Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Meeting

MINUTES COLTON HALL MUSEUM AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION Monday, January 23, 2012 4:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBERS, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Rodriguez, Greenwald, Dias, Messenger, Schneider, Wojtkowski Commissioners Absent: Han Ex-Officio and Staff Community Services Director Bui-Burton, Museums, Cultural Members Present: Arts and Archives Manager Copeland, Administrative Assistant Rygg CALL TO ORDER 1. Appointment of Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Chair and Vice-Chair Motion by Messenger for John Greenwald to become Chairperson and Bill Wojtkowski, to become Vice-Chair. Second by Schneider. Motion carried. ROLL CALL CONSENT ITEMS Commission Chairperson Greenwald reminded the Commission that during the period for consent items during a meeting, the Commissioners may make minor changes and, insert those in the consent agenda. If a Commissioner believes he/she has something that can fit there, the other Commissioners can always remove it. Approval of Minutes 2. November 28, 2011 Motion made by Wojtkowksi; Second by Messenger. Motion carried. ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 3. Museum and Cultural Arts Division Activity Report - November 1 - December 31, 2011 A component of the Community Foundation for Monterey County grant project for the Pacific Biological Laboratories (PBL) was the development of signage for the PBL. Signage will be the replication or facsimile of the original 1937 PBL sign. The sign will be a basic wood sign with black or dark lettering on a light background: “Pacific Biological Laboratories.” Staff have applied for an historic sign permit. The sign will be secured with a metal backing to the PBL exterior wall, using the original holes for installation of wood screws. Christmas in the Adobes (CITA) in 2011 should be noted for its record attendance.  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, January 23, 2012 Carmel Strings was a great attraction. CITA attendance in general was up for several participating historic buildings. Our large volunteer crew was a great help. For this year, CITA will be held on Friday and Saturday, December 14 and 15. CITA is a principle source of revenue for the Monterey State Historic Parks Association (MSHPA), and the revenue is used for State Parks projects. For the upcoming Colton Hall Evening Music Series, the Commission asked if a lower price was negotiated for Bolero Brothers, and staff responded that the price was reduced by one hundred dollars. PUBLIC APPEARANCE Old Business 4. Receive Report on January 2012 Pacific Biological Laboratories Tour Program Staff developed a volunteer docent training and PBL tour program, which included sale of John Steinbeck's novel "Cannery Row" with a special photo bookplate showing the Pacific Biological Laboratories in 1945, the year of publication. The response and sign-ups for the tours was more than staff had imagined and highly successful. Eight tours were originally scheduled, then two more tours were added because of the demand. New docents have been trained as tour guides and assistants. The attendance was 150 people, 15 individuals for each tour as staff follows the guidelines to limit the number of people per building preservation recommendations and our PBL use policy. Thank you to Commissioner Dias, Greenwald, and Rodriguez who served as tour docents. On January 27 at 4:00 pm, Commissioners Wojtkowski and Greenwald, Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton, and Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland will meet with the Cannery Row Foundation (CRF) representatives about the conditions for use of the PBL and City-led tours. The National Steinbeck Center will be having their tours at the PBL in May. Because staff had so many people inquiring about the tours, email addresses were recorded on a wait list. Staff will contact the individuals and refer them to CRF for the Lab tours on January 28 in honor of Kalisa Moore. Commissioner Messenger asked if staff is doing anything on small school tours. Copeland responded that staff is continuing tours with school groups. 5. Review of Commission Strategic Plan Goals for 2012 Copeland stated that following the Commission's last review of strategic goals, there were some modifications and specifications made on the Strategic Plan Goals chart. Commission Chair Greenwald asked if there was anything the Commission needed to talk about at the time. He said when the Commission gets to the Agenda item on subcommittees, the Commission can address the Strategic Plan need for subcommittees to fulfill tasks. Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art 2 Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, January 23, 2012 2  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, January 23, 2012 6. Selection of Artists in Three Art Shows for Exhibit at Alvarado Gallery, 2012 Of three twelve individual artist and art group submissions, the Commission selected Artist Equity, Justin Ward and Gudny Campbell. 7. Report on Commission subcommittees, 2010-2011 Music: Schneider, Greenwald, and Messenger as Chair. Fundraising: Rodriguez, Dias and Wojtkowski as Chair. The subcommittee will address the issue of a Colton Hall Museum ad-hoc committee, and the fundraising subcommittee will decide a date, and make adjustment to strategic plan. In February, the fundraising committee will make a report. Commission Rodriguez stated she will work on Goal # 2, Commissioner Development, Objective A which is a training plan for new Commissioners. Deadline: March 2012 Commission Chair Greenwald appointed Commissioner Rodriguez as Commission liaison to Historic Monterey, per Goal # 4. Commissioner Rodriguez said she will go over what has/has not been accomplished. She would love to be a liaison and continue working with Historic Monterey. Messenger will be the liaison to the Monterey Arts Council. 8. Approval of Commissioner Request to host Commission event at Pacific Biological Laboratories (PBL) Commissioner Wojtkowski suggested a casual social gathering of the three to four remaining Pacific Biological Laboratories members, the members of the Cannery Row Foundation, and Steinbeck scholar Susan Shillinglaw, with wine and cheese refreshments. Copeland asked if the representatives from the National Steinbeck Center and Monterey Bay Aquarium, and possibly other “stakeholder” organizations should be included. As a side discussion, Commissioner Dias mentioned that a couple of members of "The Cavalry" group have introduced themselves as the newer members of the Pacific Biological Laboratories members club. Copeland explained that there are four remaining members of the original PBL club members. The Cavalry is sponsored by two PBL Members, Doc Etienne and Frank Wright. The Cavalry is not the PBL group, which has formal rights in the agreement with the City for the use of the Lab; they are a user group. Commissioner Wojtokowski would like to review the latest amendment of the agreement between the PBL Club members and the City of Monterey and find out what that relationship is. Bui-Burton said staff can include agreement as a future agenda item. The members of "The Cavalry' have shown an interest in the PBL's future. The City has encouraged "The Cavalry" to be a non-profit, 501 c (3), for raising financial support for the PBL. The City's agreement with PBL members will expire on December 31, 2015. There is a philosophical balance required for addressing the different goals and needs of well-meaning groups which feel pride for the Lab and the City’s responsibilities to protect Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art 3 Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, January 23, 2012 3 Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, January 23, 2012 and share resources. Commissioners Greenwald and Rodriguez asked Wojtkowski if the Commissioners would provide refreshments, and is there a particular timeframe for the event. Wojtkowski suggested a Tuesday or Thursday from 5:00 - 7:00 pm? Greenwald reminded the Commission about the PBL building's limited space capacity and to consider how many Commissioners , staff and stakeholders would attend the event. Copeland said that more than likely one or two of the original PBL members would attend. Bui-Burton suggested that attendance could be 20-25, and to make a point that some of the people can be outside, and spread out (throughout the building). Commissioner Messenger asked for a date for the event. Bui-Burton said the Commission Chair will make a date. Greenwald asked Staff for a date. Copeland responded that Staff will check the PBL schedule and provide open dates for the event. Rodriguez asked if the Commissioners are interested in having this event. Motion by Messenger for the Commission to host an event at the PBL with the date to be announced after Staff identifies a date. Second by Wojtkowski. Five "Yes" and one "No". Motion carried. Rodriguez said the Commission should have more information on who is to be invited; to decide to have no more than 25 people at the event; if the Commission is interested in the event, and to be sure to discuss the issue before a vote is made. Dias asked if it worth to have someone from the Hotel Clement International, perhaps General Manager John Turner. At the next Commission meeting, the staff will provide possible dates for the PBL event. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Messenger: Wishes all a great new year. Esther did a great job, and is looking forward to John’s chairship. Rodriguez: Congratulations to staff for great job on the Lab tours. Greenwald: Is impressed with what the Museums staff has done, the historic photographs, and the quality of the tours. These [tours] are really a class deal. He hopes the City will do more of them. Bui-Burton: Handheld history is here - the first brochures on cell phone tours have arrived. Copeland: We are still conducting beta testing for translated language tours, but feel free to call the numbers on your cell or smart phone, or go online http://myoncell.mobi/1817189123 . NEXT MEETING - February 27, 2012 Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art 4 Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, January 23, 2012 4 Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, January 23, 2012 ADJOURNMENT Adjourned: 5:30 pm Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Dennis Copeland Chair Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Colton Hall Museum & Cultural Arts Commission Manager Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art 5 Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, January 23, 2012 5