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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-13-2006 Approved HCAC Minutes CITY OF DUBLIN HERITAGE AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION MINUTES OF: APRIL 13, 2006 The April 13, 2006 meeting of the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission was called to order at 7:01p.m.at the Dublin Civic Center,Dublin, California,by Chairperson Mack. Pledge of Allegiance Chairperson Mack led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll Call Commissioners Present: Acuff,White,Lussie,Vonheeder-Leopold,Fasulkey,Mack, and Halket Oral Communications—None Approval of Minutes Cm. Vonheeder-Leopold stated that the minutes should be corrected to reflect that she was not absent, as she was representing the Heritage Commission at the Leadership Academy Graduation that night. ON A MOTION BY CM. ACUFF, SECONDED BY CM. HALKET AND BY UNANIMOUS VOTE, THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE MINUTES OF MARCH 9, 2006 AS CORRECTED. Written Communications-None Public Hearing-None Unfinished Business 7.1 Street Banners—Summer Concert Series Heritage & Cultural Arts Supervisor John Hartnett reported that at the Heritage & Cultural Arts Commission meeting on March 9, five distinct banner designs were presented for the Commission's review. The Commission favored different elements of banner Exhibits 4 and 5 and directed Staff to have the graphic artist create a new mockup incorporating graphics from Exhibits 4 and 5, with a different color background, listing "Rock", "Country", "Jazz", and "R&B" music types. The new mockup has been provided as Exhibit 6. Commission Comments: Cm. Fasulkey stated that she likes the design of Exhibit 5 and the background color of Exhibit 4. She would like to see Exhibit 5 with the color background of Exhibit 4,with similar wording and design. Cm. Halket stated that the yellow background was too light and that green was a more eye catching color. The mockup is therefore the opposite of what she had in mind. Cm. Acuff stated that Exhibit 6 is too busy for display along the street. She agreed with Cm. Fasulkey's recommendation. Cm. Fasulkey asked if it would be possible to add the website to the banner. Hartnett felt that any additional wording on the banner would make it too busy and difficult to read. Cm. Lussie stated that she likes Exhibit 4 because it would be easy to see from a distance and asked if there is some way we can have Exhibit 4 & 5 with a modified background. Cm. Fasulkey pointed out that that is what is suggested. Minutes—April 13, 2006 Page2of5 Cm. Lussie clarified and stated that she would like to see both Exhibits 4 & 5 as separate banners and asked if we can have both. Hartnett stated that is customary to have only one consistent banner. Also there would be an additional cost incurred for two separate designs. Cm. Lussie felt that Exhibit#4 was a graphically better design. The thin line drawings are too hard to see. Cm. Fasulkey stated that is why we would like to see a different color background. Cm. Halket stated that the Commission had agreed that they would like to see the different types of music shown on the banner and asked when staff needs a decision on the banners. Hartnett stated that the final decision on the banners will be up to the City Council. The Commission will recommend their selection and it will then be taken to the Council for their ultimate choice. ON A MOTION BY CM. LUSSIE SECONDED BY CM. HALKET AND BY UNANIMOUS VOTE, THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDED EXHIBIT #5 WITH MODIFICATIONS WHICH WOULD PROVIDE MORE CONTRAST SO THAT THE BANNER CAN BE SEEN BY CARS TRAVELING DOWN THE STREET. New Business 8.1 Heritage Center Admission and Program Fees Heritage Center Director Elizabeth Isles reported that the Dublin Heritage Center is expected to reopen to the public in summer, 2006. The Journey, the new permanent exhibit at the Murray Schoolhouse, will provide visitors with a variety of enriching and interactive exhibits. The reopening is an appropriate time to evaluate policy on admission fees. GENERAL ADMISSION Currently there is free admission to individuals during regular museum hours. Staff conducted a study of fees for similar museums and the average admission is $1.45 for adults and $.45 for youth. The Dublin Heritage Center is below average with free general admission. Isles pointed out that the Dublin Heritage Center has been involved in the Museum Assessment Program through the American Association of Museums and the Institute for Museum and Library Services. The Heritage Center's admission fees were addressed by the Peer Reviewer, Mr. James DeMersman. In the first draft of his most recent report, Mr. DeMersman has recommended that the Heritage Center not charge general admission. Consequently Staff would recommend that City continue to offer free admission to individuals during regular Museum hours. Commission Comments: Cm. Lussie asked if a donor box is usually placed at the beginning or end of the exhibit. Isles started that the donor box will be placed at the end of the exhibit and donations will be optional. The box will be placed underneath a plaque listing the donors to the exhibit. Cm. Lussie stated that she knows that the museum is a municipal museum, but will there be memberships from businesses and households. Minutes—April 13, 2006 Page 3 of 5 Isles stated that the membership branch for us is the Dublin Historical Preservation Association. We are going to get all new rack cards and brochures that will also be at the summation and the D.H.P.A. membership cards will be available as well as volunteer cards. There will be a lot of opportunities for people to get involved. Cm. Lussie asked if there is a list of donors that can be changed, depending if you have life time donors or annual donors. Isles stated that the donor plaque has not been finalized and she would prefer that it not be a bronze plaque, so that it can be added to when needed. ON A MOTION BY CM. ACUFF SECONDED BY CM. VONHEEDER-LEOPOLD AND BY UNANIMOUS VOTE, THE COMMISSION ACCEPTED STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THE MUSEUM CONTINUE TO OFFER FREE ADMISSION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC DURING REGULAR MUSEUM HOURS. NEW PROGRAMS: Education for Youth Isles reported that the installation of the new permanent exhibit, The Journey will result in a new floor space and lay-out that will not accommodate a full school class size in the Schoolhouse. Classes will be broken up into smaller groups to go through the Museum. To allow for this change, Old. St. Raymond's Church now becomes the ideal Visitor's Center. Visitors, gathered at the church, will be able to view a short orientation video, generously produced by the Dublin Historic Preservation Association (DHPA). The school class will then be broken into small groups; some going to view the Museum, while others remain at the Visitor's Center. The groups remaining in the church will explore "Hands-On History". Students will receive The Dublin Gazette, an educational activity sheet that looks like an old time newspaper. The program will attempt to make history fun, so that young people will want to return to museums and become life-long learners. Costs associated with the youth school tour program include the printing of the Dublin Gazette and staff time in coordinating the program. Operation of the school program will involve coordinating with teachers, scheduling adequate staff and or volunteers, sending out confirmations, materials preparations, and staff time to run the program while on site. In the past, the Heritage & Cultural Arts Commission has not been in favor of charging for school and group tours. However, based on the additional amenities and enhanced educational elements that will now be offered to participants, and the fact that school tour fees for the Heritage Center were also recommended by the Peer Reviewer during the recent Museum Assessment Program report, Staff feels that fees for tours would now be appropriate. Local museums offering comparable school programs charge an average of$4 per student. Dublin school teachers polled said that a small fee would not deter them from bringing classes to the museum and were not opposed to a possible fee per student. Staff recommends $2.00 per person for public, private and home school groups from"within"the Dublin School District and $4.00 per person for public,private and home school groups from "outside"the Dublin School District. Minutes—April 13, 2006 Page4of5 For profit tour operators regularly visit the Dublin Heritage Center. These companies charter a bus and bring in large groups for a profit. Non-profit organizations also bring in tours. With the new permanent exhibit, it is expected that this kind of tourism will increase. Staff recommends $1.00 per person for"non-profit"groups and $4.00 per person for"profit" groups. Commission Comments: Cm. Acuff agreed that a small fee should be charged for group tours and profit groups, she thinks $4 is a lot and suggested that the admission be $2 across the board, because not every profit group is necessarily big profit. Cm. White stated that in regards to the schools, it is OK to charge more. She would like to see the fee as $1 and agrees with Cm. Acuff that it should be the same fee across the board. Cm. Lussie asked why we are charging the kids more than the adults. The fee should be across the board. Cm. Halket stated that children tend to value something they pay for. She does not understand why the fees were done with or without differential and asked if it is to encourage Dublin schools to come or encourage all children to come. Isles stated that the reason the fee was broken down was because other cities, such as Danville and San Ramon break it down because their programs become impacted. They have to choose between schools within the school district or out of the school district, and also because the local tax dollars support the program. Cm. Halket stated the prices are very reasonable and felt that$4 & $2 be used for both fee structures. Cm. Lussie stated that the fee structure will encourage more families to go to the museum during regular hours free of charge. Cm. Vonheeder-Leopold stated that it is appropriate to charge fees to groups. She felt that if we get too many in school and out of school youth, profit and non-profits groups, it would make it too cumbersome. She felt that a fee of$3 & $2 or$4 &$2 is OK with her. Cm. Fasulkey agreed with a$2 &$4 fee for both groups. Cm. Acuff asked if using the museum for tours is going to impact the use of the church for weddings. Isle stated that school tours are only conducted during the week and during the day and weddings are almost always Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays. Chair Mack agreed with the $2 & $4 fee. ON A MOTION BY CM. ACUFF, SECONDED BY CM. HALKET AND BY UNANIMOUS VOTE, THE COMMISSION APPROVED A FEE SCHEDULE TO CHARGE THE LOCAL DISTRICT SCHOOLS$2 PER STUDENT, NON-DISTRICT SCHOOLS $4 PER STUDENT; PROFIT GROUPS $4 AND NON-PROFIT GROUPS$2. Minutes—April 13, 2006 Page5of5 Hartnett stated that this item will go to the City Council and if the fees are approved, they will go into effect at the beginning of the next fiscal year. In the past, the Commission has never been able to approve fees, so Staff will be asking the City Council for approval to allow the Commission to review and approve fees in the future, under the direction of the Parks &Community Services Director. Other Business 9.1 Brief INFORMATIONAL ONLY Reports from Heritage and Cultural Arts Commissioners and/or Staff Cm. White reported she attended the St. Patrick's Day Festival, which she thought was a great success. Cm. Halket stated that yesterday she took a group of high school GATE students to see The Rivals at ACT. It was a great romantic comedy and they really enjoyed it. Chair Mack thanked Cm. Vonheeder-Leopold for representing the Heritage Commission at the Leadership Academy Graduation. Cm. Fasukley reported that she attended the Dublin Teen Job Faire at the Senior Center on April 1 and that there was quite a mob scene. She was disappointed that there were not very many companies there representing themselves. The enthusiasm was there and she hopes that Dublin will do it again and hopes they will increase company participation. Staff Reports: Hartnett reported that the Bray Commons art project being coordinated by the Dublin Fine Arts Foundation is going to be showcasing five final artists with their maquettes on May 24 from 5-7 pm here at the Civic Center. Invitations will be mailed. Hartnett passed out a copy of the City's new Travel Administrative Policy and asked that the Commissioners sign the forms and return them to him as soon as they can. He also passed out a copy of the Public Art Master Plan that was adopted on March 7. There is a joint Parks and Community Services and Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission meeting on May 15 for the Dublin Historic Master Plan. Adjournment Being no further business,the meeting was adjourned at 7:46p.m. Respectfully submitted, Char J. Young ' ,Y .-24---;---V Administrative Technician APPROVED: ee!i lx•l-'/' e .4/e/e Chairperson