Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Meeting

Staff Presentation / Commissioner Questions: MINUTES COLTON HALL MUSEUM AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION Monday, August 24, 2015 4:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Evans, Marohn, Dias, Greenwald, Ruhnke, Sovereign, Wojtkowski Commissioners Absent: Ex-Officio and Staff Community Services Director Kim Bui-Burton , Museums & Members Present: Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Dennis Copeland, Recording Secretary Claire Rygg Staff Members Absent: Ex-Officio Commissioners are non-voting members, appointed pursuant to MCC § 2-11. CALL TO ORDER: 4:01 PM CONSENT ITEMS 1. Monday, July 24, 2015 ACTION: Approved. On a motion by Commissioner Wojtkowksi, seconded by Commissioner Sovereign and carried by the following vote, the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved the minutes with one correction. AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Evans, Dias, Greenwald, Ruhnke, Sovereign, Wojtkowski NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSTAIN: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Marohn RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 2. Receive Museum and Cultural Arts Division Activity Report – July 2015 ACTION: Report received.  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, August 24, 2015 The Commission asked about the Monterey Mural and the Monterey Conference Center (MCC) Renovation Project, and the Colton Hall Accessibility Study with Recommendations. Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland said the City has secured a storage site for the MCC City Art during the MCC renovation project. The Monterey Mural is being removed tile by tile by conservators and stored and conserved until it can be reinstalled. Staff has received and will review the first draft of the Colton Hall Museum ADA Accessibility Study from the Architectural Resources Group (ARG). Community Services Director Bui-Burton said staff will bring the draft report to the Commission in September and incorporate the Commission’s comments before final review. Staff added that the MCC renovation is part of the current budget that allows for a monthly payment for the storage unit for two years during the renovation project. The Monterey Mural tiles are specially coated and removed one by one. Any damaged tiles will be conserved or replaced. Director Bui-Burton advised the Commissioners if they are asked by community members about the mural project to please share the plan that the mural will be restored and returned to the MCC site on Pacific Street side. OLD BUSINESS 3. 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, Commissioner Dias, and Manager Copeland met a couple of weeks ago to discuss the Angel Restoration Fundraising project, including Angel donation button on Old Monterey Foundation (OMF) and Historic Monterey websites after Christine Davi approves the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the OMF. New postcards and press releases will include event date and time, and the subcommittee will select different angel art images for printing cards. PUBLIC COMMENT Mr. Patrick O’Dowd, former associate director and curator for the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation and currently a board member for the Old Monterey Foundation (OMF), distributed announcements about the Angel auction event at the West End in Sand City. 4. Receive an Update Report from Bouchard – Battle of Monterey Bicentennial Subcommittee ACTION: Report received. Commissioner Questions and Discussion: Commissioner Sovereign introduced Mr. Patrick O’Dowd of OMF who has written an article on Bouchard’s life in Baltimore and is currently writing an article about Bouchard and Monterey. Commissioner Dias suggested linking the article to the OMF and Historic Monterey websites and putting out a “teaser” to public since History Fest starts in early October. At the subcommittee Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 24, 2015 2  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, August 24, 2015 meeting Commissioners Sovereign and Wojtkowski discussed with Manager Copeland a possible proposal to the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) for an initial planning grant and passed out copies of a revised version of the proposal to the Commission. Manager Copeland provided the subcommittee with information on applying for a project grant and eligibility requirements and that the proposal will require concrete descriptions of the Bicentennial event and how it fulfills community needs. Commissioner Sovereign would like the City Council to approve a resolution or declaration about the Battle of Monterey (BOM) Bicentennial of 2018 and would like it to get it on the Council’s next meeting. Commissioner Sovereign met with theater and high school groups and there is some interest. There is a concept of a pageant to explain the historic background of the BOM. Commissioner Sovereign stated that he is attempting to find a copy of a play “The Imposter”. Chair Evans suggested a list of outcomes for the BOM celebration. Mr. O’Dowd suggested contacting the nearest Argentine consulate (located in Los Angeles) for any artifacts and articles about Bouchard. Commissioner Sovereign had planned to contact the Argentine consulate. PUBLIC COMMENT Mr.O’Dowd noted that the Lobero Theater in Santa Barbara, built in 1924, presented a play about Bouchard and the county courthouse displayed a tapestry depicting a Bouchard’s attack at Refugio. 5. Receive a Report on Museums and Cultural Arts Division Programs FY 2014-15 and Provide Input to Staff ACTION: Report received. Commissioner Questions and Discussion: Manager Copeland reviewed the various Division programs, results, and challenges with the Commissioners. Commissioner Sovereign asked if staff reissues a volunteer sign-up sheet every year for events, and Director Bui-Burton said staff will provide sign-up sheets. Chair Evans asked if volunteer opportunities are published in “City Focus”, and Manager Copeland said that is a good option; currently the Division maintains a database of dedicated Monterey History Volunteers as well as community volunteers who assist with events. Staff is open to accepting new volunteers, including the Commissioners, for events. Director Bui-Burton said that two years ago “City Focus” announced new volunteer training to learn the history of Monterey, and found that there was some interest, but the City has not been able to present the training program on a regular basis. Commissioner Ruhnke suggested creating a list of activities for volunteer sign-ups. Commissioner Wojtkowski asked if there is a rough timeline of when the upstairs and downstairs of the Pacific Biological Laboratories will be restored. Is it dependent upon grants? Manager Copeland said there is no timeline and the PBL restoration would be dependent on reviewing the interpretive plan, the historic preservation report, and determining priorities for the PBL interpretive planning, including exhibits, after staff completes a review of the ADA study and recommendations for Colton Hall improved access. Director Bui-Burton added that the PBL interpretive plan did include cost estimates for the different recommendations. It is a challenge to prioritize because staff has an interpretive plan for Colton Hall without cost estimates and has created some initial timelines for that project. Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 24, 2015 3  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, August 24, 2015 Commissioner Wojtkowski also mentioned that the OMF is moving ahead with working on the NIP project improvements at the Lower Presidio Historic Park (LPHP). Chair Evans asked who receives the completed Colton Hall ADA study with recommendations. Director Bui-Burton said it will go to City Council and to City management, and will be publicly published. Chair Evans suggested the Commission present before Council the report’s program challenges if Monterey is to be a City that supports the cultural arts and museum programs based on the Mayor’s remarks from the July Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission meeting. Director Bui-Burton said that the quarterly meetings, where Commissions can present reports to the Mayor and City Council, have not been scheduled under the new mayor, and she will bring it up with the City Manager. She suggested that after the Commission and the Historic Preservation Commission reviews the Colton Hall ADA study, the study will go before the Council. Commissioner Sovereign asked if would be helpful if the Commission sent a message to Council about the challenges and Director Bui-Burton said it is always helpful when the Council hears from the Commission, and it can be agendized for the September Council meeting. 6. Approve Call for Music Schedule for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 On a motion by Commissioner Greenwald, seconded by Vice-Chair Marohn and carried by the following vote, the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved the Call for Music Schedule for Fiscal Year 2015-2016. AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Evans, Marohn, Dias, Greenwald, Ruhnke, Sovereign, Wojtkowski NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE 7. Approve Globe Artwork for Sister City Park On a motion by Vice-Chair Marohn, seconded by Commissioner Wojtkowski and carried by the following vote, the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved the Globe Artwork for Sister City Park. AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Evans, Marohn, Dias, Greenwald, Ruhnke, Sovereign, Wojtkowski NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE PUBLIC COMMENT None. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Dias said she is excited about the mileage sign at the Sister City Park – “Great job”. Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 24, 2015 4  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, August 24, 2015 Commissioner Ruhnke announced the “Books in Bloom” event on Sunday, August 30, sponsored by the Friends of the Monterey Public Library. Commissioner Wojtkowski praised the Heisler Park at Laguna Beach for its display of public art and that the City of Monterey should plan for more public art. Manager Copeland reminded the Commission about the Neighborhood Improvement Project (NIP) for a master plan for public art and expanded Path of History. Commissioners Greenwald mentioned the High Line in New York City has all kinds of public art, and Commissioner Dias added that Manteca, California has beautiful murals that depict different aspects of the city’s history. NEXT MEETING Monday, September 28, 2015 ADJOURNMENT Chair Evans adjourned the meeting at 5:00 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Dennis Copeland, Manager Robert Evans, Chair Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Colton Hall Museum & Cultural Arts Commission Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 24, 2015 5