Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Meeting

Staff Presentation / Commissioner Questions: Museums, Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Copeland reported Colton Hall received some MINUTES COLTON HALL MUSEUM AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION Monday, November 30, 2015 4:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBER, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Evans, Marohon, Greenwald, Ruhnke, Sovereign, Wojtkowski Commissioners Absent: Dias Ex-Officio and Staff Museums & Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Dennis Members Present: Copeland, Recording Secretary Claire Rygg Staff Members Absent: Community Services Director Kim Bui-Burton Ex-Officio Commissioners are non-voting members, appointed pursuant to MCC § 2-11. CALL TO ORDER: 4:01 PM CONSENT ITEMS 1. Monday, October 26, 2015 ACTION: Approved. On a motion by Commissioner Wojtkowski, seconded by Commissioner Ruhnke, and carried by the following vote, the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved the minutes. AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Evans, Marohn, Greenwald, Ruhnke, Sovereign, Wojtkowski NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Dias ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS None. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 2. Receive Museum and Cultural Arts Division Activity Report – October 2015 ACTION: Report received.  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, November 30, 2015 interesting and intriguing tour groups, including the Divorce Lawyers of America, who read and advocated the 1849 Delegates positions on the provision for married women to own property. He also cited the graph indicating a trend showing a decreased number of visitors at Colton Hall during October, most likely due to the lack of public events as a result of the ADA accessibility issue and scheduling changes for school and other groups. Manager Copeland highlighted that staff, especially Chalet Booker, who spent time identifying and accessing the City Museums’ historical items for the “Take Me Back: A Trip Thru Monterey County History” exhibit which opened November 7 at the Monterey Regional Airport. On November 14, “The Great Tidepool”, a film by Steven and Mary Albert, was shown at the Pacific Biological Laboratories (PBL) as a special presentation for the last Lab tour of the day. Public response to the 40-minute film was great, and the film may be brought back for other presentations in the spring. 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 announced that on Saturday, December 5, a food and beer/wine reception will be from 6 – 7:30 pm, and the auction is from 7:30 – 9 pm. On Tuesday, December 1, the artists’ angels will be transferred and set up at the Museum of Monterey (at the Custom House Plaza). Commissioners Wojtkowski and Sovereign have offered to help along with other volunteers for the evening’s event. A poster that depicts the new angels will be given to folks who make a $20 donation. Manager Copeland said we are all confident and delighted we will receive funding from the auction for the restoration of the original Angels. 4. Receive an Update Report from Bouchard – Battle of Monterey Bicentennial Subcommittee ACTION: Report received. Manager Copeland said that the subcommittee drafted a proclamation regarding the bicentennial of the Battle of Monterey but it was withdrawn from the City Council agenda since it was felt to be too early for the proposed 2018 event. Commissioner Sovereign drafted a memo as an attachment to the proclamation to explain what the subcommittee is trying to accomplish. Commissioner Greenwald suggested instead of an acronym “BOM”, the “Battle of Monterey” should be spelled out. Manager Copeland said the subcommittee plans to schedule an appointment with the City Manager to present and discuss the memo and proclamation for Council agenda. Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, November 30, 2015 2  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, November 30, 2015 5. Approval of Music Selection Subcommittee's Recommendation for 2016 Colton Hall Evening Music Series Concerts On a motion by Commissioner Wojtkowski, seconded by Commissioner Sovereign and carried by the following vote, the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved the Music Selection Subcommittee’s recommendation for # 1 Dan Frechette and Laurel Thomsen; # 2 The Blue Notables, and for staff to negotiate a lower price for # 3 Dave Holodiloff Band as a quintet, and if non-negotiable, select alternate Sean Ryan Band. AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Evans, Marohn, Greenwald, Ruhnke, Sovereign, Wojtkowski NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Dias ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE 6. Approval of Music Selection Subcommittee's Recommendation for Colton Hall Evening Music Series Fundraising Letter On a motion by Commissioner Marohn, seconded by Commissioner Ruhnke and carried by the following vote, the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved the Music Selection Subcommittee’s Recommendation for Colton Hall Evening Music Series Fundraising Letter with a minor correction. AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Evans, Marohn, Greenwald, Ruhnke, Sovereign, Wojtkowski NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Dias ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, November 30, 2015 3  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, November 30, 2015 7. Receive a Report on Possible Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) Projects for Fiscal Year 2016-2017 and Provide Guidance to Staff Manager Copeland reviewed the current Museums and Cultural Arts-related NIP projects: The Master Plan for Public Art and Master Plan of Expended Path of History (CW-23); Lower Presidio Historic Park Improvements to Allow Public Use (CW-29 A), and the Cannery Row Worker Shacks Repair/Restoration (CW-12). He noted the deadline to submit proposed projects to the NIP for FY2016-17 is February 13, 2016. Manager Copeland highlighted the Commission’s adoption of the Colton Hall Museum Americans with Disabilities Act study and that the Commission has expressed a strong commitment to implement the study’s recommendations. There are also opportunities for the Commission to suggest other possible project submissions to the NIP in the cultural arts and museums area. Commissioner Wojtkowski proposed the ADA design and construction for Colton Hall Museum. Commissioner Ruhnke said the Colton Hall Museum Interpretive Plan Subcommittee had made recommendations based on the plan to show the constitutional convention reenactment on a television screen, or using iPads to assist in interpretation, and modify the exhibits and gift shop in the rear room of the Hall (short-term recommendations identified by the Colton Hall Museum Interpretive Plan subcommittee for implementation). Commissioner Wojtkowski said that he spoke to Bill McCrone of the Old Monterey Foundation (OMF) and they are proposing as the second phase for the Lower Presidio Historic Park Master Plan implementation to build a walkway from the Presidio of Monterey Museum to the Sloat Monument. Manager Copeland said he and Engineer Krebs conducted a walk around as a possible routing for the walkway to the Sloat Monument. Commissioner Sovereign said that last year Mr. Patrick O’Dowd of the OMF brought before the Commission the idea to have walkways to both the Serra and Bouchard monuments. The Commission would stand ready for anything on along the lines of implementing the Lower Presidio Master Plan, for the February 13 deadline. Manager Copeland said, based on his conversations with Engineering staff, the Serra Monument walkway will include the Bouchard Monument. The CHMCAC provided the following guidance to staff: 1) The design and construction of ADA access to the Colton Hall Museum. 2) Interpretation and exhibits (short term recommendations) in the rear room Colton Hall Museum. 3) The walkway from the Presidio of Monterey Museum to the Sloat Monument Manager Copeland suggested the Commission may wish to revive the Colton Hall Museum Interpretive Plan Subcommittee to revisit some the short-term recommendations. The priority for next year, as indicated by staff and the Commission, is to seek funding sources and begin design and implementation of the ADA recommendations for Colton Hall. Commissioner Wojtkowski asked who is the lead for the Path of History Project? Manager Copeland said he, with NIP Coordinator/Engineer Krebs are the leads. Commissioner. Commissioner Wojtkowski said he was surprised on the price for restoring the Worker Shacks and asked if they were being modernized; and Manager Copeland assured him that the shacks will still look like old shacks and the amount includes ADA accessibility compliant railing, etc., for the stairway to the Shacks. Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, November 30, 2015 4  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, November 30, 2015 COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Wojtkowski asked about the plans for the boat Western Flyer. Manager Copeland said that John Gregg who owns the Western Flyer, wants to rebuild the ship with existing or replicated parts as much as possible so that it can become a ship-worthy maritime and biology educational museum, and hopefully have it docked at Monterey. Commissioner Marohn: Please come to Angel Auction on Friday, December 5. Commissioner Greenwald: This meeting marks the end of his third term with the Commission. He had a wonderful experience and many memories including concerts at Colton Hall and the activities of the Commission. He has a vivid memory of Ex-Officio Commissioner Morgan Stock at a meeting at the Pacific Biological Laboratories and, although Stock could not hear well, he started singing “Comin’ ‘Round the Mountain”, and then a week later he died. Commissioner Greenwald thanked the Commissioners for a wonderful experience. He was born in Monterey, and will die in Monterey. NEXT MEETING Monday, January 25, 2016 ADJOURNMENT Chair Evans adjourned the meeting at 5:02 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, November 30, 2015 5