Iv. Environmental Impact Analysis F
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IV. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS F. PUBLIC SERVICES 5. LIBRARIES 1. INTRODUCTION This section addresses potential impacts on the library facilities and services administered by the City of Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL). The analysis is based on information provided by the City of Los Angeles, Library Facilities Division and on information accessed on the LAPL website. 2. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING a. Regulatory Framework (1) City of Los Angeles General Plan Framework The City of Los Angeles General Plan Framework, adopted in December 1996 and again in August 2001, sets objectives and policies for library services in the City of Los Angeles. Objective 9.20 proposes to adopt a citywide library service standard by the year 2000. Policy 9.20.1 proposes the development of library standards dealing with the facilities’ net floor area, the appropriate number of permanent collection books per resident, and service radii. Policy 9.20.2 proposes a Citywide policy for locating non-English language permanent collections. The General Plan Framework Implementation Programs-Plans and Policies, Policy 13, holds the Department of Libraries responsible for updating the Library Master Plan as well as providing sufficient capacity to correct existing deficiencies, identifying improvements to new library facilities, developing strategies to increase the distribution of library services, establishing a new City library service standard based on the needs of the City, and identifying funding sources for facility improvements. • The plans and implementation policies set forth in the General Plan Framework have been addressed through the Los Angeles Library Branch Facilities Plan and the current 1998 Library Bond Program. The current 1998 Library Bond Program is the second phase of the original 1989 Library Bond Program. City of Los Angeles Washington Square Mixed-Use Development State Clearinghouse No. 2009021035 January 2010 Page IV.F-72 PRELIMINARY WORKING DRAFT – Work in Progress IV.F.5. Public Services-Libraries (2) Los Angeles Public Library Branch Facilities Plan The Los Angeles Public Library Branch Facilities Plan (Facilities Plan) guides the construction, maintenance, and organization of public libraries and specifies standards in defining geographic service areas and the size of branch facilities. The Facilities Plan was revised and recently approved by the Board of Library Commissioners on February 8, 2007. The Facilities Plan also outlines the required facilities expansion needs of the libraries within the City. Under the Facilities Plan, the service population for branch libraries is defined according to total floor area, as shown in Table IV.F-20 on page IV.F-74. On November 3, 1998, Los Angeles voters approved a second bond measure, Proposition DD, also known as the 1998 Library Facilities Bond, a $178.3 million bond for funding towards building, improving, renovating, and expanding 32 branch libraries throughout Los Angeles. The 1998 Library Branch Facilities Program, which described the funding, sizes, and geographic locations for new or renovated branch libraries, served as the basis for Proposition DD and the 1998 Library Bond Program. The original 32 projects were built on time and under budget. Thus, four additional projects were added to the scope of the total facilities program between September 2002 and June 2004 due to the Library Branch Facilities Program’s success and effective management, Friends of the Library contributions, and a California State Library Proposition 14 grant for a total construction program of $226.3 million. Of the four additional projects, three have been completed and one project is currently under construction.1 The Westwood Branch Library was constructed as a new facility in 2005 with funding from the 1998 bond measure. In addition, the Facilities Plan has proposed 19 new and expanded library branches in communities that are not served or underserved by existing library resources. Of the eleven existing branches proposed for expansion, the West Los Angeles Regional Branch Library is slated to expand from 13,740 to 20,000 square feet, with its construction to be funded through the 1998 bond measure.2 b. Existing Conditions The LAPL system provides library services to the City of Los Angeles. LAPL consists of the Central Library and 71 branch libraries, with a multimedia inventory of over 6.3 million items and 2,300 computer workstations with access to the internet and electronic databases.3 All branch libraries provide free access to computer workstations that are connected to the Library's 1 LAPL 1998 Library Bond Program Quarterly Report – January 2008, accessed July 9, 2008. 2 LAPL Branch Facilities Plan – Proposed Project List, accessed July 9, 2008. 3 Los Angeles Public Library website, Los Angeles Public Library and Library Foundation of Los Angeles Annual Report 2007-2008, accessed March 24, 2009. City of Los Angeles Washington Square Mixed-Use Development State Clearinghouse No. 2009021035 January 2010 Page IV.F-73 PRELIMINARY WORKING DRAFT – Work in Progress IV.F.5. Public Services-Libraries Table IV.F-20 Los Angeles Public Library Criteria for New Libraries Population Served Size of Facility Below 45,000 12,500 square feet Above 45,000 a 14,500 square feet Regional Branch Up to 20,000 square feet a For a community with population above 90,000, consider adding a second branch to serve the area. Source: Los Angeles Public Library website, http://www.lapl.org/about/Branch_Facilities_Criteria.pdf, accessed February 2009. information network. In addition to providing internet access, these workstations enable the public to search LAPL's electronic resources including the online catalog, over 100 subscription databases, word processing, language learning, literacy, and a large collection of historic documents and photographs. In addition, specially designed websites are provided for children, teens, and Spanish speakers. LAPL is a member of the Metropolitan Cooperative Library System (MCLS), an association of public libraries in the greater Los Angeles area that shares resources to improve library service to the residents of all participating jurisdictions. The LAPL also participates with other library systems in the “Library of California,” a network of public and private California libraries. Participation in these programs allows individuals to use their library cards in multiple jurisdictions, and for member libraries to receive compensation for such use. Generally, library facilities within two miles of a project site are considered to be within the service area of a project.4 LAPL has identified the Washington Irving Branch Library as the primary library facility that would serve the proposed project. Other libraries within two miles that could potentially serve the proposed project include the Jefferson Branch Library, the Memorial Branch Library, and the Baldwin Hills Library. Figure IV.F-5 on page IV.F-75 depicts the location of these libraries in relation to the project site. Table IV.F-21 on page IV.F- 76 provides information regarding these libraries including their distance from the project site, size, population served, and hours of operation. The Washington Irving Branch Library is located at 4117 West Washington Boulevard, approximately 354 feet northwest of the project site. Per the City’s Planning Department, this 12,259-square foot branch served a population of approximately 56,233 people in 2005, and is expected to service approximately 58,429 people by 2010 and 59,330 people by 2015. The 4 City of Los Angeles CEQA Thresholds Guide (2006). City of Los Angeles Washington Square Mixed-Use Development State Clearinghouse No. 2009021035 January 2010 Page IV.F-74 PRELIMINARY WORKING DRAFT – Work in Progress WILSHIRE BLVD WILSHIRE BLVD Memorial Branch Library 4625 W. Olympic Boulevard W 8TH ST Los Angeles, CA 90019 W OLYMPIC BLVD S WILSTON PL WILSTON S SAN VICENTE BLVD PL WILSTON S S WESTERN AV WESTERN S S WESTERN AV WESTERN S W OLYMPIC BLVD W PICO BLVD CRENSHAW BLVD W PICO BLVD Washington Irving HAUSER BLVD Branch Library VENICE BLVD 4117 W. Washington Boulevard PROJECT SITE Los Angeles, CA 90019 (Primary Library serving Project Area) S LA BREA AV W WASHINGTON BLVD W WASHINGTON BLVD ARLINGTON AV ARLINGTON Baldwin Hills AV ARLINGTON Branch Library 2906 S. La Brea Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90016 S REDONDO BLVD W ADAMS BLVD S WESTERN AV WESTERN S Jefferson AV WESTERN S Branch Library 2211 W. Jefferson Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90007 W JEFFERSON BLVD N Figure IV.F-5 Libraries Located Within 0 0.5 1 Miles Two-Mile Radius of theProject Site Source: PCR Services Corporation, 2009; Thomas Brothers, Inc. 2008. Washington Square IV.F.5. Public Services-Libraries Table IV.F-21 Libraries Located in the Vicinity of the Project Site Distance from 2005 Service Library Project Site Size Population Hours of Operation Washington Irving Branch 354 feet 12,259 sq ft 56,233 10:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Mon. & Wed. 4117 W. Washington Blvd. 12:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Tue. & Thur. 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Fri. & Sat. Closed Sun. Jefferson Branch 1.7 miles 9,000 sq ft 46,981 10:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Mon. & Wed. 2211 W. Jefferson Blvd. 12:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Tue. & Thur. 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Fri. & Sat. Closed Sun. Memorial Branch 2.0 miles 10,578 sq ft 23,357 10:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Mon. & Wed. 4625 W. Olympic Blvd. 12:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Tue. & Thur. 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Fri. & Sat. Closed Sun. Baldwin Hills Branch 2.0 miles 12,000 sq ft 71,655 10:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Mon. & Wed. 2906 S. La Brea Ave. 12:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Tue. & Thur. 10:00 A.M.