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Irvine council approves budget and staffing to take over three city libraries from county
Summary
The City Council approved $2.8 million in operating funds and $2.6 million for capital improvements, plus hiring 56.4 FTEs, to transition and operate University Park, Heritage Park and (later) Katie Wheeler libraries under city management.
The Irvine City Council unanimously approved funding and staffing Jan. 28 to bring the city’s three public libraries into city operation.
Council voted 6-0 to authorize roughly $2.8 million in operational start-up funding and a request for capital improvements of about $2.6 million. The action includes authorization to create 56.4 full-time equivalent positions (a combination of full- and part-time hires) and the appropriation of funds from the city’s Asset Management Plan to outfit and refurbish the existing county-owned library buildings before the city assumes direct operations.
City Librarian Julie Zioli, hired to lead the transition, said the city will begin phased staffing and facility assessment immediately. “Our first community meeting is this Thursday, Jan. 30 at Quail Hill Community Center beginning at 6 p.m.,” she told the council, adding that staff will coordinate moving about 167,000 cataloged items into the new city library system and make targeted repairs and furnishings to make the branches “Irvine-ready.”
Under an agreement with the County of Orange, the city will take over University Park and Heritage Park libraries beginning May 16, with Katie Wheeler to transition later under a separate lease arrangement; county staff will continue to operate libraries at current levels while the county vacates space over a staggered schedule.
The council directed staff to proceed with hiring and procurement and to return with implementation details and regular updates. The vote clears the way for the city to begin direct library operations and local management of collections and programming in mid‑2025.
