DUTIES: After voter approval of the Library Parcel Tax measure in November 2004, the City Council appointed the Library Commission as the Citizen Oversight Committee to conduct an annual public hearing and prepare an annual report informing the Council and public of the appropriateness of expenditures and the results of the annual audit on or before December 31st of each year.
The ballot measure reads as follows:

To support neighborhood libraries, including: buying needed books and materials; preventing severe reductions in hours; preventing deep cuts in children’s reading programs; shall the City of San Jose replace the expiring library assessment with an annual parcel tax in the same amount, $25 for single-family residences and proportional for other properties, adjusted for inflation capped at 3% annually, limited to ten years and subject to independent audits and citizen oversight?

The Library Parcel Tax proceeds are to be used for library purposes only, including but not limited to the acquisition of library books and materials, the costs of maintaining library collections; the development and delivery of homework and educational programs; the repair, equipping and staffing of libraries; and the cost of collection and administration of the Library Parcel Tax.

RELATIONSHIPS: The City Council is the final decision making body of the City, and the Committee acts on all matters referred to it by the Council. In its capacity as an advisory body, the Committee works most closely with the Library Department.

QUALIFICATIONS: Members of the Committee must live in San Jose. Committee Members must have a keen interest in the library system and the communities it serves, and should be able to work well with other Library Commissioners, staff and the public.

MEETINGS: The Citizen Oversight Committee typically meets on the second Wednesday of each December at 7:00 P.M. at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, 150 E. San Fernando Street, 2nd Floor,Conference Room (225/229). Committee Members spend 4-6 hours preparing for and attending the regular meeting.

BENEFITS: There is no compensation for Committee members. However, from time to time, Committee members may be reimbursed for some expenses incurred on City business.

POLITICAL REFORM ACT OF 1974 AS AMENDED: The Conflict of Interests Section of the Political Reform Act applies to the Citizen Oversight Committee; however, Committee Members are not required to file a Statement of Economic Interests.

APPOINTMENT PROCESS : As the Library Commission was appointed by City Council as the Citizen Oversight Committee, the following text makes reference to the Library Commission. All applications received are submitted to the Project Diversity Screening Committee for review according to the needs of the Commission as specified in a Needs Assessment Memo. Applications will be forwarded to the City Attorney for a Conflict of Interest review and thereafter, the applicants will be asked to appear before the Screening Committee Members for an interview. Following interviews, the Screening Committee will develop a list of applicants which will be submitted to the Council Member Liaison to the Commission. The Liaison will forward the list to the Rules Committee of Council either with or without a supplemental recommendation. The City Council makes the final appointment to the Commission based on Rules Committee recommendations.

ATTENDANCE: Committee Members are expected to attend all Commission meetings. San Jose Municipal Code Section 2.08.060 specifies that a Commissioner who has unexcused absences from any three consecutive regular meetings, or 20% of the meetings in a calendar year, is deemed to have resigned from the Commission.

For further information about the Citizens Oversight Committee for the Library Parcel Tax, please contact the Library Commission Staff at (408) 808-2355.