HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Museum Of Science And History Advisory Committee - 12/01/2005 4,6 ,,028293%
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MINUTES
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Corpus Christi Museum of Science and Histortfl air = ,
Advisory Committee Meeting cg LFFL.. "
December 1, 2005
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The Museum Advisory Committee met in the Museum's DeDietrich Conference Ro at Noon
on Thursday, December Is'. Members Present: Grady Price Blount, Sharon Brower, Cheryl
Gillenwater.
Upon motion by Cheryl Gillenwater and seconded by Sharon Brower the minutes of the
November 3, 2005 meeting were approved as presented.
Upon motion by Sharon Brower and seconded by Grady Price Blount the absence of Cheryl
Gillenwater was excused for good cause.
Chairman's remarks: Grady Price Blount acknowledged the resignation of Angie Flores from the
Committee. Cheryl and Sharon received their gift from the Mayor and City Council thanking
them for their service to the City.
Business:
a. Rick Stryker presented the PowerPoint program"Hispanic Cultural Center"put together at the
request of the Friends to help communicate the new direction of the Museum..
b. Staff Report
- Rick Stryker reported that the Ship Channel Utility Relocation Project would get underway on
December 5th with completion within 6 months. Parking immediately adjacent to the Museum
will be in short supply until this project is completed. The Second phase, the removal of the
current utilities pipes is expected to begin in August,but will not be as disruptive to visitors.
- Maintenance work on Nina is complete and it should be towed back to the Marina next week.
The bottom was in good condition and was cleaned and repainted. A new worm shoe was fixed
to the keel, the main mast was patched, and the hull above the waterline was cleaned and
recoated.
- The environmental services staff of the Storm Water department will move into the offices
formerly used by the Environmental Programs Department of the Museum which was eliminated
as a stand alone department. This will increase the people working in the space from six to eight.
The Storm Water Department contributes to the cost of maintaining the facility by paying a
share of the electric bill.
-The Museum has agreed to work with the Junior League on a hands-on farm exhibit from April
27 through 29. It will be funded and staffed by members of the Junior League.
- The Texas Historical Commission announced the certification of the Museum as a curatorial
facility. The Museum is the first in the state to obtain this certification under this new program.
As THC Executive Director Larry Oaks noted in the announcement, "Certification demonstrates
that this facility has met the highest professional collections standards set by the State."
c. Rick provided Committee members with a copy of a memo and accompanying organization
chart that he sent out to the Museum staff announcing a new organization. The goals of this
SCANNED
change are to incorporate the intemet services in all visitor service issues. The new work group
of the staff including the exhibit, program, and library staff will report to Patricia Drolet. The
programming responsibilities of the curatorial staff were reduced to focus their attention on
creating a collection plan that focuses on the new educational mission. Some discussion ensued
to help clarify how this was going to work.
d. Committee members reviewed a report on the Service Level Objectives through October.
Most indicators are unremarkable, but the rising cost of electricity as it impacts the maintenance
cost of the Museum is cause for concern.
e. The Committee reviewed a series of recommendations Rick made at the request of the Office
of Management and Budget to address the rising cost of electricity. The main culprits at the
Museum are the aging and worn out mechanical equipment which are not very efficient and the
high cost of exhibit lighting. The remedy involves capital costs with varying periods of payback.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 1:15 p.m.