CITY OF SIMI VALLEY
MEMORANDUM
March 4, 2024
TO: City Council
FROM: Office of the City Manager
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CITY OF SIMI VALLEY TO ACCEPT AN ESTATE GIFT AS A NAMED BENEFICIARY OF THE LYNNE C. EIGLER
LIVING TRUST AND FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL
NECESSARY DOCUMENTS FOR DISTRIBUTION OF TRUST FUNDS
TO THE CITY
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended the City Council accept a gift, as a named beneficiary, from the Lynne C. Eigler Living Trust , and authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents for the distribution of the Trust funds to the City.
BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW
The City has been contacted by a Westlake Village law firm that holds in trust funds that have been bequeathed to the City of Simi Valley. This bequeath is from Ms.
Lynne C. Eigler in th e amount of approximately $127,5 00, which funds are to be used to benefit the Simi Valley Public Library . Staff is seeking authorization from the City Council to accept the funds and to execute all necessary documents.
FINDINGS AND ALTERNATIVES
The 2022 passing of a Simi Valley resident, Ms. Lynne Eigler, resulted in Ms. Eigler’s Trust naming the City as a beneficiary. Ms. Eigler was an enthusiast of books, enjoyed the entertainment reading provided, and appreciated libraries. Ms. Eigler’s Trust distribution will result in approximately $127,500 being left to the City for use at the Simi Valley Public Library.
Section 2-9.110(f) of the Simi Valley Municipal Code provides:
“Gifts or grants to City. The City Manager may accept, and sign any necessary documents related thereto, gifts or grants to the City which do not exceed $10,000.00, and which do not involve policy decisions or significant additional expenditures as determined by the City Manager.”
AGENDA ITEM NO.
Consent (4)
2 The acceptance of this gift exceeds the authority of the City Manager to accept.
Therefore, staff is requesting authorization of the City Council to accept the gift and execute all necessary documents in order to accept the funds. Use of the funds at the Library will be programmed at a later date.
The following alternatives have been identified for City Council consideration:
1. Accept a gift, as a named beneficiary, from the Lynne C. Eigler Living Trust, and authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents for the distribution of the Trust funds to the City;
2. Do not accept the gift;
3. Provide other direction to staff.
Staff recommends Alternative No. 1.
SUMMARY
The City has been notified by a Trustee of the Lynne C. Eigler Living Trust that the distribution of the Trust names the City of Simi Valley and the Simi Valley Public Library as a beneficiary. Total funds to be gifted for use at the Library are $127,500. The acceptance of this gift exceeds the authority of the City Manager to accept. Therefore, staff is requesting authorization of the City Council to accept the gift and execute all necessary documents in order to accept the funds. It is recommended that the City Council accept this gift and authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary document for the distribution of the Trust funds to the City. _________________________________
Brian P. Gabler
City Manager