Committee for A Plaza Station Library

We need a new library because libraries are a community asset for access to information, learning, and entertainment, serve as a community center, and because our existing library is too old, too small, seismically unsafe, too noisy, and difficult to access.

1. A library is more than a collection of books.

Public internet access is one of the functions of today’s libraries, but this is only a small portion of what a library provides. It is the gateway to information and learning, a community center, and a core asset to a community. The American Library Association discusses in detail the importance of physical public libraries today. See the various studies collected at “Libraries Matter” that show the value of libraries to community members. The annotated list includes studies about the economic, educational, and social value of libraries.

2. What is the history of libraries in El Cerrito?

The El Cerrito Library was established in 1913 and the current building was completed in 1949 (75 years ago). For detailed history see the El Cerrito Library Foundation’s history here.

3. What is wrong with the current El Cerrito library?

The current library is:

• Too old: At 75 years, it is beyond its useful life with no air conditioning, inadequate air filtering, inadequate heating, an insufficient electrical system, a dysfunctional drainage system, and worn out restrooms;

• Too small: According to the County Library Administration, the existing 6,500 square foot library is inadequate to provide popular programs or provide new services such as a technology center or a makerspace. The size also limits the size of the collection. Because space is limited, the library lacks a dedicated family reading area, a senior area, a teen area, group study areas, community meeting rooms, and office and workspace for staff. The size also limits the number of hours the library can be open to 46 hours per week compared to 56 hours per week for some other libraries in the Contra Costa County Library System;

• Unsafe: The library does not meet current seismic safety standards;

• Too noisy: The library does not block the nearby BART train noise that a present-day building would;

• Poor access: The library is difficult to get to, with inadequate parking and no public transit access. In addition, the library’s access for people with disabilities is not ideal.

Source: El Cerrito Plaza/Library Feasibility Study (August 2022) page 11

(Note: While the Facility Assessment Summary prepared by the City pictured above shows that the current library is located on School District property, this is erroneous. C4PSL verified with the City Manager’s office that the City owns the land that the library is built on, and the library building, but does not own the surrounding land, including the parking area.)

If El Cerrito voters approve the funding for the library, it will most likely be part of the BART’s project to create housing at the El Cerrito Plaza BART Station. The new El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station will have spaces for all types of library users, be appropriately sized, and will provide services found in most libraries today. In addition, the new library will meet earthquake safety standards and will provide a clean air, cooling, and heating refuge when needed.

Note that the ultimate decision on the design and location of the new library will be that of the city council after appropriate consultation with library users.

1. What will the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station provide?

The El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station will provide a variety of spaces to serve children, teens, adults, and seniors. It will have study rooms, a comfortable reading space, and meeting rooms. A larger library can provide new programs.

2. What is the planned size of the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station?

The El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station will be 20,000 square feet – more than three times larger than the current library – to meet the various needs of our community. It will be enough to serve the current city population and projected future growth.

3. How does the proposal compare to other libraries?

The current 6,500 square foot El Cerrito library, at just 0.22 square feet of library space per capita, is the lowest square footage per capita compared to other Bay Area cities with populations between 20,000 and 30,000. The next lowest is the San Pablo library with a 0.59 square foot per capita ratio. The proposed El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station would put El Cerrito squarely in the middle, providing 0.73 square feet of library space per capita. All figures are based on 2040 population estimates.

Source: page 12 of the El Cerrito Plaza/Library Feasibility Study (August 2022).

4. What services (programs, spaces, collections, and equipment) will the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station provide?

The El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station will have the space to provide services that are common to libraries today, including spaces and collections dedicated to specific age groups (children, teens, adults, and seniors), more computers for public internet access, more books, and multi-use rooms and reading areas. It will also have adequate storage and workspace for staff.

5. What new programs will be at the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station?

The new El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station will be able to offer programs like other new Contra Costa County libraries, including travel presentations, more story time, guest lectures on a variety of subjects, various interest book clubs, technology help, senior programs, and ESL conversation groups and meeting room space for existing homework help programs and Contra Costa Library programs like Project Second Chance, an adult literacy program.

6. What new spaces will be in the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station?

The current plans for the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station include spaces for children, teens, adults, seniors, and staff. There will be meeting rooms, group study rooms (enough space for 3 rooms for 4 people each and one room for 8 people), space for the Friends of the Library book sales and for the El Cerrito Historical Society, as well as adequate general use and storage spaces.

7. What new collections and equipment will the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station have?

The El Cerrito Library Foundation is working to raise funds to increase the number of books and build a one-of-a-kind collection for the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station. Donate.

The El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station could include a makerspace with a 3D printer, equipment for self-checkout, and more computers.

8. What input will El Cerritans and library patrons have on the design of the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station?

While state law limits the City’s input on the design of the BART Transit Oriented Development project, BART and the project developer have agreed to receive City input on the design process for Phase 3 of the project, which will include the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station. Input on the entire building design will be provided by the City’s Design Review Board.

In addition, the interior features and design specific to the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station will be subject to a City contract for design and construction of the interior space. The City will develop the library’s features and design through appropriate community involvement including community workshops and City Council decisions..

9. Will access to the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station be available to those who live outside the city limits?

By California law, any resident of the state may use the Contra Costa County Public Library, including the El Cerrito branch. To the extent that people are attracted to the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station near the El Cerrito Plaza / San Pablo Avenue / Downtown El Cerrito area, stores may experience increased business, adding to the sense of a community downtown district.

10. Will there be a café in or around the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station?

A café is tentatively indicated on the BART project developers’ plans for the building next to the building containing the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station. In addition, there currently is a Starbucks on Fairmount Avenue on the corner across from the proposed library.

11. Will there be space in the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station for El Cerrito Historical Society documents?

Dedicated space for the El Cerrito Historical Society is expected to be included as part of the planning process for the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station once the funding for the library is approved. In addition the library may include one or more historical displays which will be periodically changed by the Historical Society.

If the City provides funding, the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station is planned for the ground floor of the BART El Cerrito Plaza Transit Oriented Development Building C-West at the northeast corner of Liberty Street and Fairmount Avenue. The El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station would help create a real “downtown” area in El Cerrito.

1. What is the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) being planned for the BART El Cerrito Plaza Station?

Pursuant to state law, BART is creating Transit Oriented Developments (TODs) utilizing the parking lots owned by BART at some BART stations, including the El Cerrito Plaza Station. The development, principally for housing, is entirely under BART’s control, with some input from the City. More information about the TOD process and the Plaza Station TOD can be found at the following locations:

·  BART website

·  El Cerrito City website

·  El Cerrito Plaza TOD website

The current agreement between BART, the City, and the BART project developer sets aside space in the development for a 20,000 square foot library, if, and only if, El Cerrito voters approve a funding measure for the library in 2026.

2. What are the advantages of the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station, i.e., a library at the Plaza Station BART Project?

Fiscally sound: This is the least costly option — up to one-third less — for a new library because it is part of a development that will share much of the cost of infrastructure (e.g., building the shell and utilities), and other development costs.

Increased access: The El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station will be more accessible due to being located at the BART El Cerrito Plaza Station transit hub.

Faster completion: The El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station will benefit from being part of a development project that is already in progress.

Part of the downtown synergy: The El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station will benefit by being part of the synergy created by the BART project. It will help create a true sense of “downtown” in our city.

3. Is there enough room at the BART Plaza Station?

The El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station is projected to be on the ground floor of Building C-West of the BART project at the corner of Liberty Street and Fairmount Avenue. The footprint of that building provides a usable floor plan of 20,000 assignable square feet.

Source: Schematic Page 8.

4. Why not build the library on the current site?

The current library is on a parcel of land that is just 15,000 square feet. A 20,000 square foot library on the current site would have to be at least two stories high, resulting in much higher construction and operation costs due to the need for an elevator, stairwells, and staff on both floors.

A new stand-alone, one-story library would require a larger parcel to accommodate the building.

5. Why not retrofit an empty storefront such as the Barnes & Noble Bookstore or the soon-to-be-closed Joann Fabric and Craft building at the El Cerrito Plaza?

Converting an existing commercial building to a library is likely to be more expensive and would not have a defined timeline. No currently vacant commercial building of sufficient size is available for purchase in El Cerrito. If it were, it would not likely be at an affordable price. Use of a commercial building would require the City to purchase the building and the land and convert the building. In addition, a commercial building, whether in use or not, generates property tax revenue which would cease if the City owns it.

6. Why not build a stand-alone building in mid-town?

The success of the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan resulted in developers locking up all potential mid-town locations. There are no suitably-sized lots available for purchase at a reasonable cost. A library at the BART Plaza Station benefits from being on government-owned property. In addition, the cost of a stand-alone building would be 150% greater than including the library as part of the BART project.  This increase in costs occurs because the City would have to pay or all shell, utility, and other construction costs in a stand-alone building, some of which would be shared with the BART project developer in the construction of the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station as part of the BART project.

7. Will parking be available at the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station?

The City controls the on-street parking around the proposed library site and has indicated that it will provide appropriate green parking (limited-time spaces) and disabled parking spaces and access.

8. Where will a new library be built if it is not located at BART’s El Cerrito Plaza Station project?

If the funding measure fails and the library cannot be built at the Plaza Station, the City will have to find an available and affordable parcel and construct a more expensive, stand-alone library. Currently, no such parcels are available.

If the new library is part of the BART project, it should be completed and available for use by 2028 or 2029.

1. Why build a new library now?

El Cerrito has long needed a new library. The opportunity to build one as part of the BART Plaza Station development project is a limited-time offer that must be accepted by the end of 2026. It would provide a library that is both more affordable and accessible than any other option. If the City does not take advantage of this opportunity, it would be many years and many more dollars before we have a library worthy of El Cerrito.

2. What is the timeline for the development and construction of the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station?

The Library is part of the Affordable Housing Building C-West. Construction of this building is currently planned to start in 2027 and take less than two years.

3. Why is the library part of Phase 3 of the Plaza Station development?

The El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station was included in Phase 3 to allow the City time for a ballot measure to raise the funding needed to commit to the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station in the BART project.

4. When will design for Phase 3 of the BART project occur and when will the new library open?

Design of Phase 3 of the TOD, which will include the library if it is approved by voters, is expected to occur between 2026 and the end of the Spring of 2027.

Completion of construction for Phase 3 of the project and thus opening of the library will be by the third quarter of 2028.

5. If the library is not built as part of the BART project, when will it be built?

There are no current, affordable alternatives to the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station and the process of finding a location, purchasing land, and developing an affordable, stand-alone building is daunting. It is very likely that El Cerrito would not have a new library in the foreseeable future if it does not take advantage of this opportunity.

The division of responsibility between the county and the cities that form the Contra Costa County Library System is based on agreements between each city or town and the County. Some functions are the responsibility of the city or town, some are the responsibility of the County, and some are a joint responsibility. The proposed parcel tax will include funding for the first ten operating years for these expanded hours, freeing that cost from the City’s operational budget.

1. Who pays for and owns the El Cerrito library building?

El Cerrito owns the existing library building and has title to the existing library site. El Cerrito would be responsible for the cost of building the new library. For the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station, the City has said that BART would continue to own the land and the City would enter into a 99-year lease for the land at a nominal fee of $1 per year. The lease term is longer than the expected useful life of the building.

2. Who pays for maintenance, repairs, and operating costs of the library building?

The City of El Cerrito pays for the maintenance, repairs, and building operating costs (such as utilities) for the library building, regardless of location.  In the case of the Plaza Station Library the city assumes the cost of the maintenance and repairs in consideration for the nominal rental cost of $1 per year for 99 years.

3. Who pays for the library collection?

The library collection is generally paid for by the County, although the expansion of a collection for a new library, called the “opening day collection,” is the responsibility of the City. Sometimes the opening day collection is paid for or subsidized by the Friends or Foundation organization within the city. The El Cerrito Library Foundation has been fundraising for the “opening day collection” for a number of years. To donate, see their website.

The overall library collection consists of physical items (such as books, magazines, newspapers, and materials kept at the library and available for patron use or borrowing) and electronically available items that are available online to all library card holders (such as electronic books, magazines, and newspapers and other digital resources such as LinkedIn Learning, Ancestry Library Edition, Brainfuse, and Rosetta Stone. See for a full list of digital resources. Because the library collection is part of the overall collection of the county library, books at other libraries in the system may be requested by any patron to be delivered to the El Cerrito Library for their use.

4. Who pays for library personnel?

All library personnel are County employees. They are assigned to the various libraries by the county library administration.

The County pays for sufficient personnel to keep a library open for 40 hours per week. The City may pay the County for the cost of the personnel needed to keep the library open for additional hours. A larger library can be open more hours. It is expected that the parcel tax will include funding for these expanded hours freeing that cost from the City’s operational budget.

5. Who pays for the fixtures such as desks, chairs, bookshelves, computers, and similar items for the library?

The City pays for the furniture, fixtures, and equipment for the new library. Items required for the new library would likely be paid for from the parcel tax.

6. Who pays to move the existing collection to the new library?

The City pays for this. Constructing a El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station on a new site would allow public access to the existing library during construction and there would be no additional expense for moving and storing the collection during the construction of the new library.

The cost of the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station as estimated by the City is $21,214,000 for the building and improvements based on probable 2025 prices with 10% set aside for contingencies. (Source: City Council Agenda Item 8A, February 21, 2023, pp. 120-152.)

1. How much will it cost to build the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station?

This cost comparison is for illustration purposes and will be updated once the City releases revised cost estimates at the end of the summer. This analysis highlights the increased costs associated with the uncertainties of waiting to build a standalone library. This analysis does not present refurbishment of the existing library, as that would not meet the objectives of a single-story library at 20,000 square feet. The existing parcel is only 15,000 square feet in size.

A new library will cost more than the $21.3 million the City estimated in 2023. Until they publish new numbers at the end of the Summer, let’s assume the new Plaza Station Library will cost $28 million. The following table presents the construction numbers in a similar format to the City’s 2023 estimate found in Agenda Item 8A for the February 21, 2023 City Council Meeting.

These amounts represent a considerable savings over the cost of a stand-alone building because of the savings from having the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station be part of the BART project.

	City’s 2023 estimate for a Plaza Station Library with a 2025 construction	C4PSL 2025 guesstimate for a Plaza Station Library with a 2027 construction	C4PSL 2025 guesstimate for a Stand-Alone Library with a 2030 construction
Land Acquisition	$0	$0	$3,000,000
Building Exterior	$4,611,000	$7,000,000	$10,000,000
Interior Improvements	$5,775,000	$8,000,000	$8,000,000
Hard Cost Contingency	$1,558,000	$1,500,000	$3,150,000
Hard Cost Total	$11,944,000	$16,500,000	$24,150,000
Design Fee	$1,194,000	$1,650,000	$2,415,000
Construction Management and Owner’s Representative	$768,000	$996,000	$1,379,000
City Fees, Permit Fees, Other costs	$615,000	$797,000	$1,103,000
Soft Cost Contingency	$258,000	$344,000	$490,000
Soft Cost Total	$2,835,000	$3,787,000	$5,387,000
Furniture, Technology and Signage	$1,420,000	$1,420,000	$1,420,000
Enhancement Contingency	$2,000,000	$2,000,000	$2,000,000
Furniture, Fixture and Equipment Total	$3,420,000	$3,420,000	$3,420,000
Project Contingency	$1,194,000	$1,650,000	$2,415,000
Project Estimated Total in Year Estimated (2023 or 2025)	$19,393,000	$25,357,000	$35,372,000
Escalation to Construction Year	$1,988,000	$2,599,000	$9,773,000
Total Projected Construction Cost	$21,381,000	$27,956,000	$45,145,000

Since the City does not have this kind of cash sitting around, it will need to borrow the funds for construction. Let’s assume the tax-exempt borrowing rate is 4%. The following table calculates the interest paid over 30 years.

Principal	$21,381,000	$27,956,000	$45,145,000
Annual Interest Rate	0.04	0.04	0.04
Loan Period (years)	30	30	30
Interest	$15,713,000	$20,545,000	$33,177,000
Total Loan Repayment	$37,094,000	$48,501,000	$78,322,000
Annual Debt Service	$1,236,467	$1,616,700	$2,610,733

The area of developed building space in El Cerrito changes as old buildings are demolished and new buildings are built. The current area is shown in the following table.

Commercial	5,268,370	5,268,370	5,268,370
Residential	13,171,193	13,171,193	13,171,193
Tax Rate per square foot Required to pay Annual Debt Service	$0.07	$0.09	$0.15
Tax Generated Annually	$1,290,769.41	$1,659,560.67	$2,673,736.64

There are 6,600 single family homes in El Cerrito. The smallest is 500 square feet and the largest is 7,653 square feet. The average size is 1,703 square feet and would pay approximately $150 a year for the plaza Station Library construction.

Source: City Council Agenda Item 8A, February 21, 2023.

2. Are grant funds available for building the library?

Any grant amounts received will reduce the cost to the City for construction of the new library. The City continues to monitor possible grants available to pay for part of the construction of the library.

3. I heard that the City received a $20 million grant for the BART project. Is any of this money available for the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station?

The $20 million grant was allocated for infrastructure associated with affordable housing at the BART project. None of that money is available to fund the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station.

If voters approve the funding ballot measure, the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station will be part of Phase 3 of the project. The grant makes it more likely that Phase 3 of the project will proceed on schedule.

4. Does the City’s bond rating affect the cost of construction for the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station?

Because the proposed construction bonds are paid for and secured by a dedicated special parcel tax amount separate from the City’s operational budget, the City’s bond rating will have no effect on the cost of the bonds to fund the library project.

5. What would the cost of the library be if it were not part of the BART development project?

The El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station is the least expensive option for a new library for El Cerrito. It is estimated that costs of a stand-alone library would be least $31 million – or at least $10 million more than the cost of the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station. This is a major part of the reason that the library community strongly supports the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station. In addition, there currently is no other available site appropriate for a stand-alone library.

6. Would the cost of a new library escalate if funding is not approved?

If the funding for the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station is not approved by the voters, the City will lose the option of being part of the BART development project. This would increase the capital cost of a new library building to at least $31 million. This cost would increase over time as the City strives to purchase a suitable site. This estimate does not include operational costs.

7. What will happen to the property where the current library is located?

Once the new library is open and the existing collection transferred, the current library building and land will be subject to sale or reuse, as determined by the City Council. If the property is sold, the City can use the revenue for other purposes.

How will the cost of the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station be funded?

The El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station costs which are the responsibility of the City (construction, building operation, maintenance, repair, expanded hours, and some programs) are expected to be financed by a voter-approved special parcel tax.

1. What is a parcel tax?

A parcel tax is a tax charged on a parcel or property, There are two types of parcel taxes available as options to fund the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station — a general parcel tax and a special parcel tax.

2. What is a general parcel tax?

A general parcel tax charges each parcel of real property a percentage of the assessed value of that parcel. Proceeds from a general parcel tax are used for general obligation bonds which can only pay for capital costs, that is, the actual costs of construction of a building. General parcel tax proceeds cannot be used for furniture, fixtures or equipment, maintenance, or operations such as expanded library hours.

3. What is a special parcel tax?

A special parcel tax charges each parcel of real estate an amount based on an attribute like the type or size of the parcel or improvements on the parcel. Proceeds from a special parcel tax can be used not only for the payment of capital construction, but also for items that are not a physical part of the building (furniture, fixtures, and equipment) and for maintenance, repair, and operation of the building (including expanded hours.)

4. Why trust the City to spend the money on the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station construction and operation?

This is not a matter of trust. The special parcel tax will contain provisions expressly limiting the use of money raised by the tax for library construction and operation.

5. Who makes sure the money is spent correctly?

A citizen oversight board will be charged with the oversight of spending of the special parcel tax revenues and will hold publicly noticed, open meetings as part of its review process. The oversight board will report to the City Council on its review, which will be received, discussed, and acted upon by the City Council at a publicly noticed, open meeting. It is also possible that a city library commission may be established to provide additional input to the City Council on library issues.

6. Why is C4PSL supporting a special parcel tax, not a general parcel tax, for a general obligation bond?

As noted above, a general parcel tax that pays for a general obligation bond is strictly limited to the construction costs of a project and cannot be used for non-capital costs including maintenance, repair, and operations. This means that operating costs would have to be paid for through the City’s operational budget.

The City has the obligation to pay for maintenance, repairs, and operational costs of the library as well as supplying the building for the library. Except for the capital construction costs for the library building itself, these other costs cannot be funded by a general obligation bond, which is limited by law to capital costs. A special parcel tax can pay for non-capital items for the library, including furniture, fixtures and equipment, maintenance and repair, expanded library hours, and additional programs. Without a special parcel tax, these items will have to be paid for out of the City’s operating budget.

The revenues from and demands on governmental budget sources vary greatly over time due to fluctuations in the economy and changing priorities. However, most communities recognize that their library it is an invaluable resource that should be funded in good times and bad. To help ensure funding, some cities have adopted a library tax, either an additional sales or property tax whose funds are strictly limited to library purposes. For example, the Berkeley Public Libraries are funded by a property tax based on the building size on the property. This type of funding shields the valuable service libraries provide from the boom-or-bust cycle of economic fluctuations. And it permits the city council to make adjustments in its operational budget without harm to the vital function of keeping libraries open to all our residents.

7. How is the special parcel tax calculated?

One of the differences in law between a general parcel tax and a special parcel tax is how the tax is calculated. A general parcel tax is calculated as a percentage of the total assessed value of the property ad valorem. A special parcel tax is calculated by a fixed formula based on parcel attributes such as size of the property or building or the use of the parcel. It is not based on the assessed value of the property.

C4PSL is proposing a special tax based on the improved area of each parcel.

8. How much will the special parcel tax be?

C4PSL proposed an ordinance that will limit the tax rate to $0.17 per square foot of improved building area.

The estimated average residential parcel tax would be no more than $292 per year based on houses of an average of 1,716 square feet). The tax would be lower for smaller houses and higher for larger houses. Once the construction bonds are paid off, the special tax will end.

9. Will the rate of the special parcel tax be different for new home buyers?

The special parcel tax, for both new home buyers and those who have owned their property for many years, will be the same for a parcel of equal size and use.

10. How much will the special parcel tax rate be for commercial properties?

The rate for commercial property is the same as residential properties. Vacant parcels will be taxed at a maximum rate of $100 per parcel.

11. How much will the special parcel tax be for renters?

A special parcel tax is imposed on the property owner. Renters are not charged for property tax, including a special parcel tax.

12. How long will the special parcel tax be in place?

The special tax will end 30 years after issuance of the first bonds for construction.

13. Why not pay for the new library from the City’s General Fund?

The cost of the new library, like all major capital projects, is too much to be paid for from the City’s General Fund. Bond measures, funded by general or special parcel taxes, were created to allow for payment for major capital projects over time in the same way that most homeowners purchase their houses using a mortgage or deed of trust which allows payment over a number of years.

14. Will the Cost of Building the New Library Take Money From the City’s Operating Budget?

It is far too often and erroneously said by those opposed to a new library that El Cerrito’s budget cannot afford to pay for a new library. But this wrongly assumes that the cost of the new library is to come from the city’s operational budget. The tax that would be set up to pay for the new library, by law, would be entirely separate from the city’s general operating fund. The tax, thus, will neither become part of the operating fund nor will it take money from the operating fund.

To pay off the bonds to build the proposed new library a special fund will be set up, with a special tax to provide money for the fund. The fund is separate from and by law cannot be combined with the city’s general operating fund. The tax rate will be set to collect enough money each year to pay off the yearly cost of the bonds. At the end of thirty years enough money will have been collected and paid to retire the bonds.

15. Would the Special Parcel Tax Reduce Library Operation Costs in the City’s Operating Budget?

The special parcel tax would reduce the demands on the city’s operating budget for the first ten years. Currently library building maintenance and utilities, extended library operating hours, and other library costs are part of the city’s operating budget. The special parcel tax includes funds for these purposes for the first ten years of operation of the new library, removing the burden these costs currently place on the operating budget.

1. What is the exact ballot language?

The exact ballot language of the proposal will be determined by the City Council when it adopts the proposal for placement on the ballot. The City and City Council will surveying the preferences of the community to inform the actual ballot language and El Cerritans will also have an opportunity to present public comment on this matter when it is considered by the City Council. The final action will be informed by the results of input from city residents and other library patrons.

2. Who gets to vote on the special parcel tax?

All registered voters who reside in El Cerrito are eligible to vote on the special parcel tax on November 4, 2025, whether they own property or not.

3. How can I support the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station?

Anyone interested in supporting the new library is urged to get involved and work with the Committee for a El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station (c4psl.org or c4psl@gmail.com), the El Cerrito Library Foundation (eclibraryfoundation.org), the Friends of the El Cerrito Library (friendselcerritolibrary.org), the El Cerrito Library Commissioner (eclibrarycommissioner@gmail.com), and members of the greater library community to ensure that the new library meets the needs of all members of our community. We welcome your active participation and ideas. The library is for all of us.

Notes:

1. This FAQ discusses a proposed special parcel tax to fund the El Cerrito Library at the Plaza Station construction and operation that is expected to be on the ballot for the November 4, 2025 election. Until the actual measure is adopted by the City Council, the exact details of the ballot proposition are not known. C4PSL will update this website as soon as possible after the City Council action to reflect the actual special parcel tax being proposed. The City Council action is expected in mid-2025.

2. This FAQ discusses aspects of the proposed new library that will be part of the planning process once the funding of the new library is approved by the voters. The planning for new features and overall layout of the new library will be part of planning and design by the City Council and the BART project developer. The city will hold community workshops to help inform this process and public comment is also welcome at City Council meetings.