TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Philippe Eskandar, City Manager
BY: Nicole Tibbet, Community Engagement Manager
DATE: July 25, 2025
SUBJECT: ACCEPTANCE OF A $150,000 DONATION FROM THE
HUNTINGTON LIBRARY, ART MUSEUM, AND BOTANICAL
GARDENS FOR RECEIPT IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND
STRATEGIC PLAN CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
Efficient, Responsive, and Effective City Services
Fiscally Responsible and Transparent City Government
Well-Maintained Infrastructure
Inviting and Relevant City Facilities
BACKGROUND
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens (Huntington) opened publicly to visitors in 1928 and has grown over the past century to become an internationally renowned collections-based nonprofit institution that supports and promotes the humanities, the arts, and botanical science.
The Huntington, at approximately 207 acres in size, encompasses just under 10% of the City’s land mass and hosts more than one million visitors each year. Additionally, the Huntington is the City’s largest employer, with over 400 full-time and part-time employees, along with approximately 1,000 additional volunteers. As such, the Huntington is a key role player in the local community, economy, need for services, and the like.
In order to maintain strong relationships with the City and community, the Huntington has made periodic donations to the City. A recent history of Huntington’s donations includes $100,000 each in Fiscal Years 2019-20, 2020- 21, 2021-22, and 2022-23, and $150,000 in Fiscal Year 2023-24, for a total of $550,000 in the last five (5) fiscal years.
Gretchen Shepherd Romey, Mayor
Tony Chou, Vice Mayor
Hunter Chang, Council Member
John Chou, Council Member
Calvin Lo, Council Member
DISCUSSION
Honoring this tradition, the Huntington is again interested in donating to the City. Following recent conversations with City staff, the Huntington would like to make a donation of $150,000 this year. Given community concerns about the impact of the Huntington on our streets and the recent significant street work that took place along Orlando and Oxford Roads, staff recommends receiving this donation into the Capital Projects Fund, where it will be used for infrastructure improvements.
FISCAL IMPACT & PROCUREMENT REVIEW
The Capital Projects Fund is currently estimated to end FY 2025-26 with an available balance of approximately $15,000.
A FY 2025-26 budget adjustment is needed to Account #394-00-3601-0000 in the amount of $150,000 to record the donation received. After accounting for the Huntington Donation of $150,000, the Capital Projects Fund is estimated to end FY 2025-26 with a balance of $165,000.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney's office has reviewed and approved as to form.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council accept the donation and approve budget adjustments needed. If the Council concurs with staff’s recommendation, an appropriate motion would be:
“I move to accept the donation of $150,000 from the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens; authorize the Finance Department to record the receipt of the donation in the Capital Projects Fund; and amend the FY 2025-26 revenue budget to recognize revenue of $150,000 in the Capital Projects Fund (Account #394-00-3601-0000).”
ATTACHMENTS
1. None