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	New Schedule of Hours For Main Library, Community and Senior Centers May 14, 2004
	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 14, 2004 Contact: Leveron Bryant City Manager (Interim) (510) 620-6512 leveron_bryant@ci.richmond.ca.us CITY OF RICHMOND RELEASES NEW SCHEDULE OF HOURS FOR MAIN LIBRARY, COMMUNITY AND SENIOR CENTERS New Schedule is the Result of Workforce Reductions and Other Measures Included in the City's Fiscal Recovery Action Plan to Address its Current Financial Deficit Richmond, CA --- The City of Richmond today released the new schedule of hours of operation for its Main Library, community centers and senior centers. The reduction in hours at these facilities is the result of ongoing efforts to address a previously announced deficit of $35.2 million, and part of an overall financial action plan and recovery strategy. Richmond Main Library The hours of operation at the Richmond Main Library will be reduced beginning Monday, May 17, 2004. The Main Library will be open from 3:00p.m. until 7:00p.m., on Mondays and Tuesdays, from 2:00p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and from 1:00 p.m., until 5:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Despite the cut in hours, the Main Library will continue to provide its highly popular children story times on Wednesdays from 10:00a.m. until 12:00 noon and on Saturdays from 11:00a.m. until 12:00 noon. Unfortunately, the staff reductions has resulted in the closure of the City's Bayview and West Side branch libraries. For additional information regarding other library programs and services, contact Kathy Haug, Acting Library Director at (510) 620-6558. Senior Centers The City's two senior centers will continue to be open to the public, but also under a reduced schedule of operations. Beginning on Monday, May 17, 2004, the City's Annex Senior Center, located at 5801 Huntington Avenue in the Annex neighborhood section of Richmond, will be opened three days a week. The Center will be opened on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 9:00a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Originally slated for closure, the Center will be allowed to remain open, as a result of an eleventh-hour partnership agreed to between the City and Annex residents to use a combination of neighborhood volunteers and City resources to support the limited hours of operation. The City's remaining senior center, the Macdonald Senior Center located at 2525 Macdonald Avenue in the Civic Center area, will be opened Mondays thru Fridays, from 8:30am to 5:00p.m., with varying evening hours. The facility will continue to provide its popular noon-time senior nutrition program, but may experience some reductions in other services and activities. For additional information, telephone Diane Harrison, Community Services Program Manager at (510) 620-6793. Community Centers The City's seven (7) community centers will face a number of closures and reduced hours of operation. The May Valley facility in El Sobrante, in addition to the Parchester center, Pt. Richmond center, and Nevin community center in the Iron Triangle neighborhood, are slated for closure, beginning May 28, 2004. However, discussions are underway with community-based groups, local non-profit organizations, and business and industry, to consider ways to keep a number of these facilities open beyond their expected closure dates. The various parties involved in these discussions remain optimistic that agreement can be reached to allow the centers to remain open on a limited basis. Every effort is being made to continue the popular noon-time senior meal program, currently operated out of the Nevin Community Center. These efforts also include a schedule of upcoming meetings with supporters of the City's Disabled Peoples' Recreation Center, as part of a concerted attempt to keep this popular facility open, which serves the disabled and others from areas throughout Richmond and the larger west Contra Costa county area. The schedule of operation for the remaining three (3) community centers-Booker T. Anderson, Jr., (Eastshore neighborhood); Shields-Reid (North Richmond); and Martin L. King, Jr., (Southside) is included in the attached schedule. The schedule is also listed for the Richmond Swim Center, Recreation Administrative Division, and the Richmond Recreation Complex. For additional information, telephone Diane Harrison, Community Services Program Manager at (510) 620-6793. City Officials' Reaction to Reductions The Richmond City Council and managers at City Hall remain concerned regarding the impact the reductions at these facilities will cause on its 103,000 residents. It is the hope of City officials that the reductions will be of a short-term, as work is well underway to increase City revenues, institute other cost-cutting steps, and implement "best practice" efficiency measures, to provide added funds to restore traditional programs and services at these facilities. # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 14, 2004 Contact: Diane Harrison, Community Services Program Manager, 620-6793. Richmond Recreation Division's Community Centers Reduced Operating Hours and Closures. The City of Richmond Recreation Division as a result of the City's budget crisis will close (4) community center's and drastically reduce the operating hours and schedules at six community centers on May 17, 2004. Immediate facility closures include: Parchester, May Valley, and Point Richmond. Nevin Community Center and the Disabled People's Recreation Center will provide service until May 28th. Facilities remaining open will operate on a drop-in basis while maintaining existing services and classes offered by non-profit agencies. The lay-off of approximately sixty-nine (69) full-time and part-time staff necessitates the current closures and reduction of operating schedule of the following facilities. The facilities will operate from (15) hours to (37.5) per week based on the type of recreational programs and collaborations with community based organizations. Two facilities that will operate 37.5 hours per week include: Richmond Senior Citizens Center and Martin L. King Community Center. Recreation Division Admin.: Monday - Thursday, 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Richmond Convention Center: Varies Cluster #1: Richmond Swim Center: Monday- Friday (refer to Swim Ctr. Schedule) Booker T. Anderson, Jr. Ctr. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., 2nd/4th, Fridays, 9:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Cluster #2: MacDonald Senior Center: Monday thru Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m./ varying evenings Senior Annex Center: Monday, Wednesday, Fri. 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Cluster #3: ()Shields Reid Community Ctr.: Tuesday, Thursday, 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Martin L. King Community Ctr.: Monday, Wed., Fri., 10:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. ()Richmond Recreation Complex: Monday - Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (*) Subject to Change Facilities remaining open until May 28, 2004 Nevin Community Ctr: Monday thru Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (Seniors Only) Disabled Peoples Rec. Ctr: Monday thru Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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