Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Meeting

MINUTES COLTON HALL MUSEUM AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION Monday, September 22, 2014 4:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Dias, Evans, Greenwald, Marohn, Ruhnke Commissioners Absent: Wojtkowski Ex-Officio and Staff Community Services Director Kim Bui-Burton, Museums, Members Present: 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 CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 1. Monday, August 25, 2014 Action: Approved as submitted (5-0-1, Wojtkowski absent). ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 2. Receive Museum and Cultural Arts Division Activity Report - August 2014 Action: Report received. Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland confirmed that the House of Four Winds will be the venue for the 1849 Constitutional Convention Reenactment during History Fest this year. Commissioner Ruhnke inquired what time the reenactment will be held. Manager Copeland stated it will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 5. Commissioner Dias said she has not seen any publicity for History Fest. Community Services Director Bui-Burton said that Media Assistant Eric Palmer is working on video PSAs that will be on Twitter and the Coast Weekly. Manager Copeland handed out the schedule for History Fest. Commissioner Ruhnke confirmed that the Pacific Biological Laboratories stakeholder meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 30 at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. Manager Copeland encouraged everyone to attend. Commissioner Marohn said he checks the City’s Facebook page daily and did not see anything about History Fest. He noted promotion should have been started a couple of months ago to get better coverage and exposure and suggested expanding the Commission’s role with social media.  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, September 22, 2014 PUBLIC APPEARANCE New Business 3. Approve Recommendation from Angels Auction Subcommittee for November 2015 Joint Angels Auction Fundraiser with Old Monterey Foundation and Provide Direction to Working Committee Members Action: The Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved the recommendation from the Angel Auction Subcommittee for November 2015 Joint Angels Auction Fundraiser with Old Monterey Foundation and Provide Direction to Working Committee Members (5-0-1, Wojtkowski absent). Community Services Director Bui-Burton reported the subcommittee met on September 15 and reviewed questions posed by the Commission at their July meeting. She said the Commission sees the main purpose of the fundraiser as restoring more Angels and that the Old Monterey Foundation (OMF), while in agreement, also seeks to raise money for their activities. She stated if the Commission decides to work with OMF, there will need to be a written agreement as to how the auction proceeds will be dispersed. She noted that the Museum division has fewer staff, with less availability than in 2007 and therefore more volunteer help will be needed. Commissioner Ruhnke said the subcommittee discussed creating an event poster, which could also be for sale, and that funds collected would go to refurbishing the Angels; she also noted interest in producing a second set of Angel note cards and inquired where they are sold. Manager Copeland said the note cards are sold at the Presidio Museum and the Colton Hall Museum. Commissioner Greenwald said this alignment with OMF makes a lot more sense than the Commission doing it alone, they can provide “people and financial power.” Commissioner Ruhnke said it seems like they have a lot of people interested in helping with the angel auction. On a motion by Commissioner Greenwald, seconded by Commissioner Evans, the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved the recommendation from the Angels Auction Subcommittee for a November 2015 Joint Angels Auction Fundraiser with the Old Monterey Foundation and provide direction to working committee members. Commissioner Evans added that all funds collected are split 50/50 to this motion. Commissioner Ruhnke stated at this time, this is a recommendation to move forward with this idea; when the subcommittee meets with OMF there will be a decision on how funds will be divided. Commissioner Evans feels that discussion should start now. Commissioner Ruhnke suggested that both groups should donate a certain amount to refurbish the angels and then split the remaining funds. Commissioner Greenwald said the main goal is to have the Angels restored. Commissioner Evans agreed to the original motion, without the funds addition. Commissioner Dias said the subcommittee needs to come up with an image to distribute to get the buzz going about this project. Manager Copeland said he would provide current images of Angels for subcommittee to select best image. Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, September 22, 2014 2  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, September 22, 2014 On a motion by Commissioner Greenwald, seconded by Commissioner Evans, and carried by the following vote, the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved the recommendation from the Angels Auction Subcommittee for a November 2015 Joint Angels Auction Fundraiser with Old Monterey Foundation and provide direction to the working committee members: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Dias, Evans, Greenwald, Marohn, Ruhnke NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Wojtkowski 4. Approve Pilot Museum Month Series of Cultural Arts Events on Colton Hall Lawn During May 2015 and Suspend Colton Hall Music Series Action: The Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved the Pilot Museum Month Series of Cultural Arts Events on Colton Hall Lawn during May 2015 and to suspend the Colton Hall Music Series for one year (5-0-1, Wojtkowski absent). Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland said that the Commission, at the August meeting, discussed the suspension of the Colton Hall Evening Music Series due to accessibility issues. He reported the Colton Hall Music Series subcommittee met and identified three options for the commission’s review: 1. Suspend all Colton Hall music concerts until ADA access is achieved; 2. Relocate the Evening Music Series to an alternative venue; and 3. Suspend the Colton Hall Music Series for one year and create an alternate cultural arts event as a pilot in front of Colton Hall in May 2015. He said the subcommittee recommends Option 3 and would like to hold an outdoor concert or performance on the lawn in front of Colton Hall. We see this as an opportunity to test an outdoor performance and staff and subcommittee propose holding it in May to coincide with National Museum Month. Community Services Director Bui-Burton said the subcommittee stood in front of Colton Hall to review the site and feels it will work well for an outdoor concert. Commissioner Evans said the subcommittee is considering having a couple of concerts; try one in the evening and one on a Sunday afternoon; people could bring a picnic lunch or dinner. Commissioner Greenwald said we really want to keep the Music Series connected to Colton Hall. On a motion by Commissioner Greenwald, seconded by Commissioner Evans, and carried by the following vote, the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved the Pilot Museum Month Series of Cultural Arts events on Colton Hall Lawn during May 2015 and to suspend the Colton Hall Music Series for one year: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Dias, Evans, Greenwald, Marohn, Ruhnke NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Wojtkowski Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, September 22, 2014 3  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, September 22, 2014 5. Approve Call for Art Schedule for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Action: The Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved the Call for Art schedule for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 (5-0-1, Wojtkowski absent). Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland reviewed the annual schedule for the Call for Art. With the regular meeting date so close to Thanksgiving, the commission discussed different dates for their November meeting. Community Services Director Bui-Burton suggested holding a special meeting in November or December to select the artists. Director Bui-Burton stated a sentence was added to the application that states “Staff reserve the right to re-schedule or cancel any exhibit, with advance notice to artists, based on Conference Center or City needs.” She also noted that the Conference Center may be under construction in the next year or two. Commissioners agreed this was a good idea. On a motion by Commissioner Dias, seconded by Commissioner Evans, and carried by the following vote, the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved the Call for Art Schedule for Fiscal Year 2014-2015: AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Dias, Evans, Greenwald, Marohn, Ruhnke NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: None ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Wojtkowski COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Evans said they had a really great music subcommittee meeting with a lot of great ideas. Commissioner Dias said they also had a great subcommittee meeting on the angels’ project and that she is excited about this project; it has the potential to “put us on the map.” NEXT MEETING Monday, October 27, 2014 ADJOURNMENT Chair Ruhnke adjourned the meeting at 4:40 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Dennis Copeland, Manager Jennifer Ruhnke, Chair Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Colton Hall Museum & Cultural Arts Commission Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, September 22, 2014 4