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Record of Proceedings

2025-10-02 Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Meeting Summary

Boards and Commissions — Thursday, October 2, 2025
BodyMonterey, California
SessionBoards and Commissions
DateThursday, October 2, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 45:23

Transcript — Verbatim
2:55

Everyone's screen light on their microphone should be on and now it's four PM.

3:06

So I call to order the October second, twenty twenty-five meeting of the museums and cultural arts commission.

3:14

May we have the roll call?

3:17

Yes, of course.

3:18

First, we have Chair Kimsey.

3:21

Present.

3:23

Present.

3:24

Commissioner Evans.

3:26

Commissioner Sovereign, I'm told is no longer here, right?

3:31

No longer part of the commission.

3:33

Um Mike officially step down.

3:36

Do you know if he contacted her or if he's just not officially said he was going to, if he needs to come back because we don't have enough people, he will temporarily.

3:55

Oh, you timed out.

3:56

Yeah.

3:56

He timed out, but I think reapply.

3:59

So people haven't done the appointments just yet.

4:02

So we'll just cut their ball.

4:03

We'll connect on that.

4:09

Yeah.

4:10

I think they changed how they're doing it this year too.

4:13

Um okay, let's get back to the role for now.

4:16

Um, Commissioner Evans.

4:18

Yes.

4:19

I don't know if I got you already, but Commissioner Wachowski.

4:23

Great.

4:24

That is everyone who's part of the commission is present today.

4:29

For staff, we have the library meeting library and museum's director, artifact specialist, and myself, recording secretary.gov slash agendas or by telephone toll free at eight three three five six eight eight eight six four.

4:54

The webinar webinar ID for this meeting is one six one, six two, two, two, nine, nine.

5:00

This information is also on the meeting agenda.

5:03

Thank you.

5:04

Okay.

5:07

So is there any discussion on the consent agenda?

5:11

No discussion from anyone.

5:13

And as uh any changes to the minutes, can we approve the minutes as they were stated from the last meeting?

5:23

Yes.

5:24

Okay.

5:24

So could do I hear a motion?

5:26

I'll move.

5:27

Approval.

5:28

Approval.

5:29

I will second.

5:30

Okay.

5:31

Any against pros, cons?

5:34

Okay.

5:35

I have to abstain because I was absent.

5:37

You were at both.

5:39

So are there any comments online?

5:43

There are no hands raised online.

5:46

Okay, and we have uh did you wish to speak today?

5:51

No.

5:52

Okay.

5:53

Thank you.

5:53

We do need to um have a vote on the minute.

5:57

Um just by roll call.

5:59

Oh so if we have um Chair Kimsey.

6:04

A brief vice chair O'Neill.

6:06

Yes.

6:07

Commissioner Evans.

6:08

Yes.

6:09

And Commissioner Weshkowski, I have your abstention.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Arts And Culture██████████████████████████████████34%
Library Services█████████████████████21%
Historic Preservation█████████████████17%
Public Engagement██████████████14%
Procedural███████████11%
Budget Equity Analysis███3%
Summary of Proceedings

2025-10-02 Museums and Cultural Arts Commission Meeting

The Museums and Cultural Arts Commission met on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at 4:00 PM. The meeting addressed consent agenda approval, updates on the Colton Hall music series, and a detailed activity report from the Library and Museums Director, covering multiple projects and upcoming events.

Consent Calendar

  • The minutes from the previous meeting were approved with a roll call vote: Chair Kimsey (yes), Vice Chair O'Neill (yes), Commissioner Evans (yes), Commissioner Wachowski (abstained due to absence). No other items were discussed.

Discussion Items

  • Colton Hall Music Series Update: The first concert of the season was held on a Saturday afternoon from 4:00 to 5:30 PM, featuring guitarist Terrence Farrell indoors at Colton Hall. Registration reached 65 people (exceeding the fire marshal limit of 50, which was later increased to 65 by adding benches). The event received a standing ovation and elicited positive feedback. Staff noted the early time (4 PM) was chosen to accommodate an older audience and staffing constraints. The next concert is tentatively scheduled for October 25 or November 1, 2025. Donation envelopes were distributed, and future fundraising emails will be sent to attendees after the series concludes.
  • Library and Museums Director Activity Report: Key highlights included:
    • Artifact Specialist Brianna Schwerling received a Groundworks Grant for collections management, funding additional vault shelves and a cold storage freezer for film and negatives.
    • The replacement De Anza tile map (based on Pedro Font's map) is on track for installation by March 2026, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the De Anza expedition. A new stainless steel tray mount will prevent water damage.
    • The department participated in the American Planning Association Northern California Conference, hosting a history booth and leading tours of Colton Hall, Lower Presidio, and Ricketts Lab.
    • The Path of History expansion to Pearl Street and New Monterey is under development; staff are considering printed maps and metal signs for private sites, potentially funded through grants or the Old Monterey Foundation.
    • Pacific Biological Labs hosted 10 guided tours in the past month; private tour fees are $60 for up to four people ($15 each additional), with free school tours under review for potential future fees.
    • A public survey for Lower Presidio Historic Park next steps will open in October 2025 (bilingual). Results will be brought back to the commission, and a joint meeting with Parks and Recreation and Historic Preservation commissions is planned.
    • A new Monterey Angel ornament is being released; proceeds support angel restoration projects.
    • Two new displays were installed: a 4x6 foot photo at the Monterey parking garage (Wave Street) and updated vinyl panels in display cases on Tyler Street near the MST trolley stop, featuring historical photos including Japanese American contributions.
  • Upcoming Events:
    • October 5, 2025: California Constitution Convention reenactment at Colton Hall (two showings: 12:00 PM and 2:30 PM).
    • October 8, 2025: California State Supreme Court will hear four oral arguments at Colton Hall (first visit since 1959). Overflow seating at Irvine Auditorium, council chambers, and the library. High security with CHP.
    • October 15, 2025: Director Brian speaks at the Old Monterey Foundation event at McCone Center (MIIS) on how California became a state.
    • October 11–12 and 18–19, 2025: Art studio tour includes Colton Hall with four artists displaying work.
  • Commissioner Comments: Commissioners praised the staff's extensive work and productivity.

Key Outcomes

  • The consent agenda (meeting minutes) was approved with a vote of 3–0–1 (Wachowski abstained).
  • The Colton Hall music series will continue with a second concert tentatively scheduled for late October or November 1, 2025.
  • The De Anza map replacement is proceeding, with installation planned by March 2026.
  • A public survey for Lower Presidio Historic Park will launch in October 2025; results will be discussed at a future commission meeting.
  • The commission noted the need to fill the vacant seat left by Commissioner Sovereign to maintain quorum.
  • No immediate impacts from city fiscal issues were reported for the museums division; a "chill" on hiring was mentioned but no budget changes for museums.

Meeting Transcript

Everyone's screen light on their microphone should be on and now it's four PM. So I call to order the October second, twenty twenty-five meeting of the museums and cultural arts commission. May we have the roll call? Yes, of course. First, we have Chair Kimsey. Present. Present. Commissioner Evans. Commissioner Sovereign, I'm told is no longer here, right? No longer part of the commission. Um Mike officially step down. Do you know if he contacted her or if he's just not officially said he was going to, if he needs to come back because we don't have enough people, he will temporarily. Oh, you timed out. Yeah. He timed out, but I think reapply. So people haven't done the appointments just yet. So we'll just cut their ball. We'll connect on that. Yeah. I think they changed how they're doing it this year too. Um okay, let's get back to the role for now. Um, Commissioner Evans. Yes. I don't know if I got you already, but Commissioner Wachowski. Great. That is everyone who's part of the commission is present today. For staff, we have the library meeting library and museum's director, artifact specialist, and myself, recording secretary.gov slash agendas or by telephone toll free at eight three three five six eight eight eight six four. The webinar webinar ID for this meeting is one six one, six two, two, two, nine, nine. This information is also on the meeting agenda. Thank you. Okay. So is there any discussion on the consent agenda? No discussion from anyone. And as uh any changes to the minutes, can we approve the minutes as they were stated from the last meeting? Yes. Okay. So could do I hear a motion? I'll move. Approval. Approval. I will second. Okay. Any against pros, cons? Okay. I have to abstain because I was absent. You were at both. So are there any comments online? There are no hands raised online. Okay, and we have uh did you wish to speak today? No.

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