Blog note: this article references a recent grand jury report.
The controversial 3-to-2 vote by Escondido’s City Council Wednesday night to pursue a plan to outsource the public library’s operations leads some to think the possibility of building a new library is dead.
The council, led by Mayor Sam Abed, voted to pursue a contract with Library Services & Systems Inc (LS&S), a private for-profit company that says it will save the city $4 million over 10 years in operational costs, and far more than that in pension payouts.
Councilmen John Masson and Ed Gallo supported the plan while Councilwoman Olga Diaz, at times crying while she spoke, said she thinks supporting outsourcing will doom any chance the city might have had next year of passing a $50 million bond measure to build a new library in Grape Day Park.
Mike Morasco also voted against outsourcing the library operations, saying his brain was telling him it was a good fiscal move but his heart and gut wasn’t so sure.
“It’s not that I’m against outsourcing,” Morasco said minutes after the vote, which came at the end of a passion-filled 4-½ hour meeting which included testimony from nearly 90 speakers, all but handful of them opposed to the plan.
“I’m a big fan of outsourcing,” Morasco said. “I think in this particular case I was surprised that we didn’t have an actual contract that had already been vetted. That concerns me. In the long run it could very well be something I’ll fully support. I just thought tonight was not the time to make the final decision.”
Diaz said that only once in her nine years on the council has she felt truly inspired. That was when last year Masson proposed going to the public for a bond to construct a new state-of-the art library. She said she decided to run for reelection last year mainly to see that happen. But now that the community has been disillusioned by the council’s outsourcing action she thinks there’s no chance there will be enough support to pass an expensive bond measure which would require a two-thirds vote.
“One moment of inspiration is going to be completely washed away by a moment of false frugality and a misinformed purpose,” she said.
“If we move forward (with the outsourcing) our community is not going to trust that we have their best interest at heart and the core constituency that we need to help us promote, support, vote for and pay for that new library vision — we’re losing them. That to me is the biggest travesty.”
She concluded by saying that if the council voted to outsource library services she can’t support a library bond in the future.
In a staff report prepared for the council, City Manager Jeff Epp called the threat by members of the public to not support a new library if management is outsourced, “ironic.”
“These same dedicated community members and experienced volunteers claim they will now abandon efforts to build a much-needed new facility and help these same needy patrons simply in protest of this proposed decision. Whether these sentiments will resonate among all current and potential volunteers remains to be seen,” Epp wrote.
Masson called threats not to support a bond “insanity.”
“Why would you go against a library bond to build a new bitchin’ library of the future just because we have a private company operating it? I just don’t understand the mentality,” he said.
Near the start of the meeting retired Escondido attorney Roy Garrett, who has successfully challenged other city council actions over the years in court, suggested that state law forbids them from doing what they are proposing and implied that litigation could well follow such a decision.
Karen Tatge, the president of the employee union that represents many of the library staff of about 40, also submitted a letter from the union’s attorney that implied litigation could be forthcoming.
Escondido City Attorney Michael McGuinness said all legal issues will be vetted prior to the council being asked to sign a contract. He said upon an initial review he didn’t think Garrett’s assertions would hold legal water.
All the council members except Diaz expressed dismay at the tone of many of the emails and comments they have received from residents in the past few months. Morasco said Diaz had “hijacked” the process by suggesting the council was trying to sneak something by the public.
While Gallo was speaking, he was interrupted by shouts from the gallery.
“I’ve spent over three hours listening to over 90 speakers and I never said a word. I never grunted. I never frowned. I never did anything,” he said. “I would expect at least half that respect from you guys toward me. I’m tired of this crap.”
Technically, the council voted only to authorize city staff to begin negotiations with LS&S, to begin talks with the labor unions that represent library employees, and then to come back for a final vote to approve the contract.
During the council discussions, Abed emphasized that something must be done about a looming unfunded pension liability crisis threatening the city. But he said he wouldn’t be in favor of outsourcing if it was just about money. He said he believes LS&S will improve library services and expand the library’s hours. He referenced a recent County Grand Jury report that concluded the city’s needs were not being met by the library as it now exists.
He urged people to give outsourcing a chance and said if LS&S isn’t living up to the contract it could be canceled in the future.
“Rest assured that the Escondido Public Library will remain the Escondido Public Library ... and we are going to make it a better library,” he said.
August 24, 2017
The San Diego Union-Tribune
By J. Harry Jones
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