DATE: July 19, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Darlene Bradley, Director of Library and Museum Services
SUBJECT: DONATION FROM THE ESTATE OF ROBERT G. LOW IN THE AMOUNT OF $113,333.33 TO THE ARCADIA PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR THE
PURCHASE OF BOOKS
Recommendation: Accept
SUMMARY
The Robert G. Low Estate has generously donated $113,333.33 to the Arcadia Public Library specifically to be used to supplement regularly budgeted funds for the purchase of books for children and young readers. It is recommended the City Council accept this generous donation.
DISCUSSION
Mr. Robert G. Low, a former teacher of Mark Keppel High School and a City of Covina Mayor from 1988-1990, passed away on June 18, 2020. His will, which designates that the Arcadia Public Library shall receive a 5.5556% share of the estate, has been proceeding through the probate process since then. The appointed executor, Craig D.
Lucas, has been authorized to distribute the funds at this time.
The proposed City Library share totals $113,333.33. This donation has specific conditions that state that these funds are to be used to improve, encourage, and expand reading skills and literary interests for the purchase of only books and not for the purchase of computers, tapes, or videos. The Arcadia Public Library will set up a trust fund for this gift and use the principal and yearly interest to help supplement the Jerry Broadwell Children’s Room book collection. This is a very generous donation that will help the Library to continue to develop and offer books for children and young readers beyond the current levels of City funding. A special book plate will be placed in each book purchased from this trust.
All gifts of $1,000 or more are subject to approval by the City Council pursuant to City Charter Section 809(d).
Donation from the Estate of Robert G. Low
in the amount of $113,333.33
July 19, 2022
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Arcadia Public Library has a finite budget and the generous donation from the Estate of Robert G. Low enables the Library to offer new books that improve, encourage, and expand reading skills and literary interests above and beyond the current level of City funding. This additional money allows for the purchase of tactile educational materials that directly benefit the youth of the community.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action does not constitute a project and is therefore, exempt under, the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and accept a donation from the Estate of Robert G. Low in the amount of $113,333.33 to the Arcadia Public Library for the purchase of books.