SR 06-11-2019 3B
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: June 11, 2019
Agenda Item: 3.B
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Cynthia Renaud, Chief of Police, Police Department
Subject: Bequest to the Santa Monica Animal Shelter
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept a bequest currently
estimated to be approximately $600,000 from the Bigus Living Trust dated
December 9, 2014 (the “Bigus Living Trust”) to be used for the Santa Monica
Animal Shelter’s general charitable purposes in accordance with the terms of the
trust;
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to accept funds
from the trust; and
3. Authorize budget changes as outlined in the Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
section of this report.
Summary
The Santa Monica Animal Shelter is named as one of four charitable beneficiaries in the
Bigus Living Trust. The terms of the Bigus Living Trust specify that the Santa Monica
Animal Shelter is to receive 25% of certain assets of the trust “to be used for its [the
Santa Monica Animal Shelter’s] general charitable purposes.” The value of the Santa
Monica Animal Shelter’s interest is currently estimated to be approximately $600,000.
Final appropriation of this gift is pending the sale of Ms. Bigus ’ assets. The Trustee of
the Estate has provided this estimation based on the current estimated sale of these
assets; market conditions and other factors at the time of sale may increase or
decrease the actual amount received. Adoption and approval of the attached
Resolution would allow the City to accept this gift (Attachment A).
Discussion
Ms. Eileen M. Bigus passed away on December 9, 2018. The Santa Monica Animal
Shelter was one of one of four charitable beneficiaries named in the Bigus Living Trust.
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The gift was a pleasant and welcome surprise. Ms. Bigus was a homeowner in Santa
Monica and was a loving cat owner. The trustee of the Bigus Living Trust is currently
liquidating the assets of the trust and intends to distribute the assets to the four
charitable beneficiaries. Approval and adoption of the attached Resolution would allow
the City to accept the bequest from the Bigus Living Trust on behalf of the Santa Monica
Animal Shelter.
The approval and adoption of the attached Resolution will enable the department to
begin utilizing the one-time funds to further the goals, services, and programs of the
Animal Shelter and continue to provide the highest quality of care and services to all
Santa Monica animals.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff request authority to accept an estimated $600,000 bequest from the Bigus Living
Trust .
FY 2019-20 Budget Changes
Establish Revenue Budget Appropriate Funds
Account Number(s) Amount Account Number(s) Amount
10180003.417010 $600,000 To be established $600,000
Total $600,000 Total $600,000
.
Prepared By: Alejandro Mendoza, Administrator
Approved
Forwarded to Council
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Attachments:
A. Reso - SMPD - Accept Charitable Remainder Bigus Living Trust - 06.11.2019
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City Council Meeting: June 11, 2019 Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER _________ (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA ACCEPTING THE
CHARITABLE REMAINDER OF THE MARTIN CHARITABLE TRUST
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica is one of the charitable beneficiaries of the
Bigus Living Trust dated December 9, 2014 (the “Bigus Living Trust”);
WHEREAS, the terms of the Bigus Living Trust specify that the Santa Monica
Animal Shelter is to receive 25% of certain assets of the trust “to be used for [the Santa
Monica Animal Shelter’s] general charitable purposes”; and
WHEREAS, the trustee of the Bigus Living Trust is currently liquidating the assets
of the trust and intends to distribute the assets to the charitable beneficiaries.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City accepts the assets of the Bigus Living Trust in accordance
with the terms of said trust. Funds received from said trust shall be used for the Santa
Monica Animal Shelter’s general charitable purposes. The City Manager is authorized to
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enter into any agreements and execute documents related to the acceptance of funds
from the Bigus Living Trust.
SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and
thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________
LANE DILG
City Attorney
REFERENCE:
Resolution No. 11176
(CCS)