FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING OF FEBRUARY 1, 2022
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: City Council
FROM: City Manager
Prepared by: Chief Human Resources Officer
SUBJECT: RECEIPT OF BEQUEST FOR THE SANTA MARIA PUBLIC LIBRARY RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council adopt a Resolution accepting a bequest from the Estate of Mary Ellen C.
Knapp in the name of the Santa Maria Public Library.
BACKGROUND:
The Santa Maria Public Library received a letter dated September 7, 2021, from Alan D. Gluth, Attorney at Law, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, notifying the Library of a Notice of Informal Appointment of Personal Representative for the Estate of Mary Ellen C. Knapp (Attachment A). On October 8, 2021, the Library received a letter (Attachment B) from Kathy Kitchens, LLC, Estate & Court Appointed Services, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, stating the Santa Maria Public Library is a beneficiary of seven percent of the residual estate from Mary Ellen C. Knapp's, Last Will & Testament, dated November 9, 2017. The letter from Kathy Kitchens, LLC, included the following documents: Last Will & Testament, Death Certificate, Letters Testamentary, Date of Death Assets for Estate (estimated), Form W-9, Tax EIN, and a Beneficiary Information Form.
DISCUSSION:
According to an obituary published by Getz Funeral Home, Mary Ellen C. Knapp passed away on July 13, 2021, after a brief illness. Mrs. Knapp was a former resident of Santa Maria during the mid -2000s and volunteered at the Santa Maria Public Library, where she assisted with numerous book sales. Mary Ellen believed in supporting charities and nonprofits and is best remembered for her contagious laughter and cheerful spirit. Mary Ellen was predeceased by her husband and the love of her life, Ernest Knapp, who died in 2016. They had no children and resided most of their married life in Utah. When her husband passed away, Mary Ellen moved to Good Samaritan Village in Las Cruces, where she remained until her death. Mary Ellen's gift to the Library would suggest that she cared greatly for the Library's services and mission. The Library is very pleased to be named as a beneficiary of Mary Ellen's estate.
Alternatives
An alternative would be to decline the bequest and lose valuable funding for the Santa Maria Public Library.
Fiscal Considerations
The Library received a partial payment of $70,000 from the Estate of Mary Ellen C. Knapp and is expected to receive an undetermined amount once the final estate taxes have been
completed, which is estimated to take place around April 30, 2022. The Santa Maria Public Library will deposit the partial bequest and final distribution which would be used for programming and materials for the Santa Maria Public Library.
Impact to the Community
The bequest validates the important contributions of the Santa Maria Public Library. The gift will enable the Library to enhance services and continue meeting the needs of the community.
L-3RAied.;rr
LINDA LE
Chief Human Resources Officer
Attachments: A: Notice of Informal Appointment of Personal Representative B: Letter from Kathy Kitchens, LLC, Estate & Court Appointed Services
LAS CRUCES OFFICE:
2455 EAST MISSOURI, SUITE A
LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO 88001
TEL: 575-556-8449
FAX: 575-556-8446
Santa Maria Public Library
420 South Broadway
Santa Maria, CA 93454
GLUTH LAW
ALAN D. GLUTH
ATTORNEY AT LAW
ESTATE PLANNING PROBATE TRUSI
NON-PROFIT CHARITABLE GIVING
September 7, 2021
Dear Beneficiaries:
El. PASO OFFICE:
4110 Rio BRAVO. SUITE 220
Et. PASO, TEXAS 79902
TEL: 9I5-351-9886
FAX: 575-556-8446
Re: Estate of Mary Ellen C. Knapp, a/k/a
Mary Ellen Knapp, Deceased;
Enclosed you will find a copy of the Notice of Informal Appointment of Personal Representative notifying you that Mary Ellen C. Knapp, a/k/a Mary Ellen Knapp's probate has been filed and Kathy Kitchens, LLC, a New Mexico limited liability company, by and through its manager, Kathryn R. Kitchens, has been appointed as personal representative of the Estate.
Please keep this document with your records.
ATTACHMENT A
Beneficiaries
September 7, 2021
If you have any questions, please feel free to call my Las Cruces office.
Alan D. Gluth
Enclosure
ADG/ibc
cc: Kathy Kitchens, LLC
File
ATTACHMENT A
Kathy Kitchens, LLC
Estate & Court Appointed Services
P. O. Box 14122
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88013
(575) 639-3781— Office
(575) 523-8655 — FAX
[email protected]
October 8, 2021
Santa Maria Public Library
RE: Mary Ellen C Knapp Estate
Dear Beneficiaries:
This letter is to advise that each of you have been named as beneficiaries in the above referenced Estate of Mary Ellen C Knapp.
I am enclosing the following documents for your reference:
• Last Will & Testament
• Death Certificate
• Letters Testamentary
• Date of Death Assets for Estate (estimated)
• W-9
• Tax EIN
• Beneficiary information form
• Return envelope
I plan to make a partial distribution to each of you based on your percentage stated in the Will before this year end (2021). Once the final debts are paid and a tax return completed in 2022, the balance of the Estate will be paid out to each of you, hopefully no later than April 30, 2022.
Please fill out the forms as indicated and return to me in the enclosed envelope. Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email or call me. Thank you.
Sincerely,
*r i a LtA,,t, et,
Kathryn R Kitchens, Personal Representative (Executor)
Estate of Mary Ellen C Knapp Enclosures
ATTACHMENT B
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA, ACCEPTING A BEQUEST FROM THE ESTATE OF MARY ELLEN C.
KNAPP IN THE NAME OF THE SANTA MARIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
WHEREAS, the Santa Maria Public Library will receive seven percent of the residual estate from the Last Will & Testament of Mary Ellen C. Knapp; and WHEREAS, the Santa Maria Public Library has received a partial payment of $70,000 from the estate, with a final distribution expected around April 30, 2022; and WHEREAS, the executor has requested that the Santa Maria Public Library return the Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Santa Maria, California, as follows:
1. The City Manager, or designee, is hereby authorized to accept a bequest from the Estate of Mary Ellen C. Knapp in the name of the Santa Maria Public Library and do all things necessary and appropriate to complete the acceptance and receipt of the said bequest.
2. The Chief Deputy City Clerk is hereby authorized to make minor changes herein to address clerical errors, so long as substantial conformance of the intent of this document is maintained. In doing so, the Chief Deputy City Clerk shall consult with the City Manager and City Attorney concerning any changes deemed necessary.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Santa Maria, California, held this 1st day of February 2022.
Mayor
ATTEST:
Chief Deputy City Clerk
AV S TO CO;rNT:
Department Director
City Manager