REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the City Manager to Explore a Partnership with the Sunnyvale School District for the Joint Development and Operations of the Lakewood Branch Library and Learning Center
Report
BACKGROUND
On July 31, 2012, the City Council held a special joint session with the Library Board of Trustees to study future facility options for the Library and Civic Center. As a result of that discussion, the City Council directed staff to explore the construction of a branch library at the Lakewood School and Park site. The project was envisioned to be a joint facility with the Sunnyvale School District ranging in size between 10,000 to 12,000 square feet.
It should be noted that the "Sunnyvale Library of the Future Community Needs Assessment and Library Plan of Service" adopted by the City Council in 2007, stated that "to be cost effective and achieve an economy of scale, branch libraries should be of large enough critical mass to serve a significant portion of the total population. In Sunnyvale, the total service population and geographical area of the community, combined with greater proximity for some residents to regional libraries, strongly suggests consideration of no more than one branch library in addition to a main library. No less than 16,000 to 24,000 square feet should be considered, as a facility of smaller size would not require significantly less staff and might not make available the materials and services that would fully accommodate an area in the community."1 However, the subsequent economic downturn that occurred resulted in the downsizing of the project as the projected source of funding was limited to the proceeds resulting from the future sale of the Raynor Activity Center
In 2012, the City Council declared the Raynor Activity Center surplus property and authorized the sale of the property. Following a competitive process, the property was sold to Stratford School. A lawsuit was filed against the City in Janua...
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