city’s library commissioner and alternate commissioner will be at the library during “office hours” to talk with people and listen to suggestions. The office hours for March and April are listed below.
Community Development Director Melanie Mintz said recently, “We were under the impression we would have to seek a (library) ballot measure in 2025.”
However, it appears that coordinating with the developer does not require that the city secure library funding in 2025.
City staff members and the developer are discussing the timeline for construction, which previously called for completing all six buildings with 743 apartments in four years. Final design of the building that would house the library was planned for spring 2025.
Council member Rebecca Saltzman noted it would be cheaper to put a library tax measure on the general election ballot in 2026 than to pay for a special election in 2025. The timing was discussed briefly at a City Council retreat on Feb. 1.
Meanwhile, the city is moving ahead with the Plaza Station library plan despite a lack of funding.
New Library Consultant
“We’re selecting a construction management firm to shepherd us through this process,” said Assistant to the City Manager Will Provost.
The city is seeking an "owner’s rep" as it negotiates with the developer, who would build the proposed new 20,000-square-foot library on the ground floor of a 69-unit apartment building.
Provost said the city issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a consultant in November 2024 and received eight responses. A finalist has been selected and, if funding is approved, the city will award the contract in March, he said.
“The (new library) project consists primarily of tenant improvements integrated on the ground floor of a 69-unit affordable housing building…as well as some site design elements to support the overall function, access, and operation of the new library,” the RFP states.
The RFP asks for a consultant to provide services to the city “throughout the design and construction of a new library.”
Asked why the city is moving forward now when voters have not approved funding for the project, Provost said that the city is “taking some preliminary steps now so that decisions made about the design, for example, are advantageous to placing a new library on the site.”
Provost said that initially city staff wants to “validate cost estimates and the overall outline of the public-private partnership.”
Funding for the construction management consultant would need to be approved by the City Council, Provost said.
So far, no grant funding has been obtained for the proposed new library at El Cerrito Plaza.
City spending on the proposed library in 2023-24 included numerous flyers and a $25,950 survey by Godbe Research evaluating opinions of El Cerrito voters about funding a new library.
Commissioners’ Office Hours
Recently, Library Commissioner Michael Fischer and alternate commissioner Bethany Woods announced they will be holding these drop-in “office hours” at the library.
Saturday, March 1st:1 PM - 3 PM
Tuesday, March 11th:10 AM-Noon
Thursday, March 27th:6 PM -8 PM
Saturday, April 5th:1 PM - 3 PM
Tuesday, April 8th:6 PM -8 PM
Thursday, April 24th:10 AM-Noon
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