Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Meeting

MINUTES COLTON HALL MUSEUM AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION Monday, August 26, 2013 4:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Dias, Evans, Greenwald, Marohn, Ruhnke, Schneider, Wojtkowski Commissioners Absent: None Ex-Officio and Staff Community Services and Library Director Kim Bui-Burton, Members Present: Museum, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Dennis Copeland, Recording Secretary Teresa Nash Ex-Officio Commissioners are non-voting members, appointed pursuant to MCC § 2-11. CALL TO ORDER 1. Introduction of New Commissioner Christopher Marohn Action: Introduction made. Museum, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland introduced Chris Marohn. Chris stated that he and his wife are interested in and support the arts and music and that he is looking forward to getting involved as a commissioner. CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 2. Monday, June 24, 2013 Action: Approved as corrected; Commissioner Dias was not in attendance at the June 24, 2013 meeting (7-0). 3. Monday, July 22, 2013 Action: Approved as submitted (7-0). ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS Former Commissioner Chuck Kimzey explained he has now been appointed to the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) for the City. He thanked the CHMCAC and staff for the opportunity to serve, stated that his interest in history is still very strong, and noted that it was a great experience for him on the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission. Chair Wojtkowski thanked Chuck for serving and congratulated him on his appointment to the ARC.  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, August 26, 2013 INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 4. Receive Museum and Cultural Arts Division Activity Report – June 2013 Action: Report received. Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland noted there are currently two artist’s exhibits at the Alvarado Gallery at the Conference Center and that 110 people attended the exhibit reception. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton reported on the status of the Cooper Molera Adobe, owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and managed by State Parks. She said that the National Trust is looking at stewardship of the adobe for the present and the future. She noted that the Trust plans to present their future vision for the adobe to the community sometime in October. Commissioner Greenwald inquired about the proposal to close Polk Street in the Downtown Specific Plan. Director Bui-Burton said the Plan shows the closure of Polk Street to create a pedestrian path and that the Planning Commission will review the plan tomorrow night. 5. Receive Museum and Cultural Arts Division Activity Report – July 2013 Action: Report received. Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland noted it is that time of year when museum attendance traditionally goes up. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton said she met with the City’s Acting Risk Manager regarding serving wine at art openings and will bring information back to Commission. Commissioner Greenwald inquired about alcohol server training. Commissioner Marohn said he has taken the course and it takes about 2 hours to complete. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 6. Receive Report on Colton Hall in the ADA Transition Plan Action: This item is being carried over to the Monday, September 23, 2013 meeting. Chair Wojtkowski noted that ADA Coordinator John Kuehl could not attend tonight’s meeting to provide information on Colton Hall in the ADA plan to the Commission and that this item will be carried over to the September meeting. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton gave a broad overview of the City’s ADA Transition Plan study and how it will affect every building, sidewalk, street, program, etc. Commissioner Wojtkowski said the City’s objective is to create access to all City facilities. Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland stated the ADA Transition Plan is a milestone document for the City and will provide guidance for future building accessibility. Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 26, 2013 2  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, August 26, 2013 7. Receive Report on Museums and Cultural Arts Division Programs FY 2012-13 Action: Report received. Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland stated the Commission’s strategic plan goal is to support programs that Museums and Cultural Arts provide and the Commission’s objective in the plan is to review the programs annually. He reviewed the facilities and programs offered by the Museums and Cultural Arts Division, including citywide programs in which the Division participates, such as Art in the Adobes, History Fest, and Christmas in the Adobes. Community Services and Library Director Bui-Burton said the report is a good baseline, and noted that Museum staff, except for the Manager, are part-time employees. She said it’s because of their love for the work that staff can get so much done. Without more staffing, the capacity to add any new programs or events is not there and staff will ask the Commission to look at program information provided and help staff to prioritize. Commissioner Evans noted on the attached programs chart that it shows all of the groups that went through the Pacific Biological Lab and inquired how they find out about the PBL tours. Director Bui-Burton stated that the public tours are advertized; but other groups mainly learn by word of mouth. Manager Copeland said there is an application fee for groups who visit the Lab and the fee partly covers staff time and maintenance. Commissioner Wojtkowski noted the breakdown on the cell phone tours shows where the users are located and how many people have used it and asked if certain site tours are more popular than others. Manager Copeland said Colton Hall leads overall and represents about a quarter of all cell phone sites visited and that City cell phone tours have a very good completion record for users listening to entire tour. Director Bui-Burton reported that promotional signage still needs to be installed but that funding is no longer available. Commissioner Evans asked if there is any connection between our cell phone tours and the State Parks. Manager Copeland stated the State Parks cell phone tour sites are listed on the same brochure as the City’s cell phone sites, and that the City’s project was stimulated in part by State Parks’ program, which the City expanded to include many more locations. The City works closely with State Parks on the historic cell phone programs. 8. Receive Colton Hall Museum Interpretive Planning Subcommittee Report Action: Report received. Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland said the subcommittee met and discussed the schedule for the grant project. He reported that proposal submissions have been received from consultants and that staff has reviewed the submissions and will select a consultant soon. He said that, as part of the grant application, a survey of visitors was completed and meetings with community stakeholders are planned. He said the subcommittee has tasked itself to provide ideas and suggestions and also help to identify stakeholders for the interpretive plan meetings. Commissioner Dias said our next big step is to identify and develop a vehicle to do that with online surveys, engage neighborhood associations, City Newsletter, along with people in the community. She stated we need a consultant for guidance with this project and we will ask the Commission for suggestions of stakeholder names. Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 26, 2013 3  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, August 26, 2013 Commissioner Ruhnke reported the subcommittee brainstormed about groups with particular interest in Colton Hall and one suggestion was 4th grade teachers who teach California History. Commissioner Wojtkowski inquired how many submissions were received. Manager Copeland reported six were received and that process has narrowed to two main candidates for the final selection. 9. Receive Report on the Art in the Adobes Festival 2013 Plans Action: Report received. Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland stated this is the third year in a row that an artwork has been selected from the City of Monterey’s Art Collection as the iconic painting of Art in the Adobes festival: Evelyn McCormack’s “Custom House” was selected this year. He said for the past two years, the Commissioners have assisted as docents during the art lectures held in the City Council Chambers and asked if the Commission would like to form a docent team and select a docent coordinator. Commissioner Marohn volunteered to be the coordinator for the Commission’s docent team. . Commissioner Wojtkowski said this is a great event and hopes everyone can attend. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Schneider welcomed Chris Marohn to the Commission and looks forward to working with him. Commissioner Wojtkowski asked staff to keep the Commission updated on the Statewide Committee looking at State parks. NEXT MEETING Monday, September 23, 2013 ADJOURNMENT Chair Wojtkowski adjourned the meeting at 5:07 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Dennis Copeland, Manager Bill Wojtkowski, Chair Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Colton Hall Museum & Cultural Arts Commission Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 26, 2013 4