Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Meeting

MINUTES COLTON HALL MUSEUM AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION Monday, February 23, 2015 4:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Dias, Greenwald, Marohn, Ruhnke, Sovereign, Wojtkowski Commissioners Absent: Evans Ex-Officio and Staff Community Services Director Kim Bui-Burton, Museums, Members Present: Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Dennis Copeland, Recording Secretary Claire Rygg Ex-Officio Commissioners are non-voting members, appointed pursuant to MCC § 2-11. CALL TO ORDER: 4:01 PM CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 1. Monday, January 26, 2015 Action: Approved. ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 2. Receive Museum and Cultural Arts Division Activity Report – January 2015 Action: Report received. Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland reported attendance numbers at Colton Hall and Presidio of Monterey Museum are within range. The City’s partnership programs, Monterey Museum of Art’s “Sustainable Art & History” and CSUMB’s “Service Learning” have proved to be successful and beneficial to the Museum Division. Two more Service Learners have been added to the roster Commissioner Dias asked how the attendance number at the last Alvarado Gallery opening “The Language of Flowers” tracks with other art openings. Manager Copeland said that 116 is on the high side and there was a very good turnout at the opening. Commissioner Greenwald asked about the artwork out on loan, and Manager Copeland said there are four pieces out on loan. PUBLIC APPEARANCE  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, February 23, 2015 New Business 3. Receive Update Report on May 2015 Cultural Arts Program Series on Colton Hall Lawn Action: Report received. Commissioner Wojtkowski asked if Commission can ask for donations during the concerts, what kind of publicity will be used to promote the events, and would notices of the events be sent out ahead of time. Manager Copeland said that the Commission can ask for donations, and Museum staff will use online and print announcements with images. Commissioner Dias said it would be nice to do a story, and suggested doing a profile on the performing music groups. Vice Chair Marohn suggested the City’s Communication’s office could send out announcements. Commissioner Greenwald suggested 8 x 10 head shots of the groups for the GO! Section. Vice Chair Marohn suggested a subcommittee that can help staff with press releases. 4. Receive Update Report from Angels Auction Subcommittee on November 2015 Joint Angels Auction Fundraiser with Old Monterey Foundation. Action: Report received. Commissioner Ruhnke reported that she and Commissioners Dias and Marohn met with the Old Monterey Foundation (OMF) members as a joint subcommittee on February 2 to discuss the Monterey Angels Project fundraiser. Fifteen angels, and possibly more from Seaside High School’s woodshop class, will be included in the project. The fundraiser may possibly be on Saturday December 5 at the Museum of Monterey. OMF will have financial oversight of the project and the CHMCAC will be responsible for publicity, marketing, social media, sponsorships, the locations for the angels, and obtaining refreshments for the reception. Six volunteers with trucks will transport new angels. Vice Chair Marohn added that the CHMCAC has been tasked to draft a memorandum of understanding (MOU), and an attorney for OMF will review for compliance. There is a good connection with the OMF Board and they are already planning the reception. The subcommittee’s next meeting is on Thursday, March 5 at 3:30 pm. 5. Receive Report on City of Monterey Social Media and Tour Museum Website and Social Media Sites. Action: Report and tour of web and social media sites received. Director Bui-Burton presented an online tour of the City’s website, the Museums’ webpage, and City social media Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter sites. She noted unique characteristics of the City’s website and social media presence, such as the need to retain posts as official City records, a non-commercial link policy and the various targeted audiences for each social media site. Vice Chair Marohn and Commissioners Dias and Greenwald had comments and suggestions about the City and Museum’s social media presence which included: post announcements on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, use Yelp and Trip Advisor for obtaining feedback or writing reviews, using links to QR codes for cell phone tours, and using “pin posts” to post announcements at the top of a social media page, i.e., Facebook. The subcommittee will work with staff to review and expand the Museum’s Facebook presence, particularly for the Angels Auction event, and to create social media interest for the upcoming music series in May, and other events. A suggestion was also made to work with CSUMB students to create a local history app. Staff said that the City is considering purchasing a cost-effective, municipal communications app, and all departments will be encouraged to utilize this service. 6. Receive Report on 2015 Schedules of Commission Meetings, Volunteer Opportunities and Events Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, February 23, 2015 2  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, February 23, 2015 Action: Report received. Manager Copeland said that all the Commission meetings are located at Few Memorial Hall (FMH), although field trips to look at various Division areas, such as public art, the Pacific Biological Laboratories, and other sites will be added to schedule and change the locations as the field trips are scheduled during the year. 7. Receive Report on FY 2015-2016 Museums & Cultural Arts Proposed Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) Projects and Open Projects Action: Report received. Manager Copeland reviewed with the Commission the two current NIP project nominations: the Cannery Row Worker Shacks and Old Monterey Jail. He also reviewed ongoing previous fiscal year project for Colton Hall. The Presidio Historic Park Stables has not been scheduled, and the Sloat Monument conservation/restoration project is ongoing. Commissioner Wojtkowski asked if there was any local State Parks expertise to help with these projects instead of a Request for Proposal (RFP). Commissioner Sovereign suggested a video to be made of the present Lower Presidio Historic Park, and it is not worth the effort to preserve the cavalry stables. Commissioner Greenwald said that preserving the stables was the vision of former Museums Manager Jim Conway. Manager Copeland said this project must be done by qualified professionals following historic preservation and museum standards and best practices. What is driving the preservation of the two remaining stables, which represent all the stables which housed hundreds of horses and mules on the Presidio, is based on the recommendations in the 2002 Lower Presidio Historic Park Master Plan. Once rehabilitated or repaired the Master Plan recommends that the stables become a key historic interpretive site on the Lower Presidio. Staff will need a conditions report with recommendations for best options to restore the stables. Commissioner Sovereign asked about costs, and Manager Copeland explained that the City Principal Engineer will propose cost estimate to the NIP after careful assessment and the NIP may provide funds for the projects NIP recommends for approval to the City Council. Director Bui-Burton outlined the 2015 dates for the NIP projects:  3/17 - All projects presented to City Council for review  3/19 - Parks & Recreation Commission review on park-related projects  3/ 20 - Cost estimates on all projects  3/ 26 - NIP’s first screening of projects  4/ 9 - Public comment  4/26 – Selection of projects Director Bui-Burton added that Commissioners would be welcome to attend the NIP meetings to support the Museums and Cultural Arts projects. She noted that the costs of the NIP projects will be in a future agenda report. Vice Chair Marohn recognized resident Sherna Stewart and invited her to provide public comment. Ms. Stewart said she is seeking endorsement from the Commission on the following NIP project proposals: 1) a larger version of the Jacks Park baseball player statue, which is currently located at the end of Bonifacio at Adams. The statue, not identified with any particular team, would be a larger version of the one on the top of the announcer shack and seen better from Alvarado Street; 2) expand the Path of History to include other historic sites, linking to quieter pedestrian paths, such as through gardens; and 3) a plan for public art, which should be installed in park or plaza areas, with wayfinding signage identifying the art from point to point. She said this would be useful to residents and visitors. Manager Copeland asked that she Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, February 23, 2015 3  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, February 23, 2015 provide copies of her NIP project requests to the Museums and Cultural Arts staff for Commission review. Director Bui-Burton suggested to Ms. Stewart that she provide her NIP project requests to staff by March 9. 8. Receive Report from Cell Phone History Tours Sign Subcommittee Action: Report received. Manager Copeland reported that the Tour Sign subcommittee visited Colton Hall, Casa Vasquez, and the Old Monterey Jail to review possible locations for cell phone tour signs. Staff will work with Planning on what to submit to the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) starting with the City’s historic sites first. Vice Chair Marohn said that he, Commissioners Sovereign and Wojtkowski will take photographs at sites, which will be put in Dropbox, and will make recommendations to staff for sign locations. Director Bui-Burton extended her appreciation to the Commission for their invaluable time. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Dias requested a placeholder in the Commissioner/Volunteer sign-up sheet for December 5 for the Angels Project. She also announced United Way’s event for recognizing outstanding volunteers in the community. The event is on April 23 at the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa. NEXT MEETING Monday, March 23, 2015 ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Marohn adjourned the meeting at 5:45 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Dennis Copeland, Manager Chris Marohn, Vice-Chair Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Colton Hall Museum & Cultural Arts Commission Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, February 23, 2015 4