Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Meeting

MINUTES MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION 03/03/2022 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. February 3, 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 Thomas, 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 comments. 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 reported that the Board of Library Trustees supports Museums remaining part of the Library Department. Leininger reported that during his weekly Museum site visits he noticed the bronze bust of Kalisa Moore had been vandalized and a small fire had taken place in the back area of Pacific Biological Laboratory. There was no public comment on the matter.  Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes 3/3/2022 4:00 PM PUBLIC APPEARANCE 3. Receive an Update on the FY 2023 Budget Process (Not a project under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Received and discussed Waite updated the Commission on the budget schedule and her request for one full-time position in the Museum & Cultural Arts Division. The overall amount submitted is very conservative. She noted that statistics still reflect lower visitor numbers to the Museums. Wojtkowski proposed that the Commission send a letter to the City Council strongly advising, as a minimum, one full-time position. Evans will assist in writing the letter. Commissioners requested the opportunity to read and comment on the letter of support to the City Council before it is finalized. The Commission discussed concerns about the reduced amount of staff time focused on Museums, the need for more than one full-time position, and the importance of history as it relates to Monterey’s tourism. Pre-pandemic, Museums staffing included support from the Library & Museums Director, a half-time museums, cultural arts, and archives manager, 30 hours per week each from an administrative assistant and cultural arts assistant, and additional part-time staff hours. On a motion by Commissioner Evans, seconded by Commissioner Thomas and carried by the following vote, which was conducted by roll call, the Museums and Cultural Arts Commission approved requesting one-full time position in addition to the existing Museums staffing budget (Library & Museums Director, 10 hours Library & Museums Administrative Assistant, 20 hours PTS Museums staff, and PTS Colton Hall Museum Attendant docents): A Commissioner voiced opposition to leaving Museums under the Library due to the challenges in recruiting a library director who will also successfully manage Museums. Waite reminded the Commission that one full-time position had already been submitted for next year’s budget and stated that her recommendation was to proceed cautiously as the economy recovers. The Commission continued discussing whether to ask for additional staffing. There was no public comment on the matter. AYES: 6 COMMISSIONERS: Castagna, Evans, O’Neil, Peake, Thomas, Wojtkowski NOES: 1 COMMISSIONERS: Sovereign ABSENT: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE ABSTAIN: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE RECUSED: 0 COMMISSIONERS: NONE 4. Receive Report on Library & Museums Director Recruitment (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 library director recruitment process and hoped that a new director would be hired near the time of her departure. Concern was expressed about the skills of a new library director who would successfully oversee Museums. On a motion by Commissioner Castagna, seconded by Commissioner Evans, the Museums and Cultural Arts Commission provided a recommendation to the Board of Library Trustees to Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Meeting Minutes 3/3/2022 4:00 PM 2  Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes 3/3/2022 4:00 PM consider the importance of Museum management experience when evaluating possible library director replacements. There was no public comment on the matter. The Commission will provide information to the Board of Library Trustees about the many duties of the library and museum director overseeing Museums. Castagna recommended that the MCAC Chair discuss this with the Board. Castagna moved to table the motion. The seconder agreed. 5. Approve Gift of Robinson Jeffers Materials (Not a project under CEQA per Article 20, Section 15378 and under General Rule Article 5, Section 15061) Action: Received and discussed Leininger reported that he had been in contact with the donor about the gift of materials. An exhibit could be held in Alvarado Gallery, however, there is not enough room in the vault for long-term storage. He recommended against accepting the gift of materials. There was no public comment on the matter. On a motion by Commissioner Thomas, seconded by Commissioner Castagna and carried by the following vote, which was conducted by roll call, the Museums and Cultural Arts Commission did not accept the gift of Robinson Jeffers materials: 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 6. 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 Wojtkowski reported that the ad hoc Path of History Committee (Evans, Thomas, and Wojtkowski) reviewed and provided comments on the draft grant proposal that will be submitted to the Community Foundation for Monterey County. Commissioners may send suggested revisions to the Library & Museums Director by tomorrow afternoon. There was no public comment on the matter. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Castagna called the Commission’s attention to a recent article in the Monterey Herald about the Big Sur Lighthouse. He gave compliments on the recent MPL Friends & Foundation Chocolate & Wine (Drive-thru) Benefit. Evans agreed with Castagna’s positive comments about the MPLFF Chocolate & Wine Benefit. He thanked Waite for her support to the Commission. Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Meeting Minutes 3/3/2022 4:00 PM 3 Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Minutes 3/3/2022 4:00 PM O’Neil remains impressed with the amount of work completed with the limited staffing. Peake agreed with the comments of O’Neil and Evans. She left the meeting at 5:11 p.m. Sovereign announced that he will give a history talk about the tile mural at the Conference Center on March 12th at 10:00 a.m. Thomas concurred with all that had been said, thanked Museums and Library staff, and shared that the Japanese American Citizens League garden is being started this week. Wojtkowski expressed appreciation to Waite and her choice of Library & Museums staff members Leininger and Briscoe for their dedication to Monterey’s history. ADJOURNMENT Seeing no further business to come before the Museums and Cultural Arts Commission, Chair Wojtkowski adjourned the meeting at 5:14 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Approved, Francesca Garibaldi Bill Wojtkowski, Chair Administrative Assistant Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Meeting Minutes 3/3/2022 4:00 PM 4