HomeCommunity NewsCity Council Receives $50K Library Donation and Gold Energy Award

City Council Receives $50K Library Donation and Gold Energy Award

Friends of the Crowell Public Library, from left to right, are treasurer Gwynne Seares, volunteer manager Donna Anding, Book Shoppe manager Kathy Miller, assistant treasurer Stella Wagner and Book Shoppe manager Ed Fitzpatrick present a check for $50,000 to the City Council to supplement funding for the Crowell Public Library on Nov. 14 at San Marino City Hall. Photo by Skye Hannah

At its Wednesday, Nov. 14 meeting, the San Marino City Council accepted a $50,000 check from the Friends of the Crowell Public Library, was awarded a Gold Level Energy Leader Award for 2017 by the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments and also unanimously approved a contract for the Lacy Park restroom replacement project.

The $50,000 check was donated by the Friends of the Crowell Public Library to support the library’s programs. The organization has supported the library since the late 1950s, raising funds through membership and proceeds from the library’s Book Shoppe. The funds will be spent on supporting the Summer Reading Program, funding activities and events such as a winter jazz performance, as well as funding the purchase of equipment and items for the library. Mayor Steve Talt commended and thanked the members for their work.

“I do appreciate all the effort that the Friends of the Crowell Public Library make and it makes our job easier when those funds come into support our library,” said Talt. “Thank you so much.”

The City Council was also presented with a Gold Level Energy Leader Award for 2017 by the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG), a joint powers authority comprised of representatives from 30 cities, three L.A. County Supervisorial Districts and the three municipal water districts located in the San Gabriel Valley. San Marino is one of the member cities within the partnership that helps cities achieve municipal savings with guidance for energy efficient measures. The partnership also provides financial incentives from Southern California Edison and helps market community programs to increase energy saving awareness. The Gold Level is the second highest tier of four levels.

Left to right, San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments project assistant Peter Duyshart (third from left) presents San Marino City Councilmember Susan Jakubowski (from left), Vice Mayor Dr. Steven Huang, Mayor Steve Talt, Council Member Gretchen Shepherd Romey and Council Member Ken Ude with the Gold Level Energy Leader Award on Nov. 14 at San Marino City Hall. Photo by Skye Hannah

Peter Duyshart, SGVCOG project assistant who presented the award, noted that San Marino saved 493,492 kilowatt-hours since joining the partnership in 2006. During that time, the city also received $39,237.72 in incentives. Duyshart said that the city derived the savings from multiple sources including developing an action plan, recently retrofitting street lighting and City Hall lighting, and reaching out to the community on issues of energy efficiency and sustainability.

“Through these achievements, the city of San Marino has been recognized numerous times internally at the partnership, but we’re here today to recognize you externally and present you with an award and plaque for the leadership you’ve shown in reaching the Gold Level,” said Duyshart.

Before accepting the award with the council, Talt candidly shared that the work to achieve the Gold Level was achieved by prior City Councils and commended them for their leadership.

“We will happily take the award for them, but it was their effort in making especially the street light expenditures and adjustments,” said Talt. “This was started several years ago by an entirely different council and they are to be congratulated as well.”

The council also voted 5-0 to approve the award of the construction contract for the Lacy Park restroom replacement project to Meyers Construction Company for the amount of $337,400.

The construction process is projected to begin mid-December and for site construction to begin in January, according to San Marino Park and Public Works director and City Engineer Michael Throne. Any additional change orders during construction will go to the council before for approval.

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