HomeMy WebLinkAbout0237.093I
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April 22, 1993
Honcrable City Couneil
Palo Alto, california
M£MBERS OF COUNCIL:
REPoRT IN BRJ.E.r
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The purpose of this report is to rccorn~end a budget amendment for
receipt and expenditure of federal Library services and
construction Act (LSCA), Title I, grant funds to improve access to
Librarr collections and services at the Mitchell Park Branch for
persons with visual disabilities.
BACKGROUND
Last fall, the California State Library armour.:ced a competitive
grant program using federal LSCA, Title I, funds to develop PUblic
Library Models for Americans With Disabiliti~s Act (ADA) compliance
with an emphasis on purchase of auxiliary aids, adaptive technology
and furnishings. Grant awards could range from $10,DOO -$30,000.
A condition of tho:; application req'.Jired that a self evaluaticr~ cf
policies, practices and programs be cOr;",pleted by the City and that
the propozal be consistent ,d th thE needs outl ined in the self
evaluation. staff identified several areas of need to make the
libraries more accessible and lIlorked wi'th t.he City'S D'isability
Awareness Task Force and community agencies (in particular the
Peninsula Center for the Bl ind and the Sensory-Access Foundation) r
to develop a proposal meeting the most urgent local needs and y.'hich
"Would be practical to implement. The final proposal for <$2S, 904
'Was submitted by the February 26, 1993, deadline; and the City •• :as
recently notified that. the application has bee_n approved fer full
funding.
CHR:237:93
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IMPROVING LIB~CCES~
consistent with the C~ty's self evaluation (C~~:157:9)}, the
Mitchell Park Library WClS identified as the target site for
improving access for persons 'Wit...,. visual di sabil i ties to the
Library's catalog anj collections, as well as to all printed city
docuI:Ients 'such as Council packets--including J:1inutes of the city
Council) .
This branch is strategicallY located near or9anizatjo~s (and their
staffs) serving special populations such as Recording for the
Blind, Foothill College's Middlefield campus (housing the EEACH
program for stroke survivors), SteVE'nson House, Contrnu!"1.ity Agency
f'or the Retarded (CAR). and the peninsula center for the Bli!1d.
Also, this branch is on a public transit route and has collecticns
serving both children and adults.
The grant monies will enable the pur-chase of:
*a special hardware and software unit fully co~patible ~ith
the DYNI){ computer catalog .... ith capability to enlarge print .an
the computer screen, prcvide voice synthesis via ear phones,
and al1o~ for assisted use by persons unable to use keyboards;
*a high resolution printer to provide copies of catalog
sea~ches in easy to read print;
*a print enlarger - a machine similar to one located at
the Main Library~ for enlargement of whole pages of any
printed or handwritten material for easy reading by
p2rsons 'With loss of some vision;
*a reading machine to enable blind persons to hear any library
or other materials rEad to them;
*a fax machine for materials to be sent from Main or
OowntoYn Library collections. or f'com City Hall, for use by
persons with disabilities using t~e special equipment located
at the Mitchell Park branch.
In addition, the grant provides funds :for the Librarf to contract
with toe Sensory Access Foundation {SAP) staff for 1) technicdl
a&sistance in installation of the equipment and 2) developing and
implementing training programs for the Mitchell Park staff, the
staff of agencies ser..ring persons with visual disabilities and the
general public. SAF, loc~ted on Sherman Avenue in Palo Alto, is a
nonprofit corporation providing training and services for people
with visual and hearing impairments reach their goals through the
use of sp~cial technology that enables them to acc~ss information
at school. at home and on the job. This grant provides the
opportunity fer SAF to train "tr3iners" for the first time and to
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learn about services of public libraries, which can be incorporated
into their b:=oader trair:ing kno"W'ledge and pr<:lgra'Z'<s to benefit
.future clients.
Staff is now plannjng the purchase of the equipment and ar~anginq
for the contract ~ith SAP. The program .... ill be implemented by this
summer and expenditures ~il1 be closed by the fall.
~E~NV~I~R~O~NM~E~N~T~A~L~~I~M~P~A~C~T-ASSE5SMENT
This program is not 3 proj ect as
Environmental Quality Act and is not
RECOMM}:NDA'I'IQN
defined by th~ california
subject to its requirements.
Staff recommends Council approval of tne attached Budget Amendment
Ordinance to reflect the receipt and expendit,ure of Library
Services and Construction Act, Title r, funds in the a.~ount of
$29,904.
Respectfully submitted,
7J7alAt,;h ~~~
Mary Jo ~
Director of Libraries
Attachment: Budget Amendment Ordinance
CHR,237,93
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ORDINANCE NO.
OROINJl..NCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CIT't OF pALO AL'TO
AMENDING THE 8UDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1992-93
TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL AFPRCPRIft.TICN
1'0 THE LIBRARY DIVISION OF THE cOMMur:r'rY SErtVICES DEPARTMENT
IN RECOGNITION OF RECEIPT OF FEDE~~L G~~T F~~DS
FOR PURCHASE Of EQUIPMENT TO ASSIST IN Iy.pLEMENTING
THE CITY'S A!"1:ERICANS WITH DISABILITIES +:a.CT (ADA) PLAN
WHEREAS, pu.rsuant to the provisions of secticn 12 of Article
III of the Charter of the City of Palo Alto, the Council on JI.ln~
22~ 1992 did adopt a budget for fiscal year 1992-93; and
WHEREAS I the Federal Governnent has made available grant funds
to 1 ibraries for the purchase of equipment to improve access t.o
library collections for persons with visual disabilities; and
w"'HEREAS~ the City has completed an ]l..D.~ self-evaluation plan
ccnsistent with Federal grant requirements; and
wHEREAS. the City's Library Division has identified Mitchell
Park Library as the target s1 te for purchase of equipment such as
a high resolution printer, a print enlarger~ and a reading rnac~ine
to enhance access for persons •• rith visual disabilitloes; and
~riEREAS. grant funds can be used to contract technical
services in installing the equipment and :for training Mitchell
Library staff in the provision of servi ces to persons with visual
ciisabilities;
NOW, THEREFORE, the C~uncil of the City of Falo Alto does
ORDATN as fo110 ..... s:
SECTION 1. Grant Revenue is increased by th8 SU1t', of l"",tenty
Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Four Dollars ($29.904) in the Library
Division for receipt of Federal grant [LJnds.
SECTIQ~_~. The sum of Twenty Nine Thousand Nine Hundred Four
Dollars ($29,904) is hereby appropriated to the Library Division as
follo",'s:
A. Contract Serv .ices. Three Thousar.d Ninety One Dollars
($3,091) ;
B. Supplies and Materials, '1'\"0 Hundred Ninety Fh·e Dollars
($2'5) ;
C. Facili ties and Equipment. purchases, TW'enty Six Thousand
Five Hundred Eighteen Dollars ($26,518).
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SECTION J. 'I"his transaction will h~ve no impact or: Reserves.
SECTION 4. Th-e council of the City of Palo Alto hcreb 1" finds
tbat the enactment of this ordina~ce is not a project under the
california Environrne'ntal Quality Act and, therefore, no
ehvironmental impact ~sse$snent is necessary~
SECT!ON.. __ ~.
Municipal Code,
adoption.
As provided in S3ction 2.04_375
thi~ ordina,nce shaJ 1 become
rNTRODUCED AND P.I.SSED:
AYES:
NOES:
AfiSTEl'TIONS:
ABSENT:
ATTEST: APPROVED!
cIty Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Sr. Asst~ City p.ttorney----
APPROVED:
city Manager
Director of Communi"ty Services
cf the Palo Alto
effective upon