According to various documents obtained by The Beacon from SaveSantaClaritaLibraries.wordpress.com, the possible takeover of the County Libraries was first mentioned publically at a City Council meeting on July 13, 2010 in coached statement form Councilwoman Laurie Ender in which she claimed; “Uh….I also have some information to share. I’m really excited about this. I had mentioned libraries earlier, but, um… Mayor Pro-Tem McLean and I have been spending a lot of time talking about libraries….”
Ender went onto say; “If the City were to assume the responsibility for our local library services, we could use all the local library tax dollars to do a lot of different things….We could also use the money to help pay for the construction of the Newhall Library, which would free up the redevelopment funds for use on other redevelopment projects in Old Town Newhall. Or… we could use the funds to build a bigger library for the Valencia Library, which is severely impacted by being a too small a facility.”
According to the documentation passed onto The Beacon, much of which was compiled through freedom of information act requests, some City of Santa Clarita Staff had been discussing the library takeover with Library Systems and Service Inc. (LSSI) as early as March of 2010. The first meeting between LSSI representatives and City Councilmember’s Ender and McLean however was not until May 27, 2010.
What that shows is that the City staff were meeting with or having discussions with LSSI for nearly three months before any meeting with Ender and McLean.
What’s even more amazing is the fact that less than 36 hours after Ender’s library statement at the July 13, 2010 City Council meeting the City had a website, www.santaclaritalibrary.com, ready to go! In a July 16, 2010 email, Darren Hernandez, Director of Administrative Services for the City of Santa Clarita, asks City Management Analyst Ingrid Hardy; “Can you take a look at it and let me know what you think?”
Ms. Hardy responds with; “Wow! Overall I think the site looks great. My only comment is that two key documents (Pros and Cons and Los Angeles County Cities with Independent Library Services) are somewhat hidden under documents and articles. In addition to these documents being on this page, I would recommend drafting a couple of bullet points on the Facts and FAQ page that directly links the reader to these documents.” She is basically surprised at how robust the site is and is making a recommendation so the public can find some “hidden” documents more readily. Is this the kind of site full of documents and articles that could be thrown together in 36 hours?
In a July 28, 2010 email memo to the City Council members, City Manager Ken Pluskamp sends out questions and answers, some regarding LSSI, prior to any public discussion of the City to leave the L.A. County Library system.
Pulskamp states in the email that; “Several questions have been posed and statements made regarding the Council’s consideration of assuming operation of the City’s libraries from the County Library. The purpose of this memo is to inform you of these questions and statements and to provide you with correct information.”
One of the statements he references is; “A private library management firm such as LSSI won’t hire professional librarians. To save money, they will hire only library “technicians” or “associates.” Pulskamp answers; “Fact: This statement isn’t correct. LSSI employs public library professionals to staff the libraries they operate for their client cities. For example, 31% of the staff of the Moorpark City Library (which is operated for Moorpark by LSSI) has a master’s degree in library science (MLS). Librarians who work for LSSI are paid generous salary and benefit packages, including a matching 401k retirement program.” He is essentially pitching the virtues of LSSI as if it is already a done deal.
On August 2, 2010, Jon Bischetsrieder, a City of Santa Clarita Purchasing Agent, is requested by Darren Hernandez to put up on the City’s website a “Request for Proposal” (RFP). Again, this is before the August 24 City Council meeting, before any public discussion and before the City Council even votes to leave the County Library system.
In an email dated August 3, 2010, Purchasing Agent Jon Bischetsrieder sends Mr. Hernandez an email expressing his concern about the time frame for the RFP. He says; “I’ve already voiced my time frame concern but again, I believe rushing the process will create extra work down the line. We don’t include quite as much detail as the San Joaquin RFP. Some of it is because since we don’t currently operate the system so we don’t have the detail. Some of it is we don’t have the time to develop our expectations in more detail.”
Later that day, August 3, 2010, Mr. Bischetsrieder sends another email to Hernandez stating; “The library RFP will appear on the City’s website at 500 PM today….” The next day, August 4, 2010, he confirms that LSSI and another vendor have downloaded the RFP package.
Less than an hour later, City Council Executive Secretary Judy Skinner receives a phone call from Chris Collier, a lobbyist working with LSSI, requesting meetings between City Council members and executives of LSSI. Ms. Skinner arranges the meetings with Council members Weste, Kellar and Ferry for Tuesday, August 10, 2010.
By August 12, 2010 it is indicated in an email from Purchasing Agent Bischetsrieder to Darren Hernandez that a second bidder “would not be able to submit due to the short timeframe….” This apparently shows that by the City rushing into this library takeover scheme they have denied the public of a competitive bidding process.
On that very same day, City Management Analyst Ingrid Hardy sends a note to Hernandez basically discussing LSSI as if they already have the contract. She asks Hernandez; “With LSSl being a contractor, will there be a liaison between LSSl and the City Council?” By the close of the RFP bidding period on August 15, 2010, LSSI has emerged as the only bidder and the deal appears to be done before any public hearing or even a vote by the Santa Clarita City Council.
At the August 24, 2010 City Council meeting, regardless of the public outcry and opposition from a packed City Council chamber, the Council disregards the community and votes, 4-1 (Kellar votes no) to pass the a resolution to takeover the County Libraries within City limits. You can see many residents speaking out against the takeover here at this Nota FerryFan YouTube video: The Great Library Hijack of 2010!
By August 30, 2010, the contract negotiations were fully underway!!
The only person in the top leadership who appears to be looking out for City of Santa Clarita citizens is City Councilman Bob Kellar. But for his efforts he is being shutout; stripped of his committee positions and no doubt a target of the City’s spin-machine and lap dog newspaper for the next City Council election.
What this timeline shows is that the residents of the City of Santa Clarita continue to be hoodwinked by the current City leadership. This is but a microcosm of how the City Managers office operates; it is nothing short of a fiefdom.
The library takeover and awarding of a contract to LSSI was basically a done deal before the idea was even presented to the public which should raise a red flag to the community. It is a decision that needs to be investigated and questioned thoroughly.
Who is benefitting from this decision or is it a real estate shell-game to finance a new library while hiding the actual financial condition of the City? Maybe this will come out if the recent lawsuit that was filed proceeds in court.
This is typical and what many have come to expect from City leadership which continues to ramrod through decisions in a heavy-handed fashion and with total disregard for the wishes of residents. The outcome sometimes is disastrous like the Golden Valley eminent domain lawsuit that the City lost to the tune of $25.3 million.
So what can residents do about it?
As recent events in the Middle East have shown the world, citizens can rise up and force a regime change. The same can happen right here in the Santa Clarita Valley if City residents come out in mass at the next City Council meeting and send a strong message at the ballot box by booting out incumbent Laurie Ender. Or follow through on the chanting heard in the above mentioned video; recall, recall, recall!!
One thing for sure is that the City will continue to disrespect its citizens for as long as those citizens are willing to allow it.
Dave Bossert- Commentary
Dave Bossert is a community volunteer who serves on a number of boards and councils. His commentaries represent his own opinions and not necessarily the views of any organization he may be affiliated with or those of the West Ranch Beacon.
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