HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/19/1989, 7 - CONSIDERATION OF CHILDREN'S MUSEUM ON CITY PROPERTY AT 1010 NIPOMO �I�IIII�911I�If III�IIIB IIUIII "J c MEETING DATE: k
II'� c' or san lus oBispo � :
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
ITEM NUMBER:
FROM: Recreation and Parks - Stockton prepared by Kathy LaHargoue and
Candace Havens .*. L'
SUBJECT: Consideration of Children's Museum on City property at 1010 Nipomo
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
By motion, direct staff to draft an agreement with Rob and Kathy Strong for
temporary use of property at 1010 Nipomo Street as Children's Museum and direct
staff to initiate appropriate rezoning of property and General Plan amendment.
BACKGROUND:
Local residents, Kathy and Rob Strong, propose to establish a Children's Museum in
San Luis Obispo (see attached letter describing operation) . They are asking the
City to support this pilot project by providing funding to cover insurance costs,
part-time staffing and use of the old Transmission Shop on the corner of Nipomo and
Monterey Streets until the property is needed for use by Little Theatre.
The Strongs and a Museum Steering Committee propose to be responsible for all
agreements, planning and renovation to ready the facility for operation. These
tasks and resulting programming, will be monitored by a volunteer Board of Directors
and supervised through the Recreation Department. The Museum will vacate the site
when necessary to allow for future use by the Little Theatre. If the museum is a
success, the Strongs would like to upgrade and relocate the operation to a more
permanent home. If unsuccessful, they will- terminate operations at that time.
DISCUSSION:
The Strong's looked at several sites for this use and felt it to be most compatible
with other downtown activities such as those found in and around Mission Plaza. The
Transmission Shop is especially attractive because it offers the airspace of a large
warehouse-type building which is needed for the interior features planned (see
attached interior elevations) . The property is currently in a historical zone and
is designated for office uses (O-H) ; neither museums nor theatres are permitted in
this zone. In preliminary review of surrounding land uses, planning staff has
indicated that the proposed future uses are compatible with downtown activities and
would support a request to rezone this property to land use designations of nearby
properties, such as C-C-H or PF; both uses would be permitted in these zones. If
the City Council supports these types of uses on its property, the Strongs also
request the City initiate rezoning of the property including amendment of the City's
General Plan. The next General Plan Amendment hearings are presently scheduled for
mid-January 1990. An additional hearing could be scheduled earlier if the Council
wishes to have this matter resolved sooner.
MEETING DATE:
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COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT ITEM NUMBER:
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve the proposal in concept and direct staff to draft agreement with Rob and
Kathy Strong to use property for a Children's Museum prior to use of the site by
Little Theatre. Their use of the site would be subject to obtaining appropriate
planning and building permits and approvals, including a rezoning of the land and
General Plan amendment. If such approvals are granted, site preparations could
begin in January of 1990 and the interior remodelled for use by summer 1990. Thus,
staff recommends an 18-month agreement with an option for time extensions until
Little Theatre is ready to occupy the site. During the first six months, the
property would be renovated and the museum would operate for one year with City
funding. This schedule poses no obvious conflicts with the timing of future
construction of a Little Theatre.
2. Approve the proposal in concept and direct staff to work with applicants to seek
,an alternative site which already is zoned for this use. Selection of an
alternative site may delay the project. Timing is a concern for the Strongs .since
they plan to use volunteer student help for design and construction and wish to
perform the work during the school year, if possible.
3. If the funding, insurance coverage, or site are not approved by the Council,
other providers must be sought. Again, this will delay the project.
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
A Steering Committee for the Museum presented the proposal to the Parks and
Recreation Commission on three occasions and, on May 3, 1989 the Commission voted
(4-1) to recommend the City council provide one-year funding for the museum as
proposed by Rob and Kathy Strong. The Commissioners also agreed that the concept of
a children's museum is compatible with ongoing recreation programs, in particular
the pre-school and latchkey programs, and would enhance the experience of these
programs.
CONCURRENCES
The Transmission Shop contains maintenance and landscaping equipment which must be
relocated before the building can be renovated. Public Works and Planning staffs
have reviewed storage options and agree that the contents could be relocated to
Sinsheimer Park, Meadow Park and alongside the Children's Museum (for Mission Plaza
items) where they will be needed most often. While permanent storage at these sites
is planned they can be stored in large, temporary containers if properly screened
and painted. To assure site compatibility, staff recommends the placement and
design of temporary containers be approved by the Community Development
Department. Design and construction of permanent storage, is expected to take one
year.
FISCAL IMPACT
Museum operations expenses to be funded to include facility rent, maintenance,
utilities, supplies, liability insurance and part-time recreation staff. The total
estimated cost of these items is $15,600. If the Children's Museum program is
approved by the City Council as a Recreation Department Program, the actual cost
would be about $5,000 for part-time staffing since the other costs would be absorbed
by existing operations. Actual expenses for operations are expected to be incurred
in Fiscal Year 1990-91. If the Museum opens earlier, approved Recreation Department
funds should be sufficient to cover minor operation ex enses. --
MEETING DATE:
city of San lU1S OBISp0 ITEM NUMBER:
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Funds have been budgeted in FY 1989-91 for permanent storage facilities. The large
temporary storage containers will cost about $13,000 and can be purchased with these
funds while permanent storage is sought. The containers can.be resold or purchased
from other City funds to recover the costs of this expenditure.
RECOMMENDATION:
By motion, direct staff to draft an agreement with Rob and Kathy Strong for
temporary use of property at 1010 Nipomo Street as Children's Museum and initiate
appropriate rezoning of the property. The agreement will be returned to Council for
approval prior to occupancy. Use of property will be contingent upon obtaining
planning approvals, including rezoning of the property and General Plan amendment.
ACTION TAKEN:
Approved As Recommended As Modified Denied
Continued
VOTE:
Attachments:
Letter from Rob and Kathy Strong dated April 25, 1989
Preliminary site plan, floor plans and elevations of Children's Museum
THEDEVELOPMENT PLANNING ONE BUENA VISTA ROB STRONG
F D P LAN N I N G ECONOMIC RESEARCH SAN LUIS OBISPO A.I.C.P.
MILL PROJECT MANAGEMENT CALIFORNIA 93401 (805) 543-9560
April 25 . 1989
Sar, Luis Obispo City Council Members
f"iJN7 �f San T.:+:.s Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Dear City Council Members:
Although you may already be familiar with the fact that we are,
seeking to provide a children ' s participatory museum for this .
community, we would like this opportunity to acquaint you with a
more thoroughdescription of our proposed project that will be
coming before you for consideration in the near future .
After visiting several conmiunities that host children 's museums
and observing the popularity and enthusiasm of the young (toddler
through elementary school age) children, we were convinced that
San Luis Obispo ' s .youth would be enhanced by such an,
establishment . The size and scope of such museums, which
encourage children to learn through play and experience , varies
according to size of community and support . We feel such a
museum would not only be an asset to our own community but also
to surrounding area residents and tourists . . The closest such
estabishments are located in Bakersfield travelling inland, Los
Angeles and Pasadena to the south, and San Jose to the north .
The concept of children' s museums has been around since the Lur-n
of the century--the oldest establishment being the Brooklyn
Children' s Museum founded in 1899 . But the concept has spread
quickly in the last decade, with many museums beginning as small
community efforts in family-oriented areas such as ours . These
museums basically break the rules for traditional museums :
talking and touching are highly encouraged . In fact , the most
important element in the room is the audience , not the object .
The object becomes important when it can unlock something in the
child. Children ' s participatory museums are aimed at teaching
children about the world around them (science , community, safety,
history, the arts , etc . ) in enjoyable ways . For example,
children might tend a "newborn baby" in a "hospital nursery; "
crawl through a "burning house" when the smoke alarm sounds.; wind
through a child-size ant maze' along . the wall ; put on a play; do
the weather and news "on television" ; or prepare a "meal " at a
diner and make change . The possibilties are virtually endless
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for learning/play activities . And, although the exhibits can be •
quite sophisticated, they need not be costly. Some of the nicest
displays we have personally observed required simple supplies and
labor.
Although these hands-on museums are quite contrary to
traditional establishments , in recent years many traditional
museums have encompassed some of these elements to encourage
childrens ' interest . It is also believed that children who enjoy
museums will more likely be museum-goers when they are grown.
We feel that a children ' s museum would not only be welcomed by
the community but is also feasible through community effort . We
have put together a steering committee of interested community
leaders who are anxious to see the museum a reality . These
Ce0l:.E =c;pres�ift a widesp eC.-Y Im V. Lillie ._Ui1L'IlLiiii y . :lil W'- �J JI:l•�
be pieased to provide a list of these individuals . We have also
been contacted by many individuals who would like to volunteer
their services in any way helpful , as well as service
organizations suggesting we apply for monies . To a great extent
we see Cal Poly as an excellent source of display resources in
terms of labor, construction, and senior projects . As a plus , we
have already been offered valuable informational support from the
Lori Brock Junior Museum in Bakersfield . This museum has grown
from a small community effort to an admirable example of museums
in the last few years, now receiving grants from corporations
such as Pepsi-Cola to assist in operational expenses .
To date we have made two presentations to the City Park and
Recreation Commission, including a slide presentation.
demonstrating the type of activities found in such museums in
Cal.ifornia . AL the coming May meeting we will be providing the
commission with a proposed budget as requested . Obviously . the
nlain concern and expense for such a museum is the location and
structure . Our need:.- for a temporary or permanent, site are
modest for- starting the museum, but we feel an accessible site
for school field trips . local children on weekends or summers ,
and tourists .-Tcu.ld be i Teal_ We have had several talks with city
sLafl about the feasibilitv of obtaining the city-o,.•n;ed storage
bu, lding (ol transmission .,hop) at the corner of Nipomo and
Monterey streets as a temporary site for the museum until
occupied by the Little Theater in a few years . We realize that
the Mission Plaza. maintenance equipment would need to be
relocated to make this possible , but we feel this important
corner in downtown San Luis Obispo would be utilized in a very
beneficial way for the youth of the community in this manner . We
understand ?tat some pro,:is'.ons have been made to move the
equiunient now occupy-ing the snar..e i.n the near fut:iirr .
In terms of a permanent site for the museum, we have contided in
city staff tllct we would eventually like 'Lo have the museum
considered for the site rec;;-�ntiy deeded to the Park and
Recreation Department as a living trust , namely the Black estate
on Dana Stre^r . Tris r�ii;,: tial ar:-r, clos-� to dot.ntow^
activities -aouia provide a :;,afe y,.t ; cs: :eniFnt emvironrrent for
museum activities Which . ..;.1:.<< e.ier tu•:. 11v' encompass - -eek
explorations , workshop programs , and outdoor exhibits as well as
the indoor activities . It could most probably serve as the
location of other Park and Recreation youth programs as well ,
sharing certain facilities at different times .
Please find attached the proposed budget that we will be
presenting to the Park and Recreation Commission at its May
meeting; this budget was prepared in cooperation with Park and
Recreation staff and represents an estimate of our costs as a
non-profit institution. Our preference is to see the museum as a
city entity under the umbrella of the Park and Recreation
Department for practicality in part-time staffing, maintenance ,
insurance and joint use of facilities . We would welcome the
opportunity to speak with you more about this project and show
you the slides we have compiled. from similar such establishments .
Please call us if we may be of any assistance .
Sincerely,
Kathy and Rob Strong
(805) 541-1361 (home) / (805) 543-9560 (work)
cc : Jim Stockton, Park and Recreation Department Director
Toby Ross , Assistant City Administrative Officer
i
THEONE BUENA VISTA ROB STRONG
PLANNING ECONOMI
F C RESEARCH SAN LUIS OBISPO A.I.C.P.
PLANNING
PROJECT MANAGEMENT CAUFORNIA 3401 (805) 543-9560
MILL
PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE SAN LUIS OBISPO
CHILDREN' S MUSEUM
AS A NON-PROFIT ESTABLISHMENT
Ope.:ational budget , per year:
Part-time staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 5 . 000 .
Rent . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 2 .400 .
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800 .
Utilities and Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 ,400 .
Liability Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 , 000 .
TOTAL: $15 . 600 .
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