Resident raises accessibility, IT and parking concerns at Calimesa library

A Calimesa resident identified in public comment said the Calimesa branch library’s handicap door has “never been functionally used at all times” and that she had seen an article reporting “there was over $300,000 that was used for the handicap access when the door is uh not available.” The commenter said the inside door does not operate reliably, allowing wind and rain to enter and creating slippery floors, and asked the council who will follow up.

The resident also told the council library computers routinely remain out of service because IT problems take months to fix, leaving fewer public workstations available. “It took about almost four months to just get a new keyboard,” she said, and described an unresolved issue that enlarges the cursor icon on all machines, rendering parts of the on‑screen interface unusable. On parking, she asked who authorized new red‑curb markings at the library entrance; staff said they would clarify the history of that change and follow up with the county.

City staff responded that the building is operated by the county library system and that a city liaison (Darlene) will notify county staff about the door and IT issues; staff also said the city’s project manager was aware of the door problem and had been frustrated trying to get it fixed. The city emphasized the limits of municipal control: the city owns the land under the branch but the county controls building operations and collections. Staff recommended residents contact the county library system or the county supervisor’s office for service complaints if the branch does not resolve them.

What happens next: the council accepted the comment and directed staff to inform the county library liaison and clarify parking/curb questions; no formal action or funding was approved at the meeting.