Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Meeting

MINUTES COLTON HALL MUSEUM AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION Monday, March 28, 2016 4:00 PM CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Sovereign, Dias, Ruhnke, Wojtkowski 4:10 pm – Commissioner Wall Commissioners Absent: Evans Ex-Officio and Staff Museums & Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Dennis Members Present: Copeland, Community Service Director Kim Bui-Burton, Recording Secretary Claire Rygg Ex-Officio Commissioners are non voting members, appointed pursuant to MCC § 2-11. CALL TO ORDER – 4:01 PM 1. Introduction of New Commissioner Kathleen Wall (Not a project under CEQA, per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061.) Manager Copeland introduced Commissioner Wall, and said she is a registered nurse and has worked with state and county governments for 30 years. Commissioner Wall holds a Masters in Public Administration, and she has always been interested in California, lived in different parts of the state, loves history, and wants to become more involved with the City. ROLL CALL CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 2. February 22, 2016 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: 4 COMMISSIONERS: Sovereign, Dias, Ruhnke, Wojtkowski NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Evans, Wall ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, March 28, 2016 3. Receive Museum and Cultural Arts Division Activity Report – February 2016 (Not a project under CEQA, per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061.) ACTION: Report received. Manager Copeland highlighted the San Carlos School’s annual field trip and Scavenger Hunt at Colton Hall. Commissioner Wojtkowski asked if there was another version of the scavenger hunt attachment for other classes, and Manager Copeland said he is looking into other creating versions for other Colton Hall classes. Commissioner Dias asked if it could be online, and Manager Copeland said that was a good idea and will explore that possibility. Another school, the Lawrence Jones Middle School’s visited the Pacific Biological Laboratories, and Manager Copeland complimented volunteer docents Susan Murphy and David Barker for their real immersion of students in the story of the Lab and Assistant Rygg for her presentation on the importance of stewardship of our history and its resources. Manager Copeland commented that 115 people attended the Dave Holodiloff Band music concert on March 24. Commissioners Ruhnke and Sovereign commented it was a really good concert with excellent musicians, happy to see crowd and the City Council Chambers “rocked”. Director Bui-Burton said media publicity, Holodiloff Band’s large social media presence and number of followers led to the sold-out show. Commissioner Wojtkowski hopes to continue with social outreach to donors. Commissioner Wojtkowski asked about the activity at the Museum of Monterey (MOM). Director Bui-Burton said City staff is looking into what is planned at the Museum and the Salvador Dali collection. Manager Copeland said he represented the City as Monterey History and Arts Association (MHAA) found new homes for their collections through transfer or loan to other historical institutions. Local maritime historian and former MHAA staff member Tim Thomas is coordinating the Museum’s relocation of historical collections which will not be displayed or stored at the Stanton Center. Manager Copeland said the City has received historical materials from MOM’s collections; some items are on long-term loan, others have been transferred to various institutions like the Pacific Grove Natural History Museum and the San Francisco Maritime Museum. Commissioner Dias commented she saw the publicity on the tours of the Lower Presidio Historic Park (LPHP) led by Thomas, and asked if the City is coordinating its efforts for the LPHP Master Plan with the Old Monterey Foundation (OMF). Manager Copeland said OMF is seeking ways to work with the City for fundraising opportunities with the goal to raise funds to implement keys parts of the Plan – parking, interpretive signage, and walkways around the Serra Statue area which is a current NIP project. Commissioner Wojtkowski added that OMF’s efforts are in concert with the Plan, and trying to get money for the first phase of the plan – the fencing, walkways and trees. He also mentioned a landscape architect has done a plan for the Vizcaíno area (on Pacific near Artillery). More information may be obtained at the OMF website http://oldmontereyfoundation.org/2016/02/29/become-a-friend-of-the-lower-presidio/ Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art 2 Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, March 28, 2016 2  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, March 28, 2016 Director Bui-Burton said HBO has begun filming a TV series on the Peninsula and that in the next couple of weeks location scouts will be on site to look at the exterior and interior of Colton Hall for future filming. She also provided updates on the remediation and renovation of the Monterey Conference Center (MCC), noting that the current estimated time for the full completion of the project is March 2017. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 4. Review Commission Strategic Plan 2014-2016 (Not a project under CEQA, per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061.) Director Bui-Burton said the Commission has an opportunity to review the progress that has been made on the plan, and to look at the Plan’s direction for the future. Chair Mike Sovereign appointed the following Commissioners to subcommittee. Support implementation of ADA at Colton Hall Subcommittee Bob Evans Bill Wojtkowski Battle of Monterey Bicentennial Subcommittee (Goal 2, Objective D): Bob Evans Mike Sovereign Bill Wojtkowski Cell Phone Tours Signage Subcommittee (Goal 3, Objective B.3): Mike Sovereign Bill Wojtkowski (Chair) Commissioner Wojtkowski asked for lists of signs that are up and those on private property. Manager Copeland said he would provide a list of installed cell phone signs and those signs, on private property, which are to be installed with permission of owners. Director Bui-Burton said staff is also working on adding data to monthly reports to track cell phone site usage. Commission Liaisons (Goal 3, Objective 1): Fatima Dias (Historic Monterey) Bob Evans (Access Monterey Peninsula) Kathleen Wall (Monterey Museum of Art) Bill Wojtkowski (Old Monterey Foundation) Fundraising Subcommittee (Colton Hall Museum Interpretive Plan recommendations) (Goal 1, Objective B): Bob Evans Bill Wojtkowski Bui-Burton noted that the subcommittee could be reconstituted to take on the fundraising for the ADA study which will lead to the Colton Hall Museum interpretation. MCC City Art Subcommittee (Goal 1, Objective E): Jennifer Ruhnke Mike Sovereign Kathleen Wall Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art 3 Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, March 28, 2016 3  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, March 28, 2016 Music Subcommittee (Goal 2, Objective B): Bob Evans Jennifer Ruhnke Commissioner Sovereign asked about recruitment for another Commissioner. Director Bui- Burton encouraged the Commissioners to ask interested City residents to apply, with applications available on the City’s website. Commissioner Dias asked if they could be posted on social media, and also suggested a member from the millennial group. 5. Review Museums and Cultural Arts-Related Proposed Neighborhood Improvement Program (NIP) Projects for Fiscal Year 2016-2017 (Not a project under CEQA, per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061.) Following review of the proposed NIP projects, the Commission directed staff to prioritize the following NIP projects: CW-3 Design and Implementation of Implementation of the prioritized Colton Hall ADA Accessibility recommendations of the Colton Hall Improvements ADA Study, including access to Second floor museum, first floor city Offices, accessible restroom, and Other mitigation measures to bring Historic Colton Hall into full ADA CW-35 Construction of handicapped Pavers can be placed without Accessible trail to Sloat excavation according to path laid Monument from Presidio out by the City Engineer Museum COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Ruhnke: Welcome Kathleen (Wall) to the Commission. Looking forward to working with you. Commissioner Dias: Welcome Kathleen. Commissioner Sovereign: Look at page 6 of the February 22 minutes which include the next steps on the Battle of Monterey. The subcommittee will report on 4/25. If you have a thought of what organization and key people can be involved, let us know by email or phone. Commissioner Dias: Is there somebody tasked for creating graphics for this? Commissioner Wojtkowski: You might want to talk to Sandy Freeman who is incredible and is working with OMF, or ask Bill McCrone about her. Commissioner Dias: Melissa Theony is a graphic designer. We need to put together a look. NEXT MEETING 6. April 25, 2016 ADJOURNMENT Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art 4 Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, March 28, 2016 4 Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, March 28, 2016 Chair Sovereign adjourned the meeting at 5:19 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Dennis Copeland Mike Sovereign, Chair Museums, Cultural Arts & Archives Colton Hall Museum & Cultural Arts Commission Manager Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art 5 Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, March 28, 2016 5