Library seeks three reclassifications as supervisors favor holding Ocean View funds in reserve

San Francisco Public Library officials and supervisors debated personnel classifications and the Ocean View project as the Budget and Appropriation Committee reviewed department budgets Wednesday.

Maureen Singleton, chief operating officer for the San Francisco Public Library, said the department accepts BLA reductions for materials and salary attrition that together generate about $485,000 in annual savings. Singleton asked the committee, however, to approve three upward substitutions: reclassifying a chief information officer position to manager-level, promoting a senior materials and supplies supervisor to manage expanded facilities/fleet functions, and upgrading a library page to manager 1 for the city archivist role. Dan Goncher of the Budget and Legislative Analyst said the combined cost of the upward substitutions would be about $240,241 from the library fund.

Supervisors expressed concern about adding ongoing costs during a structural deficit period. Chair Connie Chan and Supervisor Sasha Safaie said they were sympathetic to the librarybut lean toward the BLA recommendations; several supervisors suggested increasing salary-savings estimates this year to reflect hiring delays rather than immediately approving promotions.

Singleton also said a feasibility study for the Ocean View library cost roughly $98,000 and examined nine parcel sites; she added the library has not spent money to pursue new parcels beyond that study and has been coordinating with MTA on traffic and pedestrian concerns. Supervisor Safaie urged putting remaining Ocean View funds on reserve until a clear relocation plan exists; Chair Chan supported that approach.

The committee did not vote on the upward substitutions Wednesday and asked the library to work with BLA staff on timeline and recruitment assumptions before the committee reconvenes.