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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-18-01 JHC MinutesJACK HOUSE COMMITTEE MINUTES WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 2001, 7:00P.M. PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, 1341 NIPOMO STREET CALL TO ORDER: Chair Ron Batterson called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. ROLL CALL: Chair Ron Batterson, Vice Chair Greg Dillman, Committee Members Penny Rappa, Bonnie Marzio, Marion Rodman, Martha Schwartz and Wes Conner. STAFF: Rich Ogden, Nichole Broadhurst, Larry Tolson and Kim Walker CONSENT ITEMS: M/S Committee Members Dillman/Conner to accept the March 14 Minutes and the attached Financial Report as submitted. The motion passed unanimously. REGULAR ITEMS ITEM #1 was moved down on the Agenda by Committee consensus. ITEM #6: POWERPOINT PRESENTATION Rich Ogden and Nichole Broadhurst gave a Power Point Presentation to the Committee. The presentation is based on the Jack House and was designed to take to local organizations and clubs to further promote the Jack House. Committee members gave input, which staff noted. Staff will complete final touches and changes to the presentation and begin organizing a speaker’s bureau. ITEM #2: UPDATE OF CLEANING SERVICE M/S Committee Members Conner/Schwartz to proceed under the conditions proposed by Parks and Recreation Director Paul LeSage: The City will pay all cleaning costs including the initial cleaning from March through June 2001. After June, the City and Jack House Committee would equally split the costs of cleaning, approximately $600. The motion passed unanimously. ITEM #3: (Moved by consensus to this point on the agenda) OUTDOOR WALKING LIGHTING The Jack House Committee and staff walked over to the House to view the lack of lighting when dark. The Committee and staff came up with a number of possible lighting options that provided the walkways with more light, but also complimented the House and Gardens. Larry Tolson will pursue lighting and bring back catalogs and further options to the Committee. ITEM #4: AUGUST CONCERT Committee Members Rappa and Dillman presented ideas for the August 5 Concert in the Garden. Ideas include: creating a different atmosphere and attracting a different population to the Jack House by asking local artists to participate in “Art in the Garden.” The event would include approximately 20 artists with different varieties of art set up throughout the Gardens, background music rather than jazz throughout the event, and docents will be asked to focus tours this day on art in the Jack House. Committee Members Rappa and Dillman and Recreation Supervisor Rich Ogden are working along with members of the art community to implement this event. The idea behind the event is to attract a different population of visitors in a continuing effort to make the community aware of the House and its hours. Committee Members agreed by consensus to include approximately 20-25 artists on a first come, first served basis and charge a nominal fee to artists. ITEM #5: JACK HOUSE HOURS Staff presented the Committee with a record of attendance from the past three years. This information was presented for the purpose of discussing a possible change in hours of operation. The Committee discussed the benefits of changing hours of operation or continuing the same hours. After much discussion, the Committee chose to continue current hours of operation with the idea that the hours and attendance would be evaluated and discussed annually. Committee Members agreed by consensus that it is important to continue current hours for the time being as Committee Members and staff are working diligently to promote current hours. Committee Members Rappa and Dillman, Recreation Supervisor Rich Ogden, and Public Information Officer Kim Walker have recently begun many new promotion strategies including working with the Visitors and Conference Bureau to increase group tours and exposure to travel groups. There was concern that docents are becoming discouraged by lack of attendance. Committee Members noted the importance of docents and brainstormed ideas to continue to inspire docent group. Some ideas include: focus on educating docents on other areas of the House when attendance is low, focus on key promotions and individual invitations throughout the community to increase attendance, and have other tasks to be completed when attendance is low. By consensus, the Committee agreed to continue efforts to promote current hours and monitor attendance annually to determine a change in hours. ITEM #6: BANNING HOUSE TOUR Committeee Members discussed a trip to the Banning House to share information and learn how other similar facilities conduct operation of their House. Recreation Supervisor Rich Ogden presented the Committee with the approximate cost of a trip including a bus. The cost per person would be approximately $25 for 40-45 participants. M/S Committee Members Conner/Dillman to work with volunteers at the Banning House to coordinate a date that participants in the Banning House would be able to meet with Jack House docents and Committee Members. The motion stated that the Committee would cover any expenses not covered by the $25 fee for Jack House docents and Committee Members. The motion passed unanimously. ITEM #7: REPORTS AND UPDATES a. Recreation Supervisor Rich Ogden reported that he met with a piano tuner, who said the strings were extremely brittle. The tuner recommended not to tune the piano unless it is played a lot as the cost to tune would be high. The Committee agreed that the piano is a significant piece of furniture. Committee Member Schwartz will pursue other bids and report back to the Committee. Public Works staff Larry Tolson gave an update on the 2001-2003 Budget. b. Committee Member Schwartz presented the Committee with “Out Going Loan Agreement” from the County Historical Society for recently received clothes. Committee Member Schwartz also presented several old photos that were found in the House. The Committee agreed that the photos should be cataloged and preserved in archives. It was also noted that it is time to consider new officers for the docents. Add Agenda Item to May Meeting: Discussion of Recently Received Clothes. Meeting Adjourned at 9:26 p.m.