Seattle Budget Committee of the City Neighborhood Council
Brian Livingston, Chair – Tel: 206-282-1069; Fax: 206-282-1248
Irene Wall, Vice Chair – Tel.: 206-784-8731; Fax: 425-453-7107Summary of Seattle Public Library Board Resolution:
The Citizen Implementation Review Panel
Adopted November 24, 1998The Seattle Public Library Board of Trustees on November 24, 1998, adopted 5-0 a resolution re-affirming the Library’s commitment to enhanced financial reporting to the public in the implementation of the Libraries for All capital plan, and establishing a Citizen Implementation Review Panel. The Libraries for All plan was approved by voters on November 3, 1998. The City Council requested that the Seattle Library Board adopt a resolution committing to enhanced financial reporting and citizen accountability for the implementation of this plan.
The following is a summary of the Seattle Public Library Board resolution:
1. Citizen Implementation Review Panel. While not relinquishing any of its fiduciary or legal responsibility ver the expenditure of Library capital and operating dollars provided through Proposition 1, the Board desires to work closely with other citizens who can provide constructive criticism and act as a sounding board for community opinion. To that end, the Library Board will establish, by March 31, 1999, a Citizen Implementation Review Panel, which will have thirteen (13) voting members. The membership will be composed of six (6) members representing the City Neighborhood Council or District Councils, to represent the six geographic regions of the city; six (6) members-at-large chosen by the Library Board; and a member to be chosen by the other 12 members, all members to be confirmed by the City Council." Members will serve staggered three-year terms.
2. Enhanced Financial Reporting. It is the intent of the Board that "the financial accounting for the Library for All plan will set the highest possible standard for public disclosure and integrity." To accomplish this goal, the resolution requires monthly reports at a minimum, with all dollar amounts spent or projected to be spent for each neighborhood library broken out individually. In addition, the Library will use best efforts to provide access to information, during normal business hours at the Central Library within ten working days, when an individual makes a specific, detailed request for identifiable records which contain information that is not available in any such report (including, but not limited to, copies of receipts documenting specific expenditures).3. Opportunity Fund. As part of other public processes for the use of the Opportunity Fund, the Board will seek specific recommendations from the Panel regarding allocations of the Fund.
4. Efficiencies. The Citizen Implementation Review Panel will make recommendations to the Board about ways to use design to bring efficiencies to the construction and maintenance of new and improved library facilities.
5. Recommendations. The Citizen Implementation Review Panel may make recommendations directly to the Board, and may also, at its option, refer legislation directly to the City Council for referral to the Culture, Arts, & Parks Committee, or its successor.
Web site publication: 30 December 1998