Board of Trustees

Oakland Museum Of California Board Of Trustees Meeting Minutes
Regular
JUNE 22, 2006
MUSEUM RESTAURANT
4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL

Trustees

Susan Chamberlin, Christopher Curtis, Steven Douglas, Rich Edwards, Lori Fogarty, Virginia Furth, Lance Gyorfi, Melvin Harrison, Daryl Lillie, Judith McKee, Christopher McLain, Darren Oliver, Marianne Robison, Katherine Shea, Sandra Wolf, and Sheryl Wong

Trustees Excused:

Dale Block, William Chiasson, Matthew Cox, Richard DeAtley, Anthony Harris, Harold Jones, Jacqueline Kane, John McDonald, Missy Nelson, Phyllis Pfeiffer, Deborah Roessler, Margaret Russell, Timothy Silva, Brian Washington, and Penelope Wong

Staff Present:

Joan Collignon, Jerry Daviee, Dorothy Hood, Aimee Klask, Christiaan Klieger, Linda Larkin, Mark Medeiros, Catherine Millar, Indra Mungal, Ambrus Reese, Carolee Smith, and Licia Wells

Volunteers Present:

Barbara Bream, Michael Coleman, Marilyn Couch, Dave Elliot, Jean Levin, Mary Reynolds, and Helen Tryon

1. CALL TO ORDER/INTRODUCTIONS – Lance Gyorfi
Chair Gyorfi called the meeting to order at 4:15 p.m. and welcomed new board members Darren Oliver and Steven Douglas. Appreciation was expressed for their enthusiasm as they both attended the 7:30 a.m. Corporate Cabinet meeting. The new Development Director Catherine Millar was also welcomed along with representatives of the guilds and councils, Natural Sciences Guild Vice President Carol Carmen, History Guild Vice President Dave Elliot, Docent Council President Barbara Bream, and Michael Coleman representing the Council of Architecture. Chair Gyorfi thanked all for their support of the museum.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Lance Gyorfi
Corrections to the minutes were made under Section 6, Campaign Cabinet Report. The following sentence, “There are three categories for…” was changed to read, “There are three categories of…” The following paragraph was changed, “The foundation category includes identifying the trustees, curators, and volunteers who can serve as the ambassadors who will tell the story of the museum, although most work will be staff driven. Ms Wong will eventually inform this group as to how they can help.” The paragraph now reads, “The foundation category includes identifying trustees and curators who know foundation board members. A list of our top tier foundations was distributed to trustees to find out who might have contacts on these boards. Most of the research will be staff driven.

On a motion duly made and seconded (Furth/McKee), the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

RESOLVED, that the minutes of the May 25, 2006 Board of Trustees meeting are approved as corrected.

3. CHAIR’S REPORT – Lance Gyorfi
Chair Gyorfi reported the completion of the MOA has been delayed because City Administrator Deborah Edgerly wanted to know more about the revenue resources. This is not a major issue for Ms. Edgerly but she wants to make sure she is knowledgeable in this area. An effort is being made to get the MOA on the July 11, 2006 meeting agenda of the Life Enrichment Committee and on the City Council’s agenda for the July 18, 2006 meeting.

Ms. Edgerly expressed concern regarding appointments of foundation trustees and said the appointments are the prerogative of the Mayor. Mr. Gyorfi said if this becomes a sticking point it will be removed from the MOA since the MOA does not actually change the trustee appointment process – it only advises that it is anticipated that the Foundation will change its by-laws to reflect a change in trustee appointment/approval process. The parking fees of the museum garage will not be allocated to the museum this year because that revenue is presently tied to a position salary in the Public Works Department; however, this issue will be reviewed next year. Also the museum will receive 66% of the restaurant revenues.

Chair Gyorfi reported Councilmember Jean Quan wants to put on the November ballot a proposal to increase the City of Oakland hotel tax by two percent. The major portion of the funds raised by the tax would be given to the Oakland Zoo, Chabot Space and Science Center, and the Oakland Museum of California. Each institution would receive 25% and the other 25% would be distributed to performing arts programs. It is expected that $2.0 million would be raised with each institution getting $500,000. In order for Councilwoman Quan to move this forward she needs the support of the museum’s Board of Trustees and $50,000 from the Oakland Museum of California Foundation to cover expenses for a ballot initiative campaign.

A spirited discussion followed with various concerns expressed regarding the feasibility of the museum supporting this proposal. After much discussion, which included trustees, guild and council members, conditional approval for the proposal was given.

On a motion duly made and seconded (Curtis/Wolfe), the following resolution was adopted by the majority (3 abstaining and 1 in opposition)

RESOLVED, that the Oakland Museum of California Foundation Board of Trustees supports the proposal to put on the November ballot an ordinance that would increase the hotel tax to benefit the Oakland Zoo, Chabot Space and Science Center, the Oakland Museum of California, and performing arts programs as long as the following conditions are met:

o That it has the majority support and approval of the City Council;
o Results from a feasibility study or poll indicating positive voter response;
o Contact with the Chamber of Commerce or other entities to ensure, if not support, then at least neutrality on this measure;
o Assurance that the 25% allocation to the Museum wouldn’t supplant existing financial support;
o Language in the measure that would assure that the 25% to each of the major participating organizations would remain fixed and would not fluctuate over time;
o Development of and sharing of a detailed campaign budget so that we clearly understand the costs and where the funding would be directed..

It was suggested that there is a need to get the word out to the community as to what the museum is doing with the Measure G funds raised with the last bond measure.

4. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – Lori Fogarty
Executive Director Lori Fogarty announced the James Irvine Foundation awarded $700,000 to the Oakland Museum which is to be spent over the next three fiscal years. The museum was one of seven institutions awarded a grant and the only museum in Northern California. The funds will be used as part of the renovation of the Art Gallery. Grant writer Jerry Daviee said that he and Chief Curator of Education Barbara Henry, and Art Interpretive Specialist Karen Nelson focused the grant on support for the new Gallery of California Art to make it more attractive, accessible, and engaging for families and for people not used to coming to museums. The grant will enable the museum to work with a variety of consultants, artists, families, and community members in developing, prototyping and evaluating the various new informal learning tools. The goal is to double the number of family visitors in the Art Gallery, increase audience diversity, and to raise visitor satisfaction.

Ms. Fogarty introduced History Interpretive Specialist Carolee Smith and Community Programs Manager Indra Mungal who are both members of the Innovation Team. The purpose of Innovation Team is to encourage creativity and innovation in advancing the museum to better reflect the “New California.” Ms. Smith reviewed the staff and volunteer responses to the enrichment session held on May 11, 2006. To the question as to how committed the Oakland Museum is in addressing cultural diversity as an institution wide initiative, 54% of staff gave the museum an above average ranking and 69% of volunteers gave an above average ranking. Ms. Smith said she has a full report that she will make available to trustees upon request. Ms. Smith asked that trustees give support in the following areas: assist in getting a more diverse staff; support museum cultural events; and engage in future enrichment sessions.

Ms. Mungal reviewed the Innovation Team calendar of activities for museum staff and volunteers for June 2006/June 2007. A staff retreat is scheduled for July 20, 2006 where a discussion will be held on how the museum can address diversity and what are our core values. Throughout the year there will be various sessions, such as, staff strategic planning, reinstallation review for advisory councils, staff performance review planning, and cultural competency training for museum staff. Trustees were encouraged to attend these sessions when possible.

Deputy Director Mark Medeiros reviewed the proposed fiscal year 2006/2007 budget and said the combined museum budget totaled $12.0 million with a net surplus of approximately $15,000. Ms. Fogarty added that the Women’s Board is giving $610,000 and also noted the salary for the Marketing Director position is included in the budget.

Trustee Rich Edwards thanked Ms. Fogarty and Mr. Medeiros for undertaking the major tasks of working on the budget. Mr. Edwards said the foundation’s policy is to match the city salary program for similar positions which will result in an increase for foundation employees’ salaries of four percent FY06. Also, the exhibition schedule in future years will be streamlined for fewer exhibitions with stronger programming and marketing

On a motion duly made and seconded (Furth/McKee), the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

RESOLVED, that the Oakland Museum of California Fiscal Year Budget for July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007 is approved.

5. WOMEN’S BOARD REPORT – Deborah Roessler
No report.

6. CAMPAIGN CABINET REPORT – Sheryl Wong
Trustee Wong asked members to review the Corporate Campaign Meeting Summary included in the board packet.

7. DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE REPORT – Virginia Furth
Development Director Catherine Millar said the department surpassed their goal of $2,295,500 and raised an additional $350,000 for other projects that are not part of the museum’s operating budget. Ms. Millar thanked department staff for their efforts.

8. RENOVATION OVERSIGHT REPORT – Lance Gyorfi
No report.

9. NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT – Daryl Lillie
Trustee Lillie said responses from members regarding their board conference attendance in September have been good; only three members have not responded.

10. FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT – Rich Edwards
Trustee Edwards said the current fiscal year budget will come close to projections and will break even. He asked members to distribute of the rack cards for the Disney and Aftershock exhibitions to their friends, neighbors, and business associates. Mr. Edwards also reported that the California Earthquake Authority gave another $44,000 for the Aftershock exhibition.

11. ADJOURNEMENT – Lance Gyorfi
There being no further business Chair Gyorfi adjourned the meeting at 6:15 p.m.

Christopher McLain
Secretary