The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2025-06-24; City Council; 01; Donation from the Carlsbad Library & Arts FoundationCA Review AZ Meeting Date: June 24, 2025 To: Mayor and City Council From: Geoff Patnoe, City Manager Staff Contact: Suzanne Smithson, Library & Cultural Arts Director suzanne.smithson@carlsbadca.gov or 442-339-2011 Subject: Donation from the Carlsbad Library & Arts Foundation Districts: All Recommended Action Adopt a resolution accepting a donation of $235,116 from the Carlsbad Library & Arts Foundation to the City of Carlsbad’s Library & Cultural Arts Department. Executive Summary The Carlsbad Library & Arts Foundation has offered to donate $235,116 to the City of Carlsbad’s Library & Cultural Arts department, as follows: • $75,211 from its Robert H. Gartner Endowment Fund to support cultural programming in the Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium at the Carlsbad City Library complex • $104,165 from its Benson Family Endowment Fund to provide funding in part for library materials and in part to support programs and services of the Library Learning Center • $15,740 from the Cannon Endowment Fund to support programs, exhibits and activities associated with the William D. Cannon Art Gallery • $40,000 from the general non-endowment funds for the Percussion Play instrumental sculptures Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 2.08.100 requires the City Council’s approval for the city to accept donations worth more than $5,000. Explanation & Analysis The Carlsbad Library & Arts Foundation was launched in 1998 with the mission to seek, cultivate and provide financial support for the City of Carlsbad’s library and cultural arts facilities and programs and ensure they serve community needs. One way the foundation achieves this mission is by attracting and managing major gifts. Through the generosity of community members, endowments have been established to support specific programs and services: June 24, 2025 Item #1 Page 1 of 7 • The Robert H. Gartner endowment was established in 2005 and is designated to support cultural programming in the Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium located at the Carlsbad City Library complex. • The Benson Family endowment was established in 2014 with a gift from Dr. and Mrs. Russell Benson through the Benson Family Trust, for the use and benefit of the Library Learning Center and for the acquisition of books and other library materials for the libraries. • The William D. Cannon Art Gallery endowment was established with a gift from Teresa M. Cannon in 1999, to support the activities and programs of the William D. Cannon Art Gallery at the Carlsbad City Library complex. The funds for fiscal year 2025-26 will be appropriated as follows: • Funds from the Robert H. Gartner Cultural Endowment will be used to support programs presented by the Library & Cultural Arts Department in the newly upgraded Schulman Auditorium, including concerts, film presentations, arts lectures, literary events, author visits, plays and play readings for the community to enjoy. These funds also support film and music licenses for the venue. • The Benson Family Endowment will support specific collection development activities and services including both physical materials and downloadable eBooks and audiobooks. At the Learning Center, these funds will provide for marketing and promotional materials, as well as support the Career Online High School Program and bilingual services. • The Cannon Endowment will support exhibition related special events and the technical needs of the William D. Cannon gallery, which hosts 25,000-30,000 attendees annually. The funds also support the Explore More education program, which is developed in relation to specific exhibitions presented in the gallery and serve about 5,000 students and community members of all ages each year. • A one-time request from the Foundation’s general non-endowment funds will support a Percussion Play instrumental sculpture installation outside the Cole Library. Percussion Play outdoor musical instruments allow community members of all ages and abilities to have a music making experience. Fiscal Analysis The $235,116 donation will be used as stated above to enhance cultural programming, visual arts activities and library services through the Library & Cultural Arts department. Appropriation of these funds is included in the fiscal year 2025-26 adopted budget. Next Steps The Library & Cultural Arts department will apply these funds as appropriated in the fiscal year 2025-26 adopted budget to deliver the identified programs and services. June 24, 2025 Item #1 Page 2 of 7 Environmental Evaluation The proposed action is not a “project” as defined by CEQA Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4) and does not require environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15602(c)(3) because accepting the donation is a government fiscal activity and does not in itself involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment. Accepting the donation does not have a legally binding effect on any possible future discretionary action. The activities or projects for which this funding will be used may require preparation of an environmental document in accordance with CEQA and CEQA Guidelines. The proposed action will not foreclose review of alternatives or mitigation measures by the public as part of the environmental review process. Exhibits 1. City Council resolution 2. Fiscal year 2025-26 Carlsbad Library & Arts Foundation funding request June 24, 2025 Item #1 Page 3 of 7 Exhibit 1 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-146 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, ACCEPTING A DONATION OF $235,116 FROM THE CARLSBAD LIBRARY & ARTS FOUNDATION TO THE CITY OF CARLSBAD’S LIBRARY & CULTURAL ARTS DEPARTMENT WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, has determined that the Carlsbad Library & Arts Foundation has generously offered to donate $235,116 to the City of Carlsbad’s Library & Cultural Arts department, as follows: $75,211 from its Robert H. Gartner Endowment Fund, $104,165 from its Benson Family Endowment Fund, $15,740 from the Cannon Endowment Fund, and $40,000 from the general non-endowment funds; and WHEREAS, acceptance of this donation will provide enhanced cultural programming in the Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium and William D. Cannon Art Gallery, facilitate the purchase of library materials, fund programs and services at the Library Learning Center, and support the installation of an instrumental sculpture outside the Georgina Cole Library. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as follows: 1.That the above recitations are true and correct. 2.The proposed action is not a “project” as defined by CEQA Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4) and does not require environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15602(c)(3) because accepting the donation is a government fiscal activity and does not in itself involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment. Accepting the donation does not have a legally binding effect on any possible future discretionary action. The activities or projects for which this funding will be used may require preparation of an environmental document in accordance with CEQA and CEQA Guidelines. The proposed action will not foreclose review of alternatives or mitigation measures by the public as part of the environmental review process. 3.That the City Council gratefully accepts the donation of $235,116 from the Carlsbad Library & Arts Foundation. June 24, 2025 Item #1 Page 4 of 7 4.That the City Manager, or designee, will appropriate the $235,116 donation to the Library & Cultural Arts Department FY 2025-26 operating budget to fund library programs, services, and purchases in accordance with the purpose of the donation. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 24th day of June, 2025, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Shin. NAYS: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: None. ______________________________________ KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor ______________________________________ SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk (SEAL) June 24, 2025 Item #1 Page 5 of 7 Library & Cultural Arts Department 1775 Dove Lane ï Carlsbad, CA 92011 ï 442-339-2011 T Memorandum March 13, 2025 To: Carlsbad Library & Arts Foundation Board of Trustees From: Suzanne Smithson, Library & Cultural Arts Director Re: FY 2025-26 FUNDING REQUESTS The Library & Cultural Arts Department is requesting a disbursement from the Carlsbad Library & Arts Foundation’s general fund and three endowment funds totaling $235,116 for program and service delivery in FY 2025-26, consistent with the instructions of each donor. •From the general non-endowment funds, $40,000 for the Percussion Play instrumental sculptures. •From the Robert H. Gartner Cultural Endowment, we are requesting $75,211 for cultural programming in the Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium in FY 2025-26. •The Benson Family Endowment provides funding in equal parts for the library collection and in support of programs and services at the Library Learning Center. For FY 2025-26, the request is $104,165: $52,082.50 in support of the library’s collection and $52,082.50 to support the Learning Center. •From the Cannon Endowment, $15,740 is requested to support programs, exhibits, and activities associated with the William D. Cannon Art Gallery. Underspent cash balances from previous fiscal years are enough to support the remainder of FY 2025-26 program plans. The one-time request from CLAF’s general non-endowment funds will support a Percussion Play instrumental sculpture installation outside the Cole Library. Percussion Play outdoor musical instruments allow community members of all ages and abilities to have a music making experience. Music has shaped cultures and societies around the world for generations. It has the power to alter one's mood, change perceptions, and inspire change. Funds from the Robert H. Gartner Cultural Endowment will be used to support programs presented by the Library & Cultural Arts Department in the newly upgraded Schulman Auditorium, including concerts, film presentations, arts lectures, literary events, author visits, Exhibit 2 June 24, 2025 Item #1 Page 6 of 7 Carlsbad Library & Arts Foundation March 13, 2025 Page 2 plays and play readings for the community to enjoy. These funds also support film and music licenses for the venue. The Benson Family Endowment will support specific collection development activities and services including both physical materials and downloadable ebooks and audiobooks. At the Learning Center, these funds will provide for marketing and promotional materials, as well as supporting the Career Online High School Program and bilingual services. The Cannon Endowment will support the needs of the William D. Cannon gallery in FY 2025-26. The funds will support exhibition related special events and the technical needs of the gallery. The William D. Cannon gallery hosts 25,000-30,000 attendees annually. The funds also support the Explore More education program, which are developed in relation to specific exhibitions presented in the gallery and serve about 5,000 students and community members of all ages each year. These funds also support some personnel costs directly associated with the Explore More program. The Library & Cultural Arts Department appreciates the Board’s approval of these disbursements and staff will factor this into FY 2025-26 budget planning which is currently in progress. We are happy to answer any questions. Thank you for your consideration and your ongoing support of these valuable programs and services. FE/SS cc: Sheila Crosby, Deputy Library Director Katie Nye, Deputy Library Director Craddock Stropes, Cultural Arts Manager Fiona Everett, Senior Management Analyst June 24, 2025 Item #1 Page 7 of 7