Minutes of the October 25, 2005 meeting of the Board of Directors
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
Moved for approval by Daly, Seconded by Martin, approved by voice vote of the BOD.
PRESENTATION RE:
Bob Schulte (VP Gene Fritzel
Construction Co.) and Bruce Flanders (Director Lawrence Public Library(LPL))
made a presentation to the BOD regarding proposed expansion of the downtown
library building and the potential redevelopment of the 600 & 700 blocks of
1. Opportunities exist to coordinate between LPL and DCHS
2. Grants available for museum/library program projects
3. DCHS archives could be housed at remodeled/new LPL; three important consideration:
a) scope & size of collection, preservation needs, and display characteristics
b) strategic plan of library – where does historic documents fall in public library – traditionally not high priority of LPL
c) ownership of archive – who maintains ownership and responsibility
4. Plans are not developed for remodeled/new library
5. LPL is committed to having presence downtown
6. Current building has inadequate space now and for future expansion – 46,000 s.f. now and estimate need 72,000 s.f. now
7. LPL BOD evaluating needs and services to 2025
8. Current site has constraints limiting potential growth
9. Additional parking is needed for library and surrounding area
10. Interested in satellite facilities but don’t know feasibility
11. Architectural
consultants are working on library program to develop optimal size for 2025 –
Gould-Evans (
12. Planning for slower book acquisition and more computers – 30 public access computer now
13. Have held two public meetings with three more scheduled
14. Cooperative
efforts between libraries and museums have been more on technology access
rather than shared space –
15. Really focusing on using current site for new/expanded library
16. Design charette of local architects looked at five downtown sites and fiavorite was current site – working with consultants to determine adequacy of current site
17. Meeting rooms heavily used, lack of space for young adults, computer lab needed
18. Exploring some ideas with developers
Information presented by Bob included:
19. Bob/Fritzel is part of new ownership group of Eldridge Hotel and nearby buildings
20. Potential plans to expand hotel for rooms and conference
21. Aware of library potential expansion and met with them – potential to share some space
22. Looking at
big picture possibilities at that end of downtown – 600-700 blocks
23. Would need to include city parking, more retail, more residential, and would increase tax base
24. Feels museum would fit with plan of the area
25. Current museum building has lots of maintenance and could be someone else’s responsibility
26. Would we be interested in relocating to that end of downtown? If so, what kind of space is needed and how much space is needed?
Q & A and discussion from DCHS BOD
Daly – How does not-for-profit fit with for-profit development?
Schulte – Think we can get over any conflict of interests that may arise – potential property swap of new space for Watkins Bank building
Sublett – This is an expansion of downtown footprint, have dealt with interested parties?
Schulte – net with
city commissioners & city manager – only expansion is potentially 600 block
of
Hyler – Homeless individuals downtown has impact on development – any plans to help deal with this?
Schulte – Currently not planning take this issue on directly but believes having new development with more people downtown will dilute the issue
Waggoner – Downtown in the 1960’s was a “wasteland” and the 1980’s downtown mall plan was opposed – we have some potential for expansion of the museum near our current location and it’s not very far between library and museum now
Godwin – Existing library is approximately the size we’re projecting to need for the museum
Daly – Is current library in good condition
Schulte – yes
Godwin – Museum could fit with the uses described for the redevelopment in that area
Sublet – Any synergy for museum being near library? Financial advantage?
Daly – LPL goal is a new library, are there advantages to a cooperative effort?
Godwin – Could be a win/win situation
Phipps – Some possibilities for collaborative exhibits/research – but could also see sharing space & resources with library – libraries & museums catalog differently but could access information cooperatively
Godwin – Potential for conflict in growth needs and space
Phipps – Our archives are large & original documents – access would still need to be restricted – we’re taking with other organizations to identify where other archives are located
Waggoner – This building (Watkins Bank) is a museum space itself
TREASURER’S REPORT
We’re currently operating with positive balance in cash flow but have bills coming due that will reduce gain – main point of concern is projected $70,000 membership income in budget – personal membership is ahead $5,000 but corporate is way down. Currently we’re projected to year end with $59,064 net loss.
Sublett – We have a system in place to send out invoices on a regular basis – he’ll contact people on the membership list who haven’t renewed yet
Phipps – Invoices have been sent out but not all pledges have come back in – Lew Phillips had list of potential contributors and gave to Steve Sublett.
Pillar – individual memberships are up because of museum programs
Pillar – Mary Richards Fund interest of $51,000 has been drawn down to cover expenses – expenses are below projections
Daly – what do we do at the end of the year if we can’t cover the cash shortfall gap?
Pillar – may have to approach
Simmons – Commissioners would probably cover expenses for one year and tell us to get finances in order
Treasure’s Report approved on voice vote
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Phipps distributed brochure of 2006 events
Phipps distributed handout of existing building space calculations and floor plans – activities/events we’re doing take up potential exhibit space of 16,335 s.f.
Phipps distributed handout of calculated space requirements/desires for optimum museum space – 42,250 s.f. – open/accessible storage/display concept included
ARCHIVIST AND CURATOR REPORTS
These reports were distributed as written documents.
Phipps reviewed report of archivist – Hellen is still working on tabulation of colleciotns and needs for storage – report-to-date include what’s known plus some estimates
NOMINATIONS REPORT
Bill Myers reported – Penny von Achen headed up the BOD Nominations Committee and contacted list of those identified as potential candidates for BOD – presented list of potential candidate nominees, one person for each open BOD position, including:
Carolie Hougland
Linda Hyler
Carmela Sibley
Glee Smith
Byron Springer
Barbara Waggoner
William Winkler
Bill Tuttle
Godwin moved approval of nomination report, Martin seconded, BOD passed on voice vote
ANNUAL MEETING REPORT
Simmons reported on upcoming Annual Meeting of the DCHS scheduled for November 8, 2005 at the Eldridge Hotel.
Program will be presentation of design decisions made in the recent remodel of the hotel.
Currently 25 +/- RSVP’s have been received; need more attendees or may have to look for different location because of “room fee” required if don’t meet minimum number of people for meal.
Future Annual Meeting formats may need to be re-thought, since attendance has been falling in recent years.
BROCHURE
Discussion of the proposed new brochure was held. Statement in brochure about “tax-deductibility” was modified to more legally acceptede language, which places determination of deductibility on the person making the contribution. Phipps presented information on printers who have submitted price quotes; Advantage Printing in Leavenworth gave cost for 8,000 at $.10/ea; Lawrence Printing cost is 5,000 at $.23/ea; 3rd estimate was higher than both others. Phipps will contact other printers and will take bids from all those interested.
UPCOMING EVENTS
"Dias de los Muertos" - "Days of the Dead" exhibit opens Nov 1
“Architecture in
October 29 – 3:00 – ghost stories presented by museum staff
December 11 – bus tour to
November 13 – 3:00-5:30 - St. Luke A.M.E. Second Century
Fund benefit and history/preservation organizations “open house” scheduled at
Hobbs-Taylor Lofts building (700 block
NEXT BOD MEETINGS
November 22, 2005
December 20, 2005
Meeting adjourned at 6:45