Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Meeting

MINUTES MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION 7/27/2020 4:00 PM TELECONFERENCE MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA Commissioners present: Castagna, Evans, O’Neil, Peake, Sovereign, Wall, Wojtkowski Commissioners Absent: None Staff Present: Library & Museums Director Waite, Administrative Assistant Garibaldi CALL TO ORDER Chair O’Neil called the meeting to order at 4:12 pm. ROLL CALL CONSENT ITEMS On a motion by Commissioner Evans, seconded by Commissioner Wojtkowski and carried by the following vote, the Museums and Cultural Arts Commission approved the minutes: AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Castagna, Evans, O’Neil, Peake, Sovereign, Wall, Wojtkowski NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE Approval of Minutes 1. June 29, 2020 (Not a project under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Approved ***End of Consent Agenda*** 2. Virtual Tour Presentation by Commissioner Evans (Not a project under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Received and discussed Commissioner Evans presented a virtual educational tour that he developed for visitors to access on an iPad. Castagna asked if the tour could also be accessed from a website. Evans thought it would be possible if the City was willing to host. Waite responded that providing virtual tours via the Museums website is of high interest and would be welcomed. PUBLIC COMMENTS Chair O’Neil opened public comments: no public comments.  INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS 3. Receive Museums and Cultural Arts Division Activity Report – July 2020 (Not a project under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Received and discussed Waite reviewed the activity report and highlighted that a PTS artifact specialist was approved to return to help with Museums and Cultural Arts Division projects and planning for reopening. This staff member can also assist Evans and Sovereign with completing an online virtual tour. PUBLIC APPEARANCE 4. Review and Adopt the Strategic Plan for FY 2020-2024 (Not a project under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Reviewed, discussed, and adopted On a motion by Commissioner Castagna, seconded by Commissioner Peake and carried by the following vote, the Museums and Cultural Arts Commission adopted the 2020-24 Strategic Plan with the noted corrections: AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Castagna, Evans, O’Neil, Peake, Sovereign, Wall, Wojtkowski NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE Waite reported that Chair O’Neil, Commissioner Evans and Commissioner Castagna met in July to review the notes from February 2020 and drafted the new plan to consider for adoption. Waite reported a few corrections: under the resources column on packet page 11, replace Copeland’s name with Waite’s; on packet page 12, under the resources column, the second cell down, strike commission; 4th cell down replace Booker’s name with Waite’s; and on the 5th cell down, strike commission. Castagna made a motion to approve the Strategic Plan including the corrections. Peake seconded. Evans asked about Goal 1, Item 1 noting that the original plan included technology and the subcommittee. A1 and A2 are noted as completed, however the subcommittee in the comments identified short term goals technology, moving the gift shop, etc. and none have been completed. He suggested moving the completion of columns A1 and A2 to June 2021. O’Neil asked if the gift shop had already been moved. Waite responded that she had last seen the gift shop in March in Colton Hall. Evans commented that the gift shop was previously informal and combined with a staff area versus having its own distinct and separate location which was the intent. The Commission agreed to move the timeframe for moving the gift shop to December 2021. 5. Report on Commission Subcommittees Appointments for 2020 and Appointment of Subcommittees for 2021 (Not a project under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Received report, discussed, and appointed subcommittees Commissioners agreed to continue serving on the following committees and two new committees were appointed: Colton Hall Museum and Old Monterey Jail Bob Evans Mike Sovereign Bill Wojtkowski Pacific Biological Lab (PBL) & Cannery Worker Shacks John Castagna Kimberley Peake Bill Wojtkowski Lower Presidio Historic Park & Presidio Museum John O’Neil Mike Sovereign Bill Wojtkowski Music Committee John Castagna Bob Evans Kathleen Wall Public Art & History Bob Evans Kimberley Peake Kathleen Wall Liaisons to Cultural/Historical Organizations Vacant – Historic Monterey (History Fest meetings only) Kathleen Wall – Monterey Museum of Art Bill Wojtkowski – Old Monterey Foundation Evans commented that he has not had contact with Historic Monterey and remarked he would be glad to coordinate with the committee. Evans understood that Copeland previously attended the meetings. Waite responded that she believed that History Fest was on pause due to the pandemic and responded that she would learn more. Wall commented that there has been little contact between her and the Monterey Museum of Art. Waite commented that clarification was needed for the roles of the liaisons. Evans commented that if he prefers to focus on the technology needs versus Historic Monterey. Castagna suggested to eliminate the liaison positions versus keeping the position vacant. O’Neil commented that it is beneficial to keep the positions if meetings are attended and the Commission has the opportunity to be provided with advanced notice. He recommended that if the liaison positions continued that City staff solidify the importance of the role, or that if City staff continue to attend the meetings to remove the liaison position. Wall commented that she is glad to continue with her role as the liaison with the Monterey Museum of Art. Evans commented, and the Commission agreed, that City staff would strengthen the role of the liaison and then pass to commissioners if and when needed. New Committees include: Path of History John Castagna John O’Neil Bill Wojtkowski Digital Interpretation Bob Evans Kimberley Peake Mike Sovereign Wojtkowski checked with the current City engineer and he believes much of the pedestrian access study plans may be lost. He suggested that the committee could review the Path of History master plan and the pedestrian access between the recreation trail and Old Town. Waite commented that project to expand the Monterey Path of History Plan was funded by the Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program (NCIP) in 2015-16. Museums staff have been working on it since that time. Wojtkowski reported there are 2 separate studies – one by an intern, and another completed by a consultant with oversight by Jeff Krebs. The Commission noted that Krebs previously made a presentation to the Commission. Wojtkowski is particularly interested in the Presidio Historic Park Pedestrian Access Study funded by NCIP in 2017-18. Castagna and O’Neil volunteered to serve on the committee. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS No comments. ADJOURNMENT Seeing no further business to come before the Museums and Cultural Arts Commission, Chair O’Neil adjourned the meeting at 5:21 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Francesca Garibaldi John O’Neil, Chair Administrative Assistant Museums and Cultural Arts Commission