History / Timeline
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 or 1949 [conflicting sources] | Original El Cerrito Library constructed at 6510 Stockton Avenue. One source (the Feb. 2026 Impact Report) states 1948; a separate September 2026 Task Force presentation states 1949. Not yet resolved. | Impact Report, 2/19/2026, p.3; Sept. 8, 2026 Task Force Presentation, p.13 |
| 1960 | Library expanded to ~6,500 sq ft. | Impact Report, p.3 |
| 2002 | City begins actively evaluating sites for a new library (Portola Middle School site, Civic Theater site, Community Center, San Pablo Ave sites, current site). | Impact Report, p.3–4; Agenda Bill 8.B, 1/20/2026 |
| 2006 | City retains independent experts; first comprehensive Library Needs Assessment + Building Program completed, sized at ~21,000 sq ft, prepared to pursue a state construction bond grant. | Impact Report, p.3 |
| 2006 (Nov.) | Statewide bond measure that would have funded the grant program fails at the ballot. | Impact Report, p.3 |
| 2013 | City Council adopts Strategic Plan identifying the library as a priority. | Impact Report, p.3; Nov. 21, 2023 presentation timeline slide |
| 2014 (March) | City retains Kathryn Page Associates; updated Needs Assessment presented to Council, recommending ~20,845 sq ft. | Impact Report, p.3 |
| 2015 | Strategic Plan updated; site options and cost models developed for a possible ballot measure. | Impact Report, p.4; Nov. 21, 2023 timeline slide |
| June 2, 2015 | Godbe Research poll reported to Council: 72% of respondents favorable to a $30M library bond (40.9% “definitely yes,” 30.6% “probably yes”); poll of 418 online + 203 phone respondents in March 2015. Up from 69% support in a 2013 poll. | Times Herald, “El Cerrito poll finds strong support for new library,” 6/4/2015 |
| July 19, 2016 | City Council unanimously votes to place a $30 million library bond measure (Measure B) on the November 2016 ballot; also authorizes MOU with BART (Resolution 2016-68) to study TOD/library feasibility at the Plaza Station. | MOU BART library cc1608167.pdf; Impact Report p.4; Agenda Bill 8.A p.2 |
| July 12, 2016 | City’s Financial Advisory Board votes 3-1 to recommend ballot language explicitly disclose the measure as “a tax on real estate”; recommendation is not incorporated into the final ballot language adopted July 19. | East Bay Times editorial, 10/9/2016 |
| Aug. 16, 2016 | Agenda Bill formalizing MOU with BART for TOD/library feasibility study presented to Council. | MOU BART library cc1608167.pdf |
| Nov. 8, 2016 | Measure B (2016): $30M library bond. Required 66.67% supermajority. Received 63% “Yes” (Impact Report) — reported elsewhere as 64% by a public commenter [conflicting figures in the record]. Fell short by ~500 votes. | Impact Report, p.4; public comment of Georgina Edwards, 11/21/2023 packet |
| 2018 | AB 2923 takes effect, requiring minimum zoning on BART-owned parcels. | Nov. 21, 2023 timeline slide |
| 2018 | MOU between City and BART (authorized 2016) formally executed. | Impact Report, p.29; Agenda Bill 8.A |
| 2018–2019 | El Cerrito Plaza Existing Conditions Report, BART Access Survey, and Parking Management Case Studies prepared. | Impact Report, p.29 |
| Nov. 19, 2019 | City Council adopts El Cerrito Plaza TOD Goals & Objectives, including “exploring options for integrating a public library into the TOD”; also requests (Resolution 2019-66) that BART include a potential library in its RFQ. | Impact Report, p.29; Agenda Bill 8.A; Nov. 21, 2023 timeline slide |
| 2019 | Library Workshop held to discuss proposed sites & partnerships. | Nov. 21, 2023 timeline slide |
| July 2020 | BART initiates RFQ process, inviting developers to submit two conceptual site plans — one with a library, one without. | Impact Report, p.29 |
| Nov. 2020 | Developer team of Related California, Holliday Development, and SAHA selected; BART enters Exclusive Negotiating Agreement. | Impact Report, p.29; Nov. 21, 2023 timeline slide |
| 2020 | BART adopts El Cerrito Plaza TOD Goals & Objectives (later amended 2021). | Agenda Bill 8.A |
| 2021–2023 | TOD pre-planning: access planning, public engagement, library-specific public meetings, site planning. | Nov. 21, 2023 timeline slide |
| Oct. 3, 2022 | Developer submits SB 330/AB 2923 application for the first TOD parcel, ahead of the SPASP update. | Agenda Bill 8.A |
| Dec. 6, 2022 | San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan (SPASP) updated. | Agenda Bill 8.A |
| Dec. 2023 | City’s Strategic Plan 2024–2029 adopted, articulating a goal to “Create a community hub anchored by the Plaza Transit-Oriented Development and a new Library.” | Agenda Bill 8.B, 1/20/2026 |
| May 2023 | Godbe Research poll (Tier 1 messaging ~59–60% support depending on statement). | Ira Sharenow letter, 11/19/2023, citing “May 2023 Survey: 60% YES; 34% NO” |
| Sept./Oct. 2023 | Second Godbe poll round; full support figures not publicly disclosed per a CPRA request (see Cost & Funding History). | Ira Sharenow letter to City Clerk, 11/19/2023 |
| Sept. 27, 2023 | El Cerrito Library Public Forum held. | el-cerrito.org/library timeline |
| Nov. 21, 2023 | Council study session (Item 9B) on the Plaza TOD library option; presentation identifies the library site as “Phase 4” of the TOD master plan; Council opts to explore a 2025 (rather than March 2024) ballot measure. Public comment from Al Miller, Michael Fischer, Georgina Edwards, Greg Lyman, Charles Taylor, and Ira Sharenow. | November 21 2023 presentation.pdf |
| 2024–2025 | Site plan finalized: library located on ground floor of a future affordable-housing building at Fairmount Ave & Liberty St, “Parcel C West.” Half-acre public plaza and potential café also part of TOD Master Plan. | Impact Report, p.29–30 |
| June 11, 2024 | City holds a Community Library Workshop at the El Cerrito Library. | el-cerrito.org/library timeline |
| April 1, 2025 | City executes Consulting Services Agreement with Griffin Structures (Owner’s Representative) for Library Project services. | Griffin Structures Inc. Agreement, 2025.06.30, p.2–3 |
| May 6, 2025 | Citizen proponents file a Notice of Intent to Circulate an Initiative Petition (“The El Cerrito Library Initiative”) with the City Clerk. | Agenda Bill 8.A, 1/20/2026, p.1; elcerrito.gov/1753 |
| May 21, 2025 | City Attorney (Sky Woodruff) provides the Ballot Title and Summary, starting the 180-day circulation clock. | Agenda Bill 8.A, p.1 |
| June 13–17, 2025 | Proponents file a revised measure text; City Attorney issues a revised Ballot Title and Summary on June 17, 2025, restarting the 180-day circulation period. | Agenda Bill 8.A, p.1 |
| June 27, 2025 | Griffin Structures proposal for Owner’s Rep services through Sept. 2025, including DA negotiation support and Council presentation prep. | Griffin Structures Inc. 2025.06.30.1.pdf |
| Nov. 20, 2025 | Signed petitions submitted to City Clerk (2,454 signatures per the Clerk’s prima facie count, prior to verification). | Agenda Bill 8.A, p.1; Certificate of Petition |
| Dec. 1, 2025 | Petition deemed “filed” following City Clerk’s Prima Facie review. | Agenda Bill 8.A, p.1 |
| Dec. 16, 2025 | Council installs Gabe Quinto as Mayor for 2026 (AG Rob Bonta administers oath); library tax measure discussed informally at the reception. | ECCRG blog, referencing 12/16/2025 meeting |
| Jan. 9, 2026 | Contra Costa County Elections confirms the petition contains sufficient valid signatures — 2,177 qualifying signatures after verification. | Agenda Bill 8.A, p.1; City Clerk’s Certificate of Petition; Sept. 8, 2026 Task Force Presentation |
| Jan. 20, 2026 | Council adopts Resolution 2026-04, accepting the Certificate of Petition; Council requests a §9212 Impact Report and holds a study session (Item 8.B) on the current facility and five conceptual scenarios ($10M–$48M range). | Impact Report, p.2; Agenda Bill 8.A & 8.B, 1/20/2026 |
| Feb. 6, 2026 | Strategic Growth Council (SGC) staff (Justin DeWaele) advise, in an email later forwarded to Council, that AHSC Round 10 is likely to open March 2026 with a May/June 2026 deadline — undercutting the stated rationale that a June election would help a Parcel C West AHSC application. | SGC letter forwarded to council.docx |
| Feb. 17, 2026 | Council adopts Resolution 2026-11, formally creating the El Cerrito Library Task Force (advisory; 7 voting residents incl. 1 youth member, 1-year terms, plus 3 non-voting invitees). | elcerrito.gov/1768/Library-Task-Force |
| Feb. 19, 2026 | Special Council meeting: staff present the §9212 Impact Report; Council votes 4-1 (Ktsanes dissenting) to call a special election for June 2, 2026, adopting Resolution 2026-12. Wysinger urges the Council to stop “analysis and paralysis”; Ktsanes argues November would be cheaper/more democratic; Quinto confirms election costs would be reimbursed if the measure passes. | Impact Report, p.2; Contra Costa News, 3/10/2026; elcerrito.gov/1753 |
| March 9, 2026 | Contra Costa Registrar of Voters randomly assigns ballot letters; the El Cerrito measure becomes Measure C. | elcerrito.gov/1753 |
| March 12, 2026 | City Attorney Sky Woodruff signs the official Impartial Analysis of Measure C. | contracostavote.gov/m9002-en |
| March 18, 2026 | Deadline for primary ballot arguments (for/against). | elcerrito.gov/1753; Contra Costa News, 3/10/2026 |
| March 23, 2026 | Deadline for rebuttal arguments. | Same as above |
| April 7, 2026 | Council holds a study session on proposed exemptions to Measure C’s parcel tax; directs staff to return with a resolution clarifying/loosening exemption qualification requirements. | el-cerrito.org/library timeline |
| May 4, 2026 | Vote-by-mail ballots mailed. | ca-elcerrito2.civicplus.com/217/Elections |
| June 2, 2026 | ELECTION DAY. Measure C on the ballot as part of the California Statewide Direct Primary Election. | Multiple sources |
| June 2, 2026 (result) | Measure C failed. YES 3,264 (30.39%) — NO 7,475 (69.61%) of 10,739 total votes. Turnout 62.77%. See Measure C for the certified Statement of Results. | Certificate of the City of El Cerrito, City Clerk, dated July 21, 2026 |
| August 2026 | City states publicly that no dedicated library funding has been identified. | City’s library webpage, elcerrito.gov/library |
| Sept. 8, 2026 | First Library Task Force meeting scheduled, 6:00 p.m., City Council Chambers — presents five post-election alternatives (renovate, renovate/expand, Plaza TOD, new standalone site, renovate a purchased building) since no dedicated funding source has been identified. | Sept. 8, 2026 Task Force Agenda, Presentation |
| 2028 (projected) | Construction of “Phase 6” (the building slated to house the library, if funded) is not expected to begin before 2028 per the City’s TOD phasing information; City must execute a Development Agreement with the TOD developer by March 2027. | el-cerrito.org/library; Impact Report, p.32–33 |
Note on TOD phase numbering: the library building’s phase number in the TOD master plan has changed more than once across City documents — “Phase 4” in the Nov. 2023 presentation and the Feb. 2026 SGC letter, “Phase 6” on the City’s current library webpage. This reflects the TOD master plan being renumbered multiple times, not a single discrepancy to resolve.