Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Meeting
Regular MeetingMonterey, CA · February 3, 2022
Minutes
MINUTES
MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
02/03/2022
4:00 PM
ZOOM TELECONFERENCE
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA
Commissioners present: Castagna, Evans, O’Neil, Peake, Sovereign, Thomas, Wojtkowski
Commissioner Absent: None
Staff Present: Library & Museums Director, Administrative Assistant, Artifacts Specialist
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Wojtkowski called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
CONSENT ITEMS
Approval of Minutes
1. January 6, 2022 (Not a project under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General
Rule Article 5, Section 15061)
Action: Approved
On a motion by Commissioner Evans, seconded by Commissioner O’Neil and carried by the
following vote, the Museums and Cultural Arts Commission approved the Consent Item:
AYES: 7 COMMISSIONERS: Castagna, Evans, O’Neil, Peake, Sovereign, Thomas,
Wojtkowski
NOES: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE
ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE
RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE
***End of Consent Agenda***
PUBLIC COMMENTS
The administrative assistant explained to the public how to participate in the virtual meeting and
provide public comment. Chair Wojtkowski opened public comments: no public comments.
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS
2. Receive Museums and Cultural Arts Division Activity Report (Not a project under CEQA per
Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061)
Action: Received and discussed
Waite provided activity highlights. Leininger informed that due to the Omicron surge and a
reduced number of Pacific Biological Lab docents, he led his first PBL public tour for two
visitors. One of the visitors will become a PBL docent. Commissioners asked additional
questions and expressed concern about the reduced number of angels hung during the holiday
by contractors. It was suggested to have the Cannery Row angels hung again.
There was no public comment on the matter.
Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes 2/3/2022 4:00 PM
PUBLIC APPEARANCE
3. Discussion of Murals in Downtown Monterey (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 process and requirements for having a mural approved and differences
between whether it is a historical building. The City needs a public art master plan that would
further outline the process; this plan is part of the Museums Strategic Plan. The Commission
discussed what constitutes public art and asked which City commissions are involved in the
approval process. The utility box artwork program was discussed. The public art master plan is
slated to be worked on after the Path of History Master Plan is complete.
There was no public comment on the matter.
4. Receive an Update on the Path of History (Not a project under CEQA per Article 20, Section
15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061)
Action: Received and discussed
Waite reported that a Community Impact grant will be applied for to fund the pathways. She
recommended starting with Pearl District and Colton Hall. Evans commented that the sites are
traveled best in a clockwise direction for those on two or three wheels. The Commission
discussed whether cell phone tours would be added to the sites. A question arose about an
adobe on the corner of Abrego and Church Street not currently on the path. Some of the sites
have plaques while other do not. Waite will determine whether to apply for a grant that funds
two or three paths. She will meet with the subcommittee (Wojtkowski, Evans and Thomas) after
the draft is written. The Commission was supportive of applying for funding for two or three
paths.
There was no public comment on the matter.
5. Receive a Report on the Reopening of the Japanese American Cultural Heritage Center of the
Japanese American Citizens’ League (Not a project under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378
and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061)
Action: Received and discussed
Commissioner Thomas reported that the Japanese American Cultural Heritage Center
reopened on January 22. He invited Commissioners and staff to tour the Museum and site.
Commissioners suggested holding a field trip to the site as part of their meeting. The garden
incorporates fish baskets from the San Xavier Warehouse which will be used as planters. The
San Xavier Cannery played an important role in the Japanese American community especially
when it hired Japanese Americans back after Word War II. The plants that will go into the
baskets will be from Shirahama, the Japanese fishing village where many of Monterey’s
Abalone fishermen came from.
There was no public comment on the matter.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Evans asked about the status of the City’s budget process.
O’Neil congratulated Leininger on leading his first PBL tour and recruiting a new docent.
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Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes 2/3/2022 4:00 PM
Wojtkowski asked the status of Colton Hall museum interpreters. He shared that at a recent
meeting with Paulette Lynch, Ken Peterson, and the Mayor there was discussion about
increasing activity at the Lower Presidio and Custom House Plaza.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be March 3, 2022.
ADJOURNMENT
Seeing no further business to come before the Museums and Cultural Arts Commission, Chair
Wojtkowski adjourned the meeting at 4:54 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted, Approved,
Francesca Garibaldi Bill Wojtkowski, Chair
Administrative Assistant Museums and Cultural Arts Commission
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Agenda
Commissioners
Museums and Cultural Arts Bill Wojtkowski, Chair
Commission Agenda Robert Evans, Vice Chair
John Castagna
John O'Neil
Thursday, February 3, 2022 Kimberley Peake
Mike Sovereign
4:00 PM Timothy Thomas
Zoom Teleconference
Monterey, California
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Pursuant to California Government Code section 54953(e)(1)(A) and
(C) and the Monterey City Council’s resolution authorizing virtual participation in public
meetings given the COVID-19 pandemic, and to do all we can to help slow the spread of
COVID-19 (coronavirus), meetings of the Monterey City Council and its Boards and
Commissions are being conducted with virtual (electronic) participation only.
Details for public participation in this Museums and Cultural Arts meeting:
BEFORE THIS MEETING, members of the public may participate by submitting comment(s) to
museums@monterey.org until ½ hour before the start of the meeting. These messages are
shared with the Council or relevant Board or Commission prior to the start of the meeting, but
are not read aloud. All comments become part of the record and are made available online at
https://monterey.org/submitted-comments.
DURING THIS MEETING, members of the public may attend and participate:
Online via ZoomGov Webinar live (no time delay):
Join on a computer or smartphone: https://monterey-org.zoomgov.com/j/1616222299
Or join by telephone: Dial 833-568-8864 (Toll Free), 669-254-5252 (Campbell, Calif.) or
646-828-7666 (New York, NY). If a phone number is inoperable, please try another.
Enter Webinar ID: 161 622 2299 #
If prompted to enter a participant ID, press #
To “raise your hand” dial *9. Once called upon, dial *6 to unmute.
Need more help or seeking guidance on making public comments? Read our
ZoomGov Meeting Instructions.
This meeting will also stream live for viewing only on youtube.com/cityofmonterey (10 second
delay) and on Comcast Channel 25 (up to 90 second delay).
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
CONSENT ITEMS
CONSENT ITEMS allow for a review of those items recommended for approval on
consent or recommended to be continued, tabled or withdrawn, etc. Consent items
consist of those items which are routine and for which a staff recommendation has been
prepared. A member of the public or a Commissioner may request that an item
recommended for approval on consent be heard on the regular agenda for further
discussion.
Approval of Minutes
1. January 6, 2022 (Not a project under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and
under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061)
***End of Consent Agenda***
PUBLIC COMMENTS
PUBLIC COMMENTS allows you, the public, to speak for a maximum of three minutes
on any subject, which is not on the agenda. Any person or group desiring to bring an item
to the attention of the Commission may do so during Public Comments or by addressing
a letter of explanation to: Library & Museums Director, 625 Pacific Street, Monterey, CA
93940. The appropriate staff person will contact the sender concerning the details.
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & STAFF COMMENTS supply the Commission with
written or oral information that they may wish to discuss or take action by placing the item
on a future agenda.
2. Receive Museums and Cultural Arts Division Activity Report (Not a project under
CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section
15061)
PUBLIC APPEARANCE
PUBLIC APPEARANCE items are reports on action or informational issues that might
stimulate public discussion, but that do not require formal noticing as public hearings.
You are welcome to offer your comments after being recognized by the Chair. The Chair
may limit the time allocated to each speaker.
3. Discussion of Murals in Downtown Monterey (Not a project under CEQA per Article
20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061)
4. Receive an Update on the Path of History (Not a project under CEQA per Article
20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061)
5. Receive a Report on the Reopening of the Japanese American Cultural Heritage
Center of the Japanese American Citizens’ League (Not a project under CEQA per
Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061)
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
COMMISSIONERS may ask a question for clarification, make a brief announcement or
make a brief report on his or her activities. In addition, a Commissioner may provide a
referral to staff or other resources for factual information, request staff to report back to
the body at a subsequent meeting concerning any City matter, or direct staff to place a
request to agendize a matter of business on a future agenda. (G.C. 54954.2)
NEXT MEETING
The next scheduled meeting is March 3, 2022.
ADJOURNMENT
The Museums and Cultural Arts Commission meeting packet may be reviewed by the
public at the Monterey Public Library. Information distributed to the Commission
becomes part of the public record. A copy of written material, pictures, etc., should be
provided for this purpose. For more agenda information, call 646-5648.
CITY OF MONTEREY'S 24-HOUR SUGGESTION HOTLINES:
Voicemail: (831) 646-3799
FAX: (831) 646-3793
Museums and Cultural Arts Commission
2/3/2022 4:00:00 PM
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Email: suggest@monterey.org
WebPage: http://www.monterey.org
The City of Monterey is committed to including the disabled in all of its
services, programs and activities. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities
Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the
City Clerk’s Office at (831) 646-3935 or cityclerk@monterey.org. Notification 30
hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to
ensure accessibility to this meeting [28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title II]. Later
requests will be accommodated to the extent feasible. For communication-related
assistance, dial 711 to use the California Relay Service (CRS) to speak to City offices.
CRS offers free text-to-speech, speech-to-speech, and Spanish-language services 24
hours a day, 7 days a week. If you require a hearing amplification device to attend a
meeting, dial 711 to use CRS to talk to the City Clerk's Office at (831) 646-3935 to
coordinate use of a device.
MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE BY CALLING 646-5669
Museums and Cultural Arts Commission
2/3/2022 4:00:00 PM
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