Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Meeting

MINUTES COLTON HALL MUSEUM AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION Monday, June 27, 2016 4:00 PM FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS, CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Sovereign, Evans, Wall, Wojtkowski 4:05 pm - Dias Commissioners Absent: Ruhnke Ex-Officio and Staff Museums & Cultural Arts and Archives Manager Dennis Members Present: Copeland, Recording Secretary Claire Rygg Community Service Director Bui-Burton Ex-Officio Commissioners are non voting members, appointed pursuant to MCC § 2-11. CALL TO ORDER 4:01 PM ROLL CALL CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 1. Monday, May 23, 2016 ACTION: Approved. On a motion by Commissioner Evans, seconded by Commissioner Wojtkowski and carried by the following vote, the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved the minutes for May 23, 2016. AYES: 5 COMMISSIONERS: Sovereign, Evans, Dias, Wall, Wojtkowski NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Ruhnke ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ***End of Consent Agenda*** PUBLIC COMMENTS INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 2. Receive Museum and Cultural Arts Division Activity Report – June 2016 (Not a project under CEQA, per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061.)  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, June 27, 2016 Manager Copeland highlighted activities. May was a unique and unusual month for the Museums and Cultural Arts with special activities “from Hollywood to Washington D.C.” Over three days, staff worked with the HBO film crew which used Colton Hall as Monterey’s City Hall and Friendly Plaza to film scenes for “Big Little Lies”. The six-part series will be shown in early 2017. Later in the month, Presidential candidate, Senator Bernie Sanders, spoke at a rally at Colton Hall. Manager Copeland reported on the restoration of two of the City’s important public artworks: the Portolá statue and the Serra Monument, which will be reinstalled once a security surveillance system is installed. Manager Copeland expressed great appreciation with Cultural Arts Assistant Booker and Museums Administrative Assistant Rygg for taking the lead in creating additional exhibit materials for the Pacific Biological Laboratories (PBL), including photos, maps of Ricketts’ collection trips, and obtaining replicas of marine specimens in containers. These are great additions which augment the interpretation of Pacific Biological Lab (PBL). Assistant Booker prepared and coordinated the project to repair and restore the Monterey angels following the funding received through the Angel Auction in December 2015. Crozier Arts will start the work next month. The cell phone history tours have received several great compliments left by users. Commissioner Wojtkwoski asked about the listening ratio and was surprised that the calls decreased in 2016. Staff said the service provider identifies the listening ratio of 80 and above as good, indicating that people are listening to the entire audio tour. Chairperson Sovereign recognized Library Trustee John Castagna in the audience. Mr. Castagna asked how is the listening ratio computed and what is it a ratio of? Commissioner Wojtkowski commented on the low numbers for calls in the multi-lingual tours and Commissioner Evans suggested publishing brochures in the different languages. Commissioner Dias asked if someone captures the primary language of the people who visit Monterey, and commented if Monterey had a group of Russian speakers they would not listen to the cell phone tours. Manager Copeland believes that the Visitor Center tries to keep track of various groups of visitors and tour buses. Commissioner Evans commented that it would be an interesting demographic to have. Manager Copeland noted that the grant project provided for the creation of tours in the languages of our most frequent non-English visitors. Perhaps at some time in the future we will be able to obtain a grant or other funding to develop brochures in other languages. Staff will consult with the cell phone tour provider for a more detailed definition of the listening ratio. Commissioner Wojtkowski asked about the PBL survey results; Manager Copeland said that the results are consistent with a strong survey consensus that the downstairs Lab should be restored to Ricketts’ era; some visitors want to see the front room remain as the gentlemen’s club, several others would like to see it restored to the Ricketts’ time. Staff will continue to conduct additional surveys to obtain more information. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 3. Receive an Update Report from Bouchard–Battle of Monterey Bicentennial Subcommittee (Not a project under CEQA, per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061.) Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art 2 Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, June 27, 2016 2 Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, June 27, 2016 Chairperson Sovereign provided an OUTLINE PLAN FOR BICENTENNIAL OF THE BATTLE OF MONTEREY OBJECTIVE: Engage Monterey in the history and culture of the period when it was part of the Spanish empire in celebration of its transition to independence. BACKGROUND: In 1818 the Argentinean privateer Bouchard captured Monterey and briefly raised the flag of independence over the Royal Presidio. The city has officially proclaimed the celebration of the bicentennial of the Battle of Monterey. GOALS: 1. Increase public exposure to the battle sites at the newly renovated Royal Presidio Chapel and the spruced-up Lower Presidio Historic Park (LPHP) 2. Increase historic tourism, particularly Hispanic, during the traditional Nov. lull 3. Pull in the younger generation with exciting battle re-creation 4. Raise awareness of the struggle for independence of Latin America from Spain 5. Initiate preparation for the 250th anniversary of Monterey in 2020 CELEBRATION CONCEPT: 1. Attack by tall ships on El Castillo in the LPHP 2. Sailors land and drive off defenders who retreat to Royal Presidio 3. Bouchard captures Royal Presidio, raises flag, burns military facilities & leaves 4. Historical pageant explains background and consequences of the battle ADVANTAGES OF CELEBRATION 1. re-enacts the unique land-sea battle on the West Coast, ever 2. Monterey only capital of a province of New Spain and of Mexico now in the US 3. Interest of Hispanic students of Monterey’s schools & colleges, DLI, etc. 4. Historic pageant ends with signing of the California Constitution in Colton Hall TASKS: Engage participants, establish teams, identify resources, test concept, reserve venues, develop funds, begin November demos for 2016 & 17, BLOG ANNEXES: Proposed Stakeholders, Schedule, Budget, Social Media Plan POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS Partners Contact State Parks Michael Green City Agencies Dennis Copeland Diocese of Monterey Father Carl Faria Old Monterey Foundation Bill Wojtkowski Army Cameron Binkley Historic Monterey ? Susan Klusmire History & Art Association ? Potential Participants Civic groups: Kiwanis, Knit of Columbus, LULAC, Veterans, etc. Scouts and Monterey High School Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art 3 Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, June 27, 2016 3  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, June 27, 2016 Higher Ed: MPC CSUMB, DLI, MIIS, NPS Theater groups: MPC, Pac Rep, high schools Misc: Re-enactors, Canoe clubs, CERT, ROTC? Docent groups City Agencies Parks & Recreation Police & Fire Harbormaster Public Works Commissioner Sovereign said he would like help in identifying additional organizations to assist with the flag-raising demonstration and Battle of Monterey recreated events. The Commission and staff suggested several organizations and agencies (California State Parks, Defense Language Institute/Presidio of Monterey history office, Historic Monterey, Monterey History and Art Association, and Native Sons of the Golden West), which the subcommittee can discuss and possibly contact. Commissioner Dias suggested the hospitality association and/or the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau (MCCVB) could be two great partners. Commissioner Sovereign stated he had brief contact with the MCCVB, which is interested in assisting with publicity. Commissioner Wojtkowski mentioned the Old Monterey Foundation (OMF) is sponsoring a lecture at Middlebury Institute by author Michael Melzer on July 15. He suggested that, after the lecture, there will be a reception and Commissioner Sovereign could provide an outline of the flag event to interested people who may want to help with it. Commissioner Sovereign said that OMF Board member Kip Hudson has drafted a letter to Dr. Ochoa, [President of California State University, Monterey Bay] inviting him to assist with contacting the Argentine consulate for the bicentennial. Commissioner Sovereign delivered the draft letter to the Mayor of Monterey. Commissioner Dias suggested that before the Commission meets with Dr. Ochoa, the request for help needs to be specific and focused. Manager Copeland said the letter is being prepared and it will be specific and focused. Commissioner Evans asked about the tall ships for the bicentennial, and Commissioner Sovereign said that Mike Carbaugh, in the audience, and Marissa Mercado have backgrounds and interests in the tall ships. Commissioner Sovereign distributed and the Commission discussed the “Four Civilizations of California, 1770-1870” table. The subcommittee will meet and discuss “The Four Civilizations of California 1770-1870.” 4. Receive an Update Report on the Cell Phone History Tours Signage (Not a project under CEQA, per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061.) Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art 4 Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, June 27, 2016 4  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, June 27, 2016 Manager Copeland reviewed the update on cell phone signage with the Commission. Commissioner Sovereign said he will try to continue with the Royal Presidio Chapel with the new representative. Commissioner Wojtkowski suggested a sign by the bust of Ed Ricketts, and by the site of the James Murray-Tevis mansion. Commissioner Wojtkowski asked if the subcommittee still needs to meet on the signs and Manager Copeland said that, at this point, individual Commissioners may follow up with contacting the representatives of other institutions, such as the Royal Presidio Chapel, on a sign location. Adding more cell phone signs will require additional funding. Commissioner Sovereign said that eventually brochures could be passé and apps could be developed for historic sites. Commissioner Wojtkowski thanked Manager Copeland for the report. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Wojtkowski: Is there still a need for the Colton Hall [ADA Fund Development] subcommittee? Manager Copeland stated that the subcommittee may want to meet later for an overview of the accessibility improvement project. Commissioner Wojtkowski requested an item on an upcoming agenda for the Commission to discuss the idea of changing the name of the Commission to Museums and Cultural Arts Commission. Manager Copeland said staff will plan on placing the item for future discussion. Commissioner Dias: I want to commend the OMF [Old Monterey Foundation] for their lecture series. Despite the technical difficulties, it was a very good lecture and their work is dovetailing with the [Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts] Commission. Commission Wojtkowski: Perhaps the Commission can provide input for future lectures. NEXT MEETING 5. Monday, July 25, 2016 ADJOURNMENT Chair Sovereign adjourned the meeting at 5:02 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, June 27, 2016 5