HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Museum Of Science And History Advisory Committee - 08/05/2010 RECEIVED
MINUTES AUG 2 7 2010
Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History
Advisory Committee Meeting CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE
August 5, 2010
The Museum Advisory Committee met in the Museum's DeDietrich Conference Room at Noon
on Thursday, August 5,2010. Members Present: Pablo Garza, Tom Kimes, Shannon Maddon,
Luci Sosa, and Linda Tomo.
The minutes of the June 3,2010 regular meeting were approved as presented.
Upon motion by Pablo Garza and seconded by Luci Sosa the absence of Shannon Maddon was
excused.
Business:
a. Rick Stryker reported on the staff reorganization that was made necessary as part of the
changes associated with implementation of the FY2011 budget August 1.
With Sandra Linderman's retirement in January 2011,her Museum Educator position is being
eliminated as a cost cutting measure. The impact of this budget cut is a 20%reduction in the
Museum's capacity to provide educational weekends, spring break, and the summer
programming to families. There will be a similar 20%reduction in the Museum's capacity to
provide education program to school groups. The three person education staff spends about
2,154 hours per year in direct program delivery. Peak times for both begin in the spring. We are
awaiting confirmation by CCISD that the two grade level programs will be funded for the new
school year. Work associated with these two programs accounts for about 24%of the staff time
that is customarily devoted to education programming in any given year.
Lead Preparator Roy Garrett has been reassigned to the primary responsibility for facility
maintenance with the continuing freeze of the Maintenance Mechanic Foreman position vacancy.
The impact of this is the sharp reduction in the capacity of the Museum to create new exhibits
and maintain current exhibits. The loss of the Preparator position in FY 2010 eliminated the
only other staff position dedicated to exhibit creation and maintenance. There is continuing
concern with the likely action to freeze the vacancy caused by Bonnie Laya's retirement in
March 2011. Presently this position is funded through the end of the fiscal year.
The City anticipates budget issues over the next few years so the proposal to privatize the
Museum and take other outsourcing measures that would impact the Museum will continue as
part of the broader discussion. Although the precise pathway into the future is unknown the only
real way to mitigate further reductions in Museum service levels is to ramp up the capacity for
earned revenue and private funding.
b. Museum attendance for the fiscal year through July 31 was 62,664,down about 1%from last
year. However,the trend is downward with both June and July attendance down significantly (-
36%). The paying family audience has been on a downward trend for two years while the school
audience rebounded from the HINI pandemic that stuck during peak season last year. One third
SCANNED
r
of our audience is local. Although the actual number attending is smaller,the percentage
remained the same. Of course this is problematic when developing a budget because our actual
admission revenue did not meet the budget projections suggesting a greater divergence in FY
2011. That makes the bad news from the Museum consistent with the bad news in other aspects
of City revenue including property tax and sales tax receipts.
Visitor surveys reflected problems with the visitor experience. Important indicators fell below
an acceptable level too frequently in survey compilations suggesting that there are problems that
are not all attributable to construction. Staff assignments were modified as part of the
reorganization to include the directive to address the shortcomings in the visitor experience.
c.Ashley Henderson, Collection Manager, reported on the amendment being proposed for the
agreement with the Texas Historical Commission. THC funding will extend the La Belle
inventory project through July 31, 2011 and expand its scope to include research and writing.
d. Staff Reports
• There continues to be significant disruption for visitors due to the Bond 2008 Project
revising the HVA/C systems although that disruption is now focused on the visitor
experience in the South Building. The project should conclude by mid September.
• We have received the Self Study Review checklist from the American Association of
Museum staff on our submission seeking to renew our accreditation. There are
significant issues and Mr. Stryker is working through those with AAM staff. A response
is required by November 5 and shortly thereafter it will be provided to a peer review team
in preparation for a site visit within the next several months.
• A fund raising event called a Night in the Museum is scheduled by the Friends for
October 13.
• Nina has a breach in the hull and started taking on water prior to the transfer of
responsibility to the Columbus Sailing Association. The City will address the problem by
paying for repairs and the cost for towing it to the shipyard in Aransas Pass. As soon as it
returns from the shipyard the transfer is expected to take place.
• As part of the fulfillment of an Eagle Scout project,Alex Rivera raised the funds and
constructed a storage building that now sits on the Plaza for use by the Master Gardeners
who maintain the flower beds on the Plaza.
• The 2010 Archaeology Fields School was successfully completed. This was the final
field season for the 11 year research project. Bob Drolet will now begin the needed
analysis on the data and write the final report.
• A temporary exhibit,Images of Valor: U S. Latinos and Latinas of World War II will be
on exhibit in the Museum through September.
The meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
2010 Meeting Schedule: Thursdays September 2 November 4
October 7 December 2