Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Meeting

MINUTES COLTON HALL MUSEUM AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION Monday, October 24, 2016 4:00 PM CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Dias, Castagna, Evans, Ruhnke, Wojtkowski Wall – 4:04 pm Commissioners Absent: Sovereign 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 ROLL CALL CONSENT ITEMS Approval of Minutes 1. Monday, September 26, 2016 ACTION: Approved. On a motion by Commissioner Wojtkowski, seconded by Commissioner Evans and carried by the following vote, the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved the minutes for September 26, 2016. AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Dias, Castagna, Evans, Ruhnke, Wall, Wojtkowski NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Sovereign 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 – September 2016 (Not a project under CEQA, per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061.) Report received. Museums and Cultural Arts Manager Copeland reviewed the staff report with the Commission and highlighted two items. The “Moonwalker” sculpture will be installed at Bruce Ariss Way. He also noted the passing of two Pacific Biological Laboratories (PBL) club members, Myron “Doc” Etienne and Dr. James Niebel. The sole surviving member of the men’s club is Frank Wright.  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, October 24, 2016 The Commission asked if there are interviews with the Lab members and it would be interesting to use them for Lab tours or a “Lab app”. Manager Copeland said there are taped interviews with members, a part of a PBL club oral history project. Manager Copeland reported that the City’s events and programs during History Fest (October 15-16) were very successful despite the inclement weather. Approximately 1,022 visitors attended the City’s activities and programs. Wind and rain cancelled the Sunday portion of the Civil War Encampment. Community Services Director Bui-Burton praised Manager Copeland, Assistant Booker and Rygg, and the Museum Attendants for their all their work for the Division. She said she heard from the Commission about adding time for staffing, and the City Manager and Finance Director were both supportive for a pilot program to add 10 additional hours per week each for Assistants Booker and Rygg starting September 1, 2016. Director Bui-Burton talked to the City Manager and set tangible goals for staffing: look at the whole Monterey Conference Center (MCC) art collection and make decisions about it which was an added program that staff took on this year; support for increased volunteer recruitment for the different activities; and we are hopeful we will receive grants [from Monterey Peninsula Foundation and Community Foundation for Monterey County] for the Colton Hall ADA project which will require staff support next spring. This will relieve some of the time for Manager Copeland and use the talented individuals that the Division has. Director Bui-Burton also saw opportunities for the Pacific Biological Laboratories and to refresh the interpretive exhibits at the Colton Hall Museum. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 3. Recommend that the City Council Amend Monterey City Code Chapter 2, Article 4, to Revisions Reflecting the Responsibilities of the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission (Not a project under CEQA, per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061.) On a motion by Commissioner Wojtkowski, seconded by Commissioner Evans and carried by the following vote, the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved a recommendation that the City Council Amend Monterey City Code Chapter 2, Article 4, to Revisions Reflecting the Responsibilities of the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Dias, Castagna, Evans, Ruhnke, Wall, Wojtkowski NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSENT: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Sovereign ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE Commissioner Castagna asked for a copy of the City’s collection policy; staff will provide a copy. Director Bui-Burton said the Commission will receive compensation in compliance with other Boards and Commissions. As a follow-up action, Museums staff will create an agenda report for Legal and Finance review, then present the report recommending change to the City code regarding the Commission to City Council at a future meeting. Because it is a change of ordinance, there will be a first reading and, if Council approves, there will be a second reading two weeks later. The change to the ordinance will then happen 30 days after that. Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art 2 Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, October 24, 2016 2  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, October 24, 2016 4. Adopt Old Monterey Jail Historical Structure Report (Not a project under CEQA, per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061.) The Commission asked that two sentences need to be clearer in the Historical Overview section. They also suggested a seismic study of the building (the report recommends structural study) and for visitors’ interest to include additional cell phone tour history interpretation of who served time at the Old Monterey Jail, and the uses of its cells. On November 10, the report will be presented to the Historic Preservation Commission. On a motion by Commissioner Evans, seconded by Commissioner Ruhnke and carried by the following vote, the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission adopted the Old Monterey Jail Historical Structure Report AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Dias, Castagna, Evans, Ruhnke, Wall, Wojtkowski NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSTAIN: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Sovereign RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE 5. Receive an Update Report from the City Art Subcommittee (Not a project under CEQA, per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061.) Report received. Commissioner Ruhnke reported that the subcommittee, along with Museums staff, reviewed the artwork, its condition, costs to repair, and if the artwork complies with collection policy scope, including Monterey area history or culture. Manager Copeland added that the principal guiding document for determining which works to retain and which to deaccession is the Division’s collection development policy, approved as resolution by City Council. In November an agenda report will be presented to the Commission which will list the subcommittee’s recommendation for selected artwork from the Monterey Conference Center to be removed from the collection. Others works, fitting the policy requirements, will be retained in the City Art Collection. 6. 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.) Report received. Manager Copeland noted that there has been progress in developing the event, including a historical skit on Bouchard’s forces taking of Monterey, accompanied by music and narration, and that members of the public have volunteered to assist the subcommittee with the event at the Bouchard Monument on Lower Presidio Historic Park on November 19th. Commissioners Wojtkowski and Evans reported that the Old Monterey Foundation (OMF) is using Brickman Marketing to assist with publicizing the event, and Assistant Booker worked with the subcommittee on creating a flyer and reworking the script for music and sound. Harriet Lynd is looking for Boy Scouts, and Commissioner Fatima Dias will contact Eagle Scouts, and also contacted the office of the cultural attaché at the Argentine embassy in Los Angeles; they would like information about the event. Mr. Carbaugh, a public guest, said that he is glad that the Commission is finding participants for the event and he spoke with Michael Melzer, author of “The Patriot Pirate”, who will attend the Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art 3 Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, October 24, 2016 3  Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, October 24, 2016 event. Carbaugh is looking for individuals to participate as Bouchard seaman for the event. Royal Presidio Chapel will also participate and provide a couple of costumed Spanish soldiers. Commissioner Wojtkowski asked that Tim Thomas be contacted to have his “third Saturday” walking tour arrive at the event at 11:00 am on November 19. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Wojtkowski asked Manager Copeland on the status of the grant for Colton Hall ADA accessibility. Manager Copeland said notification about the grant should arrive in late December. Commissioner Evans attended the California Arts Council Cultural Districts Public Input Meeting on October 5th in Oakland. The CAC is seeking input from the public for areas to receive a cultural district designation. [A cultural district is defined as a geographical area with a concentration of cultural facilities, creative enterprises, or arts venues.] Commissioner Dias announced that the American Association of University Women will have a walking tour of the Monterey cemetery led by Manager Copeland. Guests are invited. Commissioner Wall enjoyed reviewing the City’s art collection from the Monterey Conference Center. NEXT MEETING Monday, November 28, 2016 ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Dias adjourned the meeting at 4:46 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Dennis Copeland Fatima Dias, Vice Chair Museums, Cultural Arts & Archives Colton Hall Museum & Cultural Arts Commission Manager Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art 4 Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, October 24, 2016 4