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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Museum Of Science And History Advisory Committee - 08/06/2009 • r ime tit IIECEIVED AI)li Y 8 2009 #1,`{' f �f CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE MINUTES _- - Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History Advisory Committee Meeting August 6, 2009 The Museum Advisory Committee met in the Museum's DeDietrich Conference Room at Noon on Thursday, August 6, 2009. Members Present: Margaret Bolick, Kimberly Harris, Kathy Juneau, Tom Kimes, Shannon Madden, Jim Moloney, Nelida Ortiz, Luci Sosa, and Linda Tomo. Upon motion by Linda Torno and seconded by Tom Kimes, the minutes of the June 11, 2009 meeting were approved as presented. Upon motion by Tom Kimes and seconded by Luci Sosa, the Committee unanimously excused the absences of Margaret Bolick and Kathy Juneau. Business: a. The Museum is in a financial squeeze. The Friends adopted a very lean budget for FY 2009/10 and no distribution was taken from the Museum endowment this year due to the economic downturn. The adopted General Fund Budget for the Museum is reduced from last year's appropriation eliminating one full time position and freezing one part-time position vacancy. In addition there is a freeze on hiring to fill vacancies. An further example of the impact on operations is that the office supply budget was reduced by one-third. The City Council directed staff to implement a zero based approach to the development of the budget. This approach to budgeting"starts from the premise that no costs or activities should be factored into the plans for the coming budget period,just because they figured in the costs for activities for the current or previous periods. Rather, everything that is to be included in the budget must be considered and justified." The pressing reason for this approach is that demand for General Fund services has grown beyond available resources. More draconian reductions are forecast next year. The Museum will need to develop strategies to accommodate further reductions. At least one City department will be selected to test the zero based budget approach in the coming year. Regardless, it is incumbent upon the Museum to use the year beginning August 1,2009 to prepare for the anticipated budget reductions. The zero based budgeting approach provides a useful tool to think this through. Over the next several meetings we will spend time looking at Museum services in different ways. b.All three ships are deteriorating at an accelerating rate. At the Museum,Pinta remains open to tours but Santa Maria is closed to tours due to its poor condition. Nina, docked at the Lawrence Street T Head, is being monitored,but no maintenance on it is being done. Staff efforts are focused on the restoration of Pinta which, within the next year, should be returned to good condition providing a first rate visitor experience. Additional City resources to more adequately fund ship maintenance are not forthcoming. Upon motion by Jim Moloney and seconded by Kimberly Harris, the Committee unanimously recommend that the City allow the Columbus SCANNED V 1111110 Sailing Association to participate in the restoration of Nina. c. Staff reports o Attendance for fiscal year ending July 31 was down by 7%. School attendance was the lead contributor to the decline with a drop of 29%. Contributing to the decline were record low attendance months in September due to the hurricane emergency and in April/May due to the swine flu emergency. An overarching contributor to the problem is the economic recession. On the other hand, revenue from admission fees is expected to be about on budget, if not a little below because of greater than normal attendance through the summer. o The Voyage exhibit dedication and associated programming were very successful. o The Archeology Field School was successfully concluded with a public presentation in Old San Patricio. A report will be out within a couple months. o Daily experience enhancement programming started June 9th and continues through August. This effort is contributing to a significant increase in summer attendance. The meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.