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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/29/2019 - Minutes r r r7rr RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES RENTON HISTORY October29,2019 MUSEUM Attending: Doug Brownlow, Laura Clawson, Jessica Kelly, Rhea Kimble, Lynne King, Mike Lennox, Betsy Prather, Elizabeth P. Stewart, and Colleen Lenahan. Absent: Denise Dhakal Guest: Cliff Long, Community & Economic Development Division, City of Renton Call to Order, Intro, Guest Speaker President Colleen Lenahan called the meeting to order at 5:32 PM. She introduced guest speaker Cliff Long, who updated the Board on plans for the 200 Mill Avenue property development across the street from the Museum. • Cosmos International Corp.—the company that developed the apartments at 2nd and Main— plans space for residential, retail, and a major hotel chain. Plans also include an underground parking structure meant to serve all the structures on the property. • Current timeline will result in construction beginning in 2022. • Board expressed concerns regarding the impact on parking during and after construction, the building shadow on the Museum, and the disruption of business (including road closures) during construction. • Mr. Long offered to return to update the Board as plans progress. News, Updates, and Public Comments Information (1) Fundraiser debrief: Board members spent considerable time recapping results of the 2019 History-Making Party. Comments included: • Consider looking at different dates for future auctions. October 2019 held on eve of Yom Kippur, resulting in several donors not attending. • If possible, lock down date earlier in the year—although 2019 date was schedule by mid- January—and explore whether other City of Renton facilities could host. • Begin procurement process earlier in the spring. Assign procurement earlier to allow volunteers adequate time. • Share auction overall target goals at the start of the process to ensure everyone understands expectations. • Consider a July Board meeting in future years. • Capture contact info for attendees who are not members. • Set-up went very well, thanks to numerous volunteers. • Consider planning for extra table setups to accommodate late ticket purchasers. This will require purchasing extra meals. • Teens from Renton Youth Council and FBLA were fantastic. • Should value of auction items be added to bid sheet? Past experience indicates that value suppresses bids. • Consider changes or alternatives to "Raise the Paddle."This year's "Raise the Paddle" was awkward and put a damper on the overall mood. • Future discussion regarding audience development. RHS Minutes_102919_final Page 1 of 3 r r r7rr RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES RENTON HISTORY October29,2019 MUSEUM • Consider a different format for the raffle (although we sold out of raffle tickets this yea r). • Multiple compliments for Director Liz Stewart's speech. (2) Director Liz Stewart gave a facilities update. In a meeting with the Facilities Director Jeff Minisci and Administrator of Community Services Kelly Beymer, Liz discovered: • Despite increasing need for major improvements and renovations to the Museum building, staff cannot raise funds on its own for building projects because we must rely on needed projects to fit in City of Renton's Facilities budget and schedule. The Renton Historical Society's ability to raise grant funding will not move the project up on the City's schedule, nor will the Facilities Division assist in preparing grant applications unless they plan to complete the project in the budget cycle. • Current Facilities Division budget include an architect's assessment on building exterior in early 2020. Recommendations may or may not be budgeted for in 2021—2022 budget. • Trustees expressed concerns that if this situation continues, the long-term viability of the building as a suitable space for the Museum may be problematic. • Could this be address in renewal or renegotiation of the Museum Management Agreement in 2020? (3) 2020 Budget Launch: Treasurer Jessica Kelly provided a brief overview of the upcoming budget process. Draft budget will be provided at November meeting, with final vote at the December meeting. Review and Approval of Minutes Action Item Colleen Lenahan reviewed the September minutes. • Lynne King moved to approve the meeting minutes as submitted; Mike Lennox seconded the motion. All approved the motion, none opposed, none abstaining. Work session Action Item (1) V quarter financial report:Jessica Kelly reviewed the 3rd quarter budget, distributed in advance of the meeting. Q3 numbers are overall positive. Report did not yet reflect fundraiser income, but overall income is$39,000 over expenses. • Jessica also addressed the spending down of funds in the Custer Fund at the Renton Regional Community Foundation, which have been used as supplemental operating income; a committee is examining options for replacing this income and RRCF Executive Director LeAnne Moss will be invited to address the Board. RHS Minutes_102919_final Page 2 of 3 r r r7rr RENTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF TRUSTEES RENTON HISTORY October29,2019 MUSEUM Edward Jones representative Shane Klingenstein assures us that the interest on endowment funds is adequate to provide replacement income. (2) Review and vote on 990: Jessica will digitally distribute 990 as prepared by McCorkle & Associates. Board members should review and vote by November 1 to ensure filing before the November 15 deadline. (3) Insurance: Liz Stewart outlined two options for Directors' and Officers' insurance—one without deductibles and one with—and trustees decided to stick with current provider, Western World. (4) 2020 Retreat: Meeting time was short, so this topic was tabled for the next meeting. (5) Chair for Outreach Committee: This topic was also tabled for November. Mission Moment Information Elizabeth Stewart offered a mission moment about the importance of student involvement in Museum exhibits, including the latest exhibit, Sparkle. As part of their "directed fieldwork" course, six University of Washington Museology students spent 10 hours each at the Museum, assisting with the installation of Sparkle, gaining skills and helping us get the exhibit up. As a result, staff agree it is one of our most aesthetically pleasing exhibits ever. Adjournment Lynne King moved to adjourn the meeting, Mike Lennox seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned at 7:05 pm. Doug Brownlow, Secretary Renton Historical Society RHS Minutes_102919_final Page 3 of 3