Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: July 15, 2025
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: Judy booth, Library director
PREPARED BY: alec maclennan, administrative analyst
Cheri PApe, local history archivist
SUBJECT: NON-CAPITALIZED HUNT LIBRARY FURNITURE Appraisal (Continued from June 3, 2025 and June 17, 2025 meetings)
SUMMARY
City Council directed staff to appraise Hunt Library surplus furniture, sell it for Library benefit and donate any surplus furniture.
PROPOSED MOTION
Authorize Library Director to select three original custom Hunt Branch Library furniture pieces for historic preservation with priority given to Fullerton and the Norton Simon Museum collection in Pasadena.
Authorize staff to sell the remaining Hunt furniture, priced commensurate with appraised values through a reputable online auction house with understanding of modern art and 20th Century period design .
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
Approve the Proposed Motion
Other options brought by City Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Proposed Motion.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
The City Manager recommends approval of the motion with the condition that any items not saved for historic value or sold by the auction house would be donated through surplus due to the nature of needed to free up space.
This provides the ability to put the items on the market, retain some historic value and have the Library space made available for purposes other than storage.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statement:
Infrastructure and City Assets.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Hunt Library surplus furniture appraised up to $15,930. The appraisal cost approximately $4900.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The Library will renovate the Osborne Auditorium as a part of the Main Library Building Forward #2 grant and seeks to relocate unused furniture stored in the auditorium. Master Architect William Pereira designed the 10,500 square foot steel and aluminum building in 1962 with an emphasis on glass. Norton Simon and the Hunt Foods Foundation selected the original furniture to complement the mid-century modern building with items by acclaimed furniture designers of the era, notably Jens Risom. Staff moved furniture to the Main Library during the Hunt Library revitalization. This furniture no longer serves the repurposed Hunt Library and has no use in the Main Library.
The Library sought City Council permission to donate some surplus furniture to a non-profit museum on January 7, 2025. City Council requested staff appraise the furniture. The Library began work with William Novotny Appraisal Services in February 2025.
The appraisal process valued the furniture up to $15,930 if all pieces sold at appraised value. The Library also had pieces appraised that the Library does not intend to sell. The appraiser was excited about the furniture pieces and thought the story behind the furniture could increase value but cautioned staff could find it difficult to find a buyer for the lot of furniture in the current market. The City may not receive the full appraised fair market value. The custom-made furniture was designed for library use and some design factors may limit market demand. The City may need to accept lower offers to liquidate the furniture.
City Council direction staff to report on options for using a favorable international auction house to provide online auctioning accessible to local and non-local bidders during the June 3, 2025 meeting .
Attachments:
Attachment 1 – Final Appraisal Report
Attachment 2 – City of Fullerton Purchasing Policy No. 4.1.6 cc: City Manager Eric J. Levitt
Hunt Library Furniture Disposition
July 15, 2025 - Page 2