November 2024 Board Meeting - Minutes

November 28, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
Strawberry Hill Branch

Present:  Councillor Pardeep Kooner, Trustees Balbir Gurm (Chair), John Gillies, Saman Kaluarachchi, Kulvinder Kular, Tanveer Sohal, Rachel Smith, Lisa Werring.

Regrets: Trustee Dulce Cuenca, Patria Pascal, Alisa-Thao Pham.

Staff: 

  • Surinder Bhogal, Chief Librarian 
  • Michael Ho, Director, Administrative Services 
  • Julie Balenzano, Director, Public Services 
  • Nav Gill, Administrative Coordinator  

1. Call To Order & Land Acknowledgement

Trustee Gurm called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. and expressed appreciation working on the traditional territories of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwikwetlem, Kwantlen, Qayqayt, Musqueam and Tsawwassen First Nations. 

2. Adoption Of The Agenda

Trustee Werring moved and Trustee Sohal seconded – CARRIED       

3. Adoption Of The Consent Agenda

  1.  September 26, 2024, minutes of Regular Meeting of the Surrey Public Library Board
  2. Financial Statement for the period ending October 31, 2024
  3. City of Surrey Corporate Report, October 7, 2024 Permissive Tax Exemption Strawberry Hill 

Trustee Kaluarachchi moved and Trustee Kular seconded – CARRIED

4. New Business/Discussion

  1. 2025 Board Meeting Dates
    MOTION: “To approve the 2025 Board meeting dates.”

    Councillor Kooner moved and Trustee Kaluarachchi seconded – CARRIED

  2. Advocacy Plan Update and Priorities
    The Advocacy Plan was reviewed and the following priorities recommended:

    1. Hosting a Board meet and greet for MLAs and one for Mayor/Council in 2025 Q1.
    2. Advocacy training for the Board.

    MOTION: “To move the Advocacy plan updates and priorities.”

    Trustee Sohal moved and Trustee Werring seconded –  CARRIED

5.Information Items

  1. Reports
    1. Notice of Election
    2. Website Updates to Improve Accessibility
    3. 2024 Surrey Libraries Workplan Year-End Update
    4. 2024 Board Objectives Year-End Update
      Trustee Gillies recommended incorporating an executive summary in the report noting projects that exceeded expectations or encountered challenges in relation to budget and delivery timelines.
  2. Verbal Updates
    1. Board Chair: The Chair and Vice-Chair attended the Mayor’s Annual Charity Ball.
    2. InterLINK: Trustee Gillies provided an update on InterLINK’s new strategic plan.
    3. Staff Updates:
      1. Director of Public Services provided an update on the planning for Newton Community Centre/Library. Library staff have been meeting with City counterparts to prepare our Statement of Requirements. The City will select a design builder in early 2025.
      2. Chief Librarian attended a planning session with the City’s Senior Management team and Council to discuss the City’s upcoming priorities.
      3. Chief Librarian thanked Trustees, on behalf of the Library’s fund development team, for making thank you calls to our valued donors.

6. In-Camera Meeting

Trustee Kaluarachchi moved and Councillor Smith seconded – CARRIED

Regular Meeting adjourned at 6:50 pm.

Councillor Kooner moved and Trustee Smith seconded – CARRIED