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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Museum Of Science And History Advisory Committee - 11/05/2009 • RECEIVED MINUTES Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History DEC 2 4 zoos Advisory Committee Meeting November 5, 2009 CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE The Museum Advisory Committee met in the Museum's DeDietrich Conference Room at Noon on Thursday, November 5, 2009. Members Present: Jonda Halcomb, Kimberly Harris-Ward, Robert Hatherill, Kathy Juneau, Tom Kimes, Shannon Madden, Jim Moloney, and Nelida Ortiz. Upon motion by Jim Moloney and seconded by Kathy Juneau, the minutes of the October 1, 2009 regular meeting and the October 22 special meeting were approved as presented. Upon motion by Kimberly Harris-Ward and seconded by Rob Hatherill the absence of Tom Kimes was excused. Business: a. The Advisory Committee considered how the Museum's Strategic Plan should be modified as a result of the Columbus Sailing Association presentation to City Council. There was a long discussion concerning the implication to the Museum of the City Council's response at the October 27th meeting. Of concern was that while the Council supported their recommendation to allow CSA to restore Nina, they ignored the other recommendations of the Museum Advisory Committee and the Friends. Those other recommendations reflected apprehension for the potential negative impacts to the Museum. Members talked about the Council's apparent lack of concern for the Museum. Even more discomforting,the Council was apparently willing to believe the unfair assertion by the CSA that blame for the poor condition of the ships was the Museum's fault. How could the Museum be seen to fail miserably in its responsibility to maintain the ships when the lack of funding by the City for the Museum was the problem? The City Council even seemed to accept the inference that Museum culpability dated back to when responsibility for the ships was that of the Columbus Fleet Association when, in fact,the City did not accept ownership and responsibility for the ships until 2006. Money raised to support the ships and to conduct a visualized concept study through the Friends was not even acknowledged by the City Council. The outrageous exaggerations, accusations, and misstatement of facts by the Columbus Sailing Association in their presentation went unchallenged by City Council members. Committee members were concerned about the implications of the angry words by the Mayor who accused the Museum Director and by implication the Museum staff, volunteers, and donors for a"lack of care and lack of concern" for the ships and admonished the director because the Museum "needed to be better stewards" of City resources. The Mayor was apparently dismissive of the Museum's conceptual plan citing the "need for there to be a plan in place" for the ships. After reflection,most Committee members did not believe that it was necessary to change the SCANNED 1d V mission of the Museum until the Columbus Sailing Association proved that they could accomplish the initial two phases of their vision. There was a concern that ill conceived wording in the Memorandum of Understanding could make it difficult for the Museum to successfully restore Pinta and virtually impossible to fund the maintenance of the ships through the Friends. The Committee reviewed the Strategic Plan assuming that the MOU with the Columbus Sailing Association would focus on Phase One and Phase Two of their vision. Upon motion by Jim Moloney and seconded by Kimberly Harris-Ward the following goals were removed from the Museum's Strategic Plan: - Prerequisite measures to implement the Visualized Concept Study (Strategic Objective A) - Reconfigure cultural exhibits to create a context for the Columbus ships (Strategic Objective C.2) - Construct either a marina or a facility encompassing the ships (Strategic Objective C.3) - Replace Corps of Engineers facility(Strategic Objective D) As requested the amended plan will be on the next meeting agenda for review. b. Staff Reports -There were more than 1,100 people through the Museum on CCISD Day, October 24th -Rick Stryker reviewed the likely operational impact of the Bond 2008 project on the Museum as 8 of 15 air handlers will be replaced. -The Boy Scouts conducted a service project taking down a derelict building on the Santa Maria Plaza and helping remove the half deck from Pinta - The implementation of the Xeriscape landscaping plan north of the Museum entrance is well underway c. The City Council will consider the approval of an agreement with the Texas Historical Commission that will fund a temporary position to inventory the La Belle Collection. The MOU with the Columbus Sailing Association is expected to be approved within the next month or two. d. It was requested that new revenue sources for the Museum be a matter of discussion at the upcoming meeting. e. Jim Moloney was elected chair and Tom Kimes was elected vice chair of the Advisory Committee. The meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.