Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Meeting

MINUTES COLTON HALL MUSEUM AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION August 28, 2017 4:00 PM CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, FEW MEMORIAL HALL OF RECORDS MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners Present: Castagna, Evans, Peake, Wall Commissioners Absent: Sovereign, Wojtkowski Ex-Officio and Staff Community Services Director Bui-Burton, Museums, Cultural Members Present: Arts & Archives Manager Copeland, Recording Secretary 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, July 24, 2017 On a motion by Commissioner Evans, seconded by Chair Castagna and carried by the following vote, the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved the minutes for July 24, 2017. AYES: 4 COMMISSIONERS: Castagna, Evans, Peake, Wall NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Sovereign, Wojtkowski 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 – July 2017 (Not a project under CEQA, per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061.)  Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, August 28, 2017 Manager Copeland reviewed the activity report, highlighted visitation, and major projects in July, including transferring City, Monterey Conference Center (MCC) artwork proposed for deaccession to other institutions, and the Lower Presidio Historic Park ADA accessible pathways project. He also noted that lower Pacific Street to the Heritage Harbor overhead walkway and 76th Artillery Street will be closed until Oct. 6th for road and ADA accessible sidewalks construction. Directional signage for the alternate route to the Presidio Museum will be installed during the project. At the next Commission meeting, Manager Copeland will share a book presented to him by Ron Wagner, son of mural artist Guillermo Wagner Granizo, who recently visited. The “Monterey Mural” could be reinstalled at the Monterey Conference Center may be installed late this year. Director Bui-Burton congratulated the Commission on their name and ordinance change which the City Council approved at the second reading on August 18, and will take effect on September 15, 2017. Bui-Burton also reported that the new Portola Plaza fountain sculpture has been completed at the Monterey Conference Center and has received positive comments. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 3. Receive a Report on Neighborhood Improvement Program Project for Public Art Security Plan (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, August 28, 2017 2  Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, August 28, 2017 Manager Copeland introduced Engineering Assistant Justin George who presented an updated Public Art Security Plan Phase I to the Commission to obtain their feedback on what items will be high priority items for surveillance. Director Bui-Burton reminded the Commission that the plan is only for publicly displayed City art. The Commission asked about the murals in back of the Golden State Theater and would they be restored, and chair Castagna suggested looking at the Historic Preservation Commission’s reports on the work done at the theater. The Commission suggested the area with artwork along Bruce Ariss Way may need surveillance, and staff suggested adding the Hippolyte Bouchard Monument at the Lower Presidio Historic Park. The Commission asked about the marble sculpture “Boy with the Thorn” and its significance to the City, and Manager Copeland said it was donated by the Coopers, a long-time, prominent Monterey family. Work will commence when City Council approves the NIP project. Manager Copeland said the Commission may want to consider the definition of public art, what is public art, public artifacts, and plaques as they review the public art security plan inventory. Public Comments: Tom Rowley, one of the joint submitters of the NIP project commented on his personal experience of the use of surveillance cameras which deterred repeated incidents of vandalism on his private properties. He recalled he was on the Old Monterey Business Association’s (OMBA) Board of Directors and one of the projects that the OMBA’s historic preservation committee reviewed, which the OMBA had a bid of $6K to redo the mural, was the mural on the back of the Golden State Theater which has high visibility. Peeling paint revealed another mural underneath the current one, and no decision was made to determine which mural to redo. Rowley complimented Assistant George and staff for the public art list. Richard Ruccello wrote the NIP proposal, commented that he worried about public art for some time, and he said the Commission has to weigh the value of the art, how important and rare it is, and the threat level of damage or theft. He is proposing a state-of-the art security camera system, which will provide an image in real-time with good resolution and thermal imaging for identification. Ruccello provided a sequence of actions taken after an alert and how the surveillance system would work. The Commission commented it would be good to go forward with the security system since tourism will increase with the opening of the MCC, and only a matter of time before something may be defaced or damaged. Director Bui-Burton said that the Commission is supportive of the approach and that the Bruce Ariss Way be considered as a location. The Commission suggested finding out what other local cities are doing to protect their public artwork, the protection for the Lower Presidio Historic Park LPHP), and what how will the security cameras be protected. Director Bui-Burton said the City is looking into the level of protection for the LPHP. 4. Approve Strategic Plan for FY 2017-2019 (Not a project under CEQA, per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061.) Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art 3 Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 28, 2017 3  Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, August 28, 2017 Commissioner Evans asked to be the liaison for Historic Monterey instead of Access Monterey Peninsula (AMP). On a motion by Commissioner Evans, seconded by Commissioner Peake and carried by the following vote, the Colton Hall Museum and Cultural Arts Commission approved the strategic plan for FY 2017-2019. AYES: 4 COMMISSIONERS: Castagna, Evans, Peake, Wall NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSENT: 2 COMMISSIONERS: Sovereign, Wojtkowski ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS:NONE 5. Receive Report on Museums and Cultural Arts Division Programs FY 2016-17 and Provide Input to Staff (Not a project under CEQA, per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061.) Manager Copeland reviewed the report with the Commission. He and Director Bui-Burton highlighted the increased visitation and participation with just 2.5 museum staff. The staff knows there is an obligation to refresh exhibits and bring new programs and ideas and to increase the audience in new ways with existing staff and volunteers. Manager Copeland added that the interpretive plans are guiding documents to assist staff with interpretation which engages our audiences. 6. Receive a Report from Public Art and History Subcommittee (Not a project under CEQA, per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061.) Chair Castagna presented images of existing public art, utility boxes, and potential sites for additional public art. Manager Copeland said it would be helpful to know who owns and is responsible for the utility boxes and murals, and which areas are private or public property. Director Bui-Burton said it is important to get good robust public input for public art, and she reviewed a project in process that provides: 1) online survey to ask the public about what is important to them about public art, 2) identify different ways to promote survey, 3) the survey will be published and promoted on websites, social media, art organizations, business and neighborhood associations, the Farmers’ Market, 4) review survey results and identify themes and trends, and meet with the public art and history subcommittee to develop a presentation for a community meeting, 5) bring a draft plan based on the input to the full Commission. 7. 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.) Manager Copeland reported that the Commission Chair Castagna and Battle of Monteey subcommittee chair sovereign, and staff met with the Stanton Fund Committee of the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) on August 24 to discuss the grant application for 2018 event. The application decision will be received in November. He also said the tall ship “Lady Washington” will participate in the event. There was a meeting with volunteers for obtaining volunteer help with costuming and a call for actors to audition for the event. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art 4 Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 28, 2017 4  Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes Monday, August 28, 2017 Commissioner Evans commented that he liked the report on the public art and history program. NEXT MEETING 8. Monday, September 25, 2017 ADJOURNMENT 5:40 PM Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Dennis Copeland John Castagna Museums, Cultural Arts & Archives Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Manager Colton Hall Museum Cultural Art 5 Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 28, 2017 5