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Merced County approves libraries as temporary clean-air centers in five-year partnership
Summary
The Board of Supervisors approved a five-year program to equip county libraries with high-efficiency air filtration systems through a partnership with the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District to provide respite during wildfire and smoke events.
The Merced County Board of Supervisors on a unanimous vote approved a program to designate county libraries as temporary clean-air centers and equip them with portable high-efficiency air filtration systems under a five-year partnership with the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District.
County Librarian Amy Taylor told the board that the program "will authorize county libraries to become temporary clean air centers. Clean air centers are publicly accessible facility. High efficiency air filtration systems." Taylor said the program is intended "to provide access to clean air and respite from wildfires and other smoke events that may affect vulnerable residents of Merced County" and that the item "enhances the library's strategic plan to provide safe community spaces." She said the agreement with the air district will run for five years.
Supervisor McDaniel asked whether the program’s "temporary" description covered the possibility of extending library hours during severe smoke events. Taylor responded, "No. This just provides the portable equipment so that we can have clean air within the libraries." Supervisor Silvera asked whether the five-year term reflected the useful life of the equipment and what happens afterward. Taylor said the equipment will become county property and that the air district will provide replacement filters and support for the first five years: "The equipment becomes ours, but this is the supporting time that they'll they'll provide support for it. They provide all the air filters and different things for the first 5 years."
Supervisor Pereira moved the measure, Supervisor Silvera seconded it, and the board voted unanimously to approve the item.
The program provides portable filtration units and district-provided maintenance support for five years; it does not commit the county to extending library hours or other operational changes beyond providing the equipment. The county will possess the equipment at the end of the five-year support period. The board did not establish a separate budget line or extended-hour policy in the motion recorded at the meeting.
