HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 12b - Request for Naming a City Facility
DATE: August 18, 2020
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager
By: Michael Bruckner, Deputy City Manager
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR COMMEMORATIVE NAMING OF A CITY FACILITY IN
HONOR OF CAROL LIBBY
Recommendation: Provide Direction
SUMMARY
Public facilities are often dedicated in recognition of prominent members of a community
whose generosity, contributions, or achievements created a permanent and lasting
impact on the community. To that end, the City has a process to acknowledge and
memorialize individuals that have advanced the value and heritage of Arcadia by
naming a public facility or space in their honor (see attached City Administrative Policy).
Council Member Beck has submitted the attached request for the commemorative
naming of the courtyard in front of the Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage and Floretta K.
Lauber Museum Education Center in honor of Arcadia resident and local historian Carol
Libby for discussion and direction. In addition, Council Member Beck would like to
dedicate a memorial bench in Ms. Libby’s honor as well. Should the City Council choose
to pursue this honor, a commemorative plaque can be installed on the existing bench
for approximately $500. In addition, the courtyard and bench would benefit from power-
washing as well as some modest landscape improvements. With the additional
improvements, the total cost for the effort would be about $1,000.
On the next page are photos of the Courtyard area and the existing bench. In addition to
providing direction on whether to name the Courtyard in honor of Ms. Libby, staff is also
requesting that City Council provide guidance on the name for the Courtyard. For
example, the plaque can refer to the Courtyard being named in honor of Ms. Libby or
the Courtyard can be renamed to “Carol’s Court” or another choice.
Request for Naming a Facility – Carol Libby
August 18, 2020
Page 2 of 3
MEC Courtyard:
Commemorative Plaque Example:
Request for Naming a Facility – Carol Libby
August 18, 2020
Page 3 of 3
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost of naming the courtyard, installing a memorial plaque, and some modest
landscape improvements in honor of Carol Libby is estimated at $1,000. A supplemental
budget appropriation for $1,000 would be necessary to accomplish this task. If
approved, staff will return with a Resolution for the supplemental appropriation.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council provide direction regarding the request for
commemorative naming of the Museum Education Center courtyard and memorial
bench in honor of Carol Libby.
Attachments: Request for Commemorative Naming of a City Facility
Naming of City Facilities Policy
Carol Libby Eulogy
August 26, 1929 - June 24, 2020
Carol G. Libby passed away on June 24, 2020, at the City of Hope in Duarte,
California, where she was undergoing treatment for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Carol was born in Holland, Michigan, on August 26, 1929 to Dr. Jacob F. and
L. Ruby Geerlings. She grew up in Salt Lake City where her father held a
professorship at the University of Utah. Carol moved to California, where she
earned a B.A. degree in Education from the California State University at Los
Angeles in 1950 and then taught elementary school in the Los Angeles Unified
School District. She earned a Masters Degree in Child Development from the
University of La Verne in 1987. In 1956 she married Harold Dean Libby of
Arcadia, CA, where they continued to live for the rest of their lives. Carol and
her husband "Hal" purchased the Libby family home in 1956, the home Hal's
parents bought in 1938, so that another generation could enjoy the benefits of
living in Arcadia and attend its outstanding schools. Carol's passionate interest
in the history of Arcadia began while listening to stories told by her father-in-
law, Philip A. Libby, who was a member of Arcadia's City Council for several
years in the 1940s. She often stated, "Historic preservation is right on the top
of my list." She became active in the Arcadia Historical Society in 1986,
eventually becoming President for many years and acting as curator of the
Society's Historical Museum from 1995 to 2001. She served as chairman of the
city's history committee of the Arcadia Centennial Commission in 2003 and
served on the Historical Museum Commission from 2000 to 2008. Carol served
on the Society's Historical Marker Committee since its inception in 2008 and
was a driving force behind the placement of eleven markers located throughout
Arcadia and representing significant landmarks in Arcadia's history. Carol also
authored "Faces and Footprints in Arcadia's History" in 2014, "Chronicles of
Arcadia" in 2012, and co-authored the Arcadia edition of the national book
series "Images of America" in 2008. She wrote and created short theatrical
skits, historical fashion shows, and programs for the members of the Arcadia
Historical Society. She was so enthusiastic about co-authoring the weekly
"Historical Tidbits" e-newsletter, featuring snippets of Arcadia's history,
photographs and facts, that she continued to submit new entries from her
hospital bed in recent weeks. Carol was active in numerous Arcadia
organizations, including as a volunteer for more than 25 years at the Los
Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, and as President of First
Avenue PTA, Baldwin Stocker PTA, and Arcadia Council PTA. She was also
one of the founding officers of the non-profit community events group Arcadia's
Best Foundation, was past program chairwoman and vice president with the
Arcadia Friends of the Library, and past President/Advisor of Alpha Auxiliary of
the Methodist Hospital Foundation. Other memberships in associations and
foundations include: Sister City Commission; Help Our Youth; Arcadia's Best
Foundation; Arcadia Historical Society, and the Friends of the Society; Arcadia
Police Foundation; and Arcadia Community Coordinating Council. In
recognition of her devotion and dedication to maintain and preserve the City of
Arcadia, Carol was named Arcadia Citizen of the year by the Arcadia Chamber
of Commerce in 1978 and 2018, and was the recipient of the City of Arcadia's
Senior Citizen Award in 2001 and 2016. She received the Arcadia Chinese
Association Award in 2002, the City of Arcadia Mayor's Certificate of
Commendation in February 2017, and Congresswoman Judy Chu's Woman of
the Year Award in April 2017. She also received a Golden Apple Award, an
Honorary Service Award and Continuing Service Award from Baldwin Stocker
School PTA, and Arcadia's City Appreciation Award for her work in the
relocation and restoration of the Hugo Reid Family statue in 2003. Carol is
preceded in death by her husband Hal and her son James C. Libby. She is
survived by her three other children, Melanie Libby-Brown of Santa Rosa, CA;
Dr. Richard A. Libby of Richmond, CA; and Annie Libby of San Diego, CA. She
is also survived by her daughter-in-law Susan Libby of Sebastopol, CA, and by
five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The Libby family wishes to
extend our sincere thanks to Stephen J. Forman, M.D., and the wonderful staff
at City of Hope. Contributions in memory of Carol may be made to the City of
Hope in Duarte, California.