HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-12-15 JHC Minutes
San Luis Obispo Parks and Recreation Administration Office
1341 Nipomo Street, San Luis Obispo
Wednesday, Aug 12, 2015: 5:35 PM
FINAL
CALL TO ORDER: Vice Chair Toni Kincaid called meeting to order at 5:35 PM
ROLL CALL: Committee Members Eva Ulz, Chuck Crotser, Leah Walhert, and
Exofficio Committee Member James Papp
ABSENT: Chair Kathi Settle, Committee Members Bob Gordon and Susan
Updegrove
STAFF: Melissa Mudgett- Recreation Manager, David Setterlund- Recreation
Supervisor, Faith McDonald- Recreation Specialist
Public Comment
None
1. CONSIDERATION OF MEETING MINUTES (KINCAID)
MOTION: (Ulz/Crotser) Approve Meeting Minutes of July 8, 2015 as amended.
Approved: 4 yes: 0 no: 3 absent
• Pg. 1: item 7: It was determined that Friends of the Jack House was created in support
of fundraising and programming.
• The Art exhibition has been postponed
• Pg. 2: The building is located at 581 Higuera.
• A pedestrian walkway will be located behind the row of redwood trees.
• Pg. 3. Second paragraph: Correction: PB Companies “said” (instead of “asked if”).
2. CONSIDERATION OF FINANCIAL REPORT (KINCAID)
The July Financials as provided were incorrect. The Committee will review both the July and
August Financials at its September meeting.
Jack House Committee
FINAL - MINUTES
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3. APPROVE PIANO TUNING QUOTATION (PAPP)
MOTION: (Crotser/Ulz) Approval of up to $750 in piano tuning spending.
Approved: 4 yes: 0 no: 3 absent
The piano was being tuned for the Phoebe Hearst Musical, but as discussed it will now be
permanently playable. According to the tuner, the inside of the piano was rebuilt. The
interior of the piano was signed and dated, but not tuned during the rebuilding of the
interior. The current piano tuner is not sure if a tuning had occurred, but his best guess was
that the interior of the piano was rebuilt. The current tuning of the piano will be a permanent
addition to function at the house. The tuning will be expensed as a maintenance charge
(docent fund, JH fund). Currently $550 has been spent and will be capped at $750.
Periodically the piano will need to be retuned, but current work was extensive at three 3-
hour sessions. Future tunings would be basic compared to the current work. The tuner will
need to provide information regarding how often and the price for future tunings.
4. DISCUSS PILOT PROGRAM OF SUNDAY VICTORIAN GAMES AND JACK
HOUSE HISTORY (Setterlund)
Sundays in June and July are reserved for next year. The City currently has a croquet set
that can be used for Victorian games. The Carriage House will now be open on Sundays.
5. UPDATE ON JACK HOUSE ELEVATOR REMOVAL PROJECT (Mudgett)
The City Council has approved the capital project to remove the elevator shaft. The project
Engineer is Michael McGuire. Mr. McGuire will develop the Request for Proposal which
will go out to the public early to mid-November. Michael McGuire will attend the
committee meeting in September to discuss plans with the Committee. The current schedule
is opening of bids in November with a contractor hired by December. Construction is
currently planned for when the gardens and house are closed; January - April. Mr. McGuire
believes it will be a short construction time frame and open before Easter.
Committee Comments:
Mr. Papp asked if the facility assessment or Historic Structure Report was a part of the Jack
House Elevator Removal capital project. Staff Mudgett responded that these assessments
were not a part of the removal project and have not been approved by Council as part of the
2015-17 Financial Plan.
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The Committee discussed the prices of a Historic Structures Report which could cost up to
$40,000 and there might potentially be grants available for this type of assessment. The
Committee noted that this would be a great project for the Friends of the Jack House.
6. STAFF REPORT FOR PARKS AND RECREATION (Setterlund)
• Ranger: Ongoing recruitment for a new full-time Ranger, and two part time
Rangers as part of the Major City Goal for Open Space Preservation and
Maintenance.
• Community Services and Facilities helped host Special Olympics Dinner
• Camp Sport n Splash is under way
• Ramp and Roll, a family staking event at the SLO Skate Park is scheduled for
Saturday, August 22nd
• Movies in the Mission will be held on August 15th
• The Parks and Recreation Commission Parks Tour is tentatively scheduled
for October.
• Currently recruiting a new Recreation Coordinator for Golf/Senior Programs
• The 9/11 Memorial is nearing completion and will be dedicated on
September 11th at Fire Station 1 at 12:30pm
• Liz Jacobs will be filling in as Community Services Recreation Specialist
until January 2016.
7. JACK HOUSE DOCENT ACTIVITIES (Papp)
• SLO Souls is a History Center event in the cemetery on Nov. 1st. SLO Souls is an event
that allows the Jack House to reach a broader audience.
• Instead of a Haunted House the Jack House will be hosting a Ghost Stories event. The
official program name is still TBD. Mr. Papp is waiting to hear back from Robert
Betancourt to confirm if R.E. Jack was a Master Mason.
• The Jack House Docents hosted a wedding shower for Docent Marilynn Darnell at the
Madonna Inn.
• Friends of the Jack House and Docents met after the Architectural Review Commission
meeting about PB Companies proposed development; San Luis Square. Friends and
Docents hope to become more involved and informed about the project.
• Victorian Games is a summer series that will become a regular and ongoing event at the
Jack House gardens.
• The Friends of the Jack House and Jack House docents support discontinuing weddings
on Sundays at the Jack House.
• Committee Member Eva Ulz showed an example of Richard Levine photograph printed
on metal as this will be a part of the larger exhibit.
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Committee Comments:
The Committee requested more information about rentals at the Jack House in support of making a
formal Committee recommendation. The Committee requested information about the types of
events, rental revenues, why people choose this locations for their events and the City’s current fee
structure. Staff will return to the Committee in September with sample survey questions. Staff
Mudgett reminded the Committee that any recommendation for changes in current operations would
be subject to City Council approval. Discontinuing facility rentals could have a fiscal impact to
operating budgets approved as part of the City’s 2-year Financial Plan.
8. FRIENDS OF THE JACK HOUSE UPDATES (Papp)
• The Phoebe Musical has been postponed to November 7th. The Opera will be promoted at
all upcoming events.
• Postcards were passed around for the Jack Ranch exhibit on the September 19th from 5-7pm.
9. SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS (Settle)
a. Strategic Planning (Crotser, Settle, Ulz)
Several consultants who were contacted declined to provide quotations for strategic planning
efforts. Spokes proposed $800 in addition to a $250/ year membership. A two page
proposal was written expressly for the Jack House. Next month’s agenda will include the
Committee’s review and approval of the strategic planning proposal and cost of $800 for the
planning retreat. Committee Member Ulz said that the Friends of the Jack House would pay
the $250 to join Spokes annual membership as they are a non-profit.
Committee Member Crotser attested that Spokes has been very helpful to nonprofits.
b. Carriage House ADA Accessibility (Crotser, Papp, Walhert)
Committee Member Crotser met with the City and was informed that the Jack House
Committee will need a building permit for the proposed changes to the Carriage House ADA
ramp. The City has not confirmed whether these permit costs would be waived. Committee
Member Crotser believed these permits could be expedited. The sub-committee will meet
over at the Jack House Carriage House to review the proposal and apply for the building
permit on Friday, August 14th at 1:00pm.
c. Collections Policy (Settle, Ulz, Darnell)
Discussions about the Collections Policy have been postponed until Marilyn returns. Loan
regulations and procedures will be included under this policy.
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10. MEMBER COMMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS (Committee)
Committee Member Crotser met with PB Companies to get an update of the plans and spoke with the
City regarding the proposed project. Based on his conversation with the City, he believes that from
the City’s point of view they will be moving forward with the project. PB Companies is willing to
have some improvements accomplished at no cost at the Jack House. The company will be getting
back to the City next year with the edits and revisions as a result of the Architectural Review
Committee meetings. Committee Member Crotser would like to invite PB Companies to a meeting
or host a special meeting to work with the committee. He added that he felt this would be an
opportunity to be good neighbors and really let PB Companies know whether the Committee is
interested in collaborating.
He added that more pedestrian access would improve visibility to the house. Committee Member
Crotser shared that on August 18th, the City would be considering an update to the proposed
Downtown Concept Plan. This could be an opportunity for the Jack House Committee to have some
input on the concept and he encouraged Committee Members to attend.
MOTION: (Crotser/Ulz) Create a subcommittee to further analyze PB Companies offer.
Approved: 4 yes: 0 no: 3 absent
Committee Member Ulz said that the Jack House Committee has an obligation to be the voice of the
Jack House. Ex Officio Member Papp expressed his opinion that the proposed 50-foot wall would
destroy the Jack House Gardens. The Committee voted to create a subcommittee to meet with PB
Companies, learn more about the proposed development project and return to the Committee with
information. The subcommittee consists of Mr. Crotser, Eva Ulz and Toni Kincaid.
Meeting adjourned at 6:41 PM to Regular Meeting on September 9th, 2015 at 5:30 pm.
Approved by the Jack House Committee on __________________.
Dave Setterlund, Parks and Recreation Department Supervisor
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