HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-03-01 City Council (14)City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
TO:
FROM:
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL 10
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: City Manager’s Office
DATE:MARCH 1, 2004 CMR 157:04
SUBJECT:CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENT OF PAULA SIMPSON AS
DIRECTOR OF LIBRARIES
RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends that the City Council confirm the appointment of Paula
Simpson as the City of Palo Alto Director of Libraries.
BACKGROUND
Municipal Code Section 2.08.020 requires that the
Manager’s appointment of City department heads.
City Council confirm the City
DISCUSSION
After an exhaustive, nationwide search, Paula Simpson has been selected to serve as Palo
Alto’s Director of Libraries, the first person in that position as a department head.
Paula served as the Director of the Monterey Public Library System from 1990 to the
current time. She reported to a Library Board of Trustees as well as to the City Manager,
and managed those challenges ably. She chaired the committee that conducted the
facility needs assessment for the library, drafted a Library Facilities Master Plan, and was
planning for a major expansion of the library. She spearheaded a pioneering agreement
with the City of Pacific Grove for a-shared integrated library system, resulting in
improved access to resources for customers and reduced capital and operating costs for
both libraries. She established such innovative new programs as the California History
Room; Homework Pals (a volunteer-based homework assistance program at six
elementary school after-school care sites); and Teen Zone (the Library’s first service area
for young adults). She has experience in strategic planning, grant writing, staffing
evaluation and assessment and remote access and web-based library services.
CMR:178:04 Page 1 of 2
RESOURCE IMPACT
The control point for the Library Director position is $130,020. The
providing Ms. Simpson with relocation assistance as authorized in the
Benefit and Compensation Plan. This will not include a real estate loan.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
This recommendation is consistent with existing City policies.
City will be
Management
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL
Emil trrison, Assistant City Manager
CMR: 178:04 Page 2 of 2