HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Museum Of Science And History Advisory Committee - 01/08/2009 RECEIVED
FEB 2 7 2009
MINUTES CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE
Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History
Advisory Committee Meeting
January 8, 2009
The Museum Advisory Committee met in the Museum's DeDietrich Conference Room at
Noon on Thursday, January 8, 2009. Members Present: Margaret Bolick, Jonda
Halcomb, Kimberly Harris, Robert Hatherill, Kathy Juneau, Tom Kimes, Shannon
Madden, Jim Moloney,Nelida Ortiz, Luci Sosa, and Linda Tomo.
Upon motion by Jim Moloney and seconded by Tom Kimes, the minutes of the
December 4, 2008 meeting were approved as presented. Upon motion by Linda Tomo
and seconded by Kathy Juneau the absences of Robert Hatherill, Jim Moloney, and
Kimberly Harris from the December meeting were excused.
Business:
a. A proposal to restore Nina was received. Conceptual terms include:
• Return Nina to navigable standards by a Spanish construction company with the
cost underwritten by others
• Cash contribution by the Friends of the Museum in the amount of$10,000
• Cost for wood and iron underwritten by the City of Corpus Christi
• Port visit of at least three weeks in the Houston area
• Agree to allow the Spanish Consulate to use the ship as a stationary display
platform for the consular boat race during May 2009 in Kemah
• Develop a Friends group for the ship to help with maintenance after it is repaired.
This proposal has been forwarded to the City Manager and the City Attorney for their
review. Upon motion by Jim Moloney and seconded by Tom Kimes the Committee
unanimously supported the provisions of this proposal and recommended that the City
respond in a positive manner enabling an agreement to be reached.
b. Most local cultural facilities have established a catering charge as part of their facility
rental agreements. After discussion and upon motion by Tom Kimes and seconded by
Kathy Juneau the Committee unanimously approved the following amendment to the
facility rental agreement: "the caterer agrees to pay the City ten percent of the gross
receipts charge to the lessee for food,beverages, labor, gratuities,rentals and services
after taxes have been deducted.".
c.There was a brief description of the context for the 2008 Advisory Committee Annual
Report that was submitted to the City Secretary for the City Council.
d. Attendance was down 8% in 2008 from the previous year. Paid attendance was down
almost 10%. Attendance decreased on free days as well as attendance by school groups
SCANNED
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which are admitted free. The precipitous drop off in attendance after August is reflective
of the Hurricane Ike emergency in September and probably reflective of the broader
downturn in the economy. This trend is echoed in admissions revenue which negatively
impacts the resources available to the General Fund for expenditures. With membership
sales down 21%revenue earnings by the Friends of the Museum was also lower. The
Auxiliary experienced a decline of almost 19% in sales in the gift shop. Such decline on
the revenue side will inevitably result in lower resources to support operating expenses in
2009.
e. Staff reports
St. Nicholas Day was attended by 1,693 people, nearly double 2007. The special exhibit
from NASA played a role in the increase.
There will not be a regular meeting of the Advisory Committee in February due to a
conflict with the scheduling of the department head retreat by the City Manager. A
special called meeting might occur on January 29'h if details of the Nina restoration
project are solidified. RECEIVED
The meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m. RECEIVED
Y G
FEB 2 7 2009
CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE