Remind it. >> Okay, everyone uh ready to begin our meeting? >> It'll be on green and then you >> Good afternoon. Um, this is the meeting of the cultural and environmental
learning center advisory board and it is Thursday, October 23rd, 2025 and it is 1:01 p.m. And if you would please rise, we can pledge the allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All the emphasis on for all. >> For all. Did you hear? I just heard that
was Ellen. Was that you emphasizing for all? Thank you. >> God, >> justice for all. >> Okay. The first order of business is our reorganization of our chair and vice chair. It's actually not just a reorganization. It's actually an
election as you all uh remember. And um so I'm going to open the nominations for the role of chair of of SECAB. And um so do we have any nominations? And before I
go further, I do not wish my name to be on this. So, we'll have to regroup. Uh, Sherry has been vice chair. Um, and so, uh, I will look for nominations from Cellcap to,
um, entertain another option other than me for a change. It's been what, 15 years or 12 years, something ungodly. >> You guys need a change. >> No, we don't. Well, I I recognize the expression on Sherry's face, but that said, I think as vice prayer, it would be appropriate for
Sherry to consider becoming the chair. >> Ellen, most appropriate. Are there any other nominations from the floor? >> No. >> No. >> All right. Um, so we have we have Sherry Smith who
has been vice president for a number of years. Um, who has been nominated to be chair of Selab and um, with that I'd like to entertain a motion to approve the um, nomination
of Sherry. Um, so would anybody like to >> I move approval of the nomination of Sher Smith for president chair of chair. >> Thank you, Becky. And a second. >> I will second that motion. >> Okay. And thank you also for the nomination for Sherry. Yeah, I
appreciate that. So congratulations. You are now officially the chair. >> Get that smile off your face. >> It might be kind of fitting, but look what's in front of you. >> Yeah. Well, this is the the gavvel, but I am going to officially turn the gowl
>> to you and with best wishes. >> Thank you. Then may I have a nomination then? I believe for vice chair. >> I would like to nominate Ellen Vaughn for the position of vice chair. >> Do I have a second?
>> I second that. Okay, the nomination has been made and seconded that Ellen Vaughn um become our vice chair. All in favor? >> I state >> Oh my gosh, I'm not used to this. Okay. Uh >> I didn't think you'd accept that one.
>> Why >> advice? >> No. Oh, no. No, I wouldn't. Thank you. Yeah, >> I know. I was going to put it on, >> you know. I I'll be around. I'll be here. So, I I will help in any way. >> You said you would help. I will help.
>> All right. Okay. We will begin then with roll call. Um Carolyn, >> um I am happy to be back from a busy summer and hope we can pick up and Adam left some big shoes to fill. So we're
going to have to scratch our heads. Becky Warner, >> Ellen Vaughn, >> Barbara Hill, >> Sher Smith, >> Karina Brites, >> Jeff Hogy. >> Okay. And >> Jim, Jim Matterh, Jim,
>> Jim Matterho. >> Welcome, Jim. >> Thank you. Congratulations, everybody. Thank you for your service, Barbara. >> Thank you, Jim. Much appreciated. Mhm. And um also Lori Wolf is our new member and uh she's replacing Betty Simpson.
And when last I talked to her last night and she was still in Albuquerque trying to get home so the planes weren't um cooperating. So um >> Carrie Henderson's excused >> and is she didn't Okay. And Carrie
Henderson has been excused. Okay. Thank you. Um I think before we go on do we want to do the approval of the minutes or would our guest speaker >> I think uh >> Dr. Kohler Dr. Coler >> Dr. Coler
>> Dr. I think if we have time right now I think she has a a prior engagement coming up real soon. So >> okay we have our guest speaker Dr. Kohler and she's here to talk to us I believe about strategic plan. >> That is correct. Um, first of all, on behalf of the town, former Chair Hill,
thank you for your service, Leaning Sell Cab, and congratulations to our new chair Smith and Vice Chair Vaughn. Um, look forward to seeing you in action because strategic plan will come your way. >> Okay. >> So, um, I'm Tracy Kohler and I'm the
deputy town manager. For those of you who don't know me, it's nice to see you. Those of you who do and and meet the ones who don't know me, I'm here today to speak about the strategic plan. This process started almost a year ago with the University of South Florida and the John Dailyaly Government Institute. Uh
they perform other strategic plan facilitations throughout the state. And I'm here today to give you an update on what we've done thus far and perhaps how CellCap may begin to craft their thoughts around your own strategic plan as we move forward. So, as a recap,
going back gosh, almost 10 months now, we've had two council meetings, um, some of them prior to my arrival to the town in which USF, her name is Angela Christ, she came to town council and facilitated the purpose of strategic planning gave
some of the councelor members some opportunities to provide input into their thoughts on the direction of the town and we've gathered that information. We should also suggest that if anybody is interested in looking at where our strategic plan lies, if you go
to the town's website, at the top banner in red, you will see the the word strategic plan. And when you click on strategic plan, it will take you to all of the documents that have been posted. For example, from the community forums that we've had, we had a resident survey
that went out and then after that resident survey, we had two different community forums. We had I think Miss Hill you were there as well. Um we had an illustrator maybe. Yes, Miss Vaughn was there as well and they crafted
visuals, they crafted minutes, they took everyone's concerns and put them into meeting minutes as well. So please check the website and you can get caught up to date on what those community forums were all about. Moving forward after the community forums, we then turned towards
the town and we had a staff survey that went out of the things that were important to staff um in regards to communication, compensation, the goals of the district. Then we had an employee focus group. And so we had those conversations and those summaries. So
that's kind of where we stand today. And moving forward on November 17th at the town council meeting, Angela Christ and her group will come back and present to the town council kind of an aggregate of all the information that they found out
through the community forums and the employee forums and give them some homework to do. So the 17th is just going to be a brief recap with the town council with homework to do. on December 3rd at the M&P meeting. It will be a
more in-depth workshop with town council members and January 7th will be the final continuation of the in-depth conversation with town council members during MNP meeting. So, three meetings coming up. November, December, and
January. And I suspect by the end of January, we'll get some ideas of where the themes are when you take quantitative data and qualitative data. Qualitative being the the words and the things that they've captured and then
the quantitative data from the surveys. Some themes will come out and then USF will begin to craft those. Those may in turn become our goals. I reviewed the minutes again before coming down and I have seen that the moundhouse was especially one of the preservation
topics that were talked about in those community forums. So rest assured it was even highlighted. I I know moundhouse is in there. Okay. And so people have asked me well what could individual committees do like what could cellcap do now
considering the strategic plan has not yet been formalized. How can we move forward? So my suggestion would be there might be a goal something to the effect of preserving MoundHouse as a tourist destination for Fort Myers Beach. And then an actionable
item may be by the end of 2026 or 2027 increase visitation rates by 17%. So that may be a townwide goal and objective. I don't know. I just made that up right now. >> Don't hold me to it. Um but then moving forward as cellc cab as you create your
own strategic plan then you would say okay how can we increase the visitation well do we need to pursue programs what are some of the education programs the kayaking outreach what are some of the goals and objectives we want to have as cell cabin what are those measurable
action items that we can follow along that Jeff could report to you that um Jeff then also turns around and and reports to Mr. MCA who then creates a a townwide report that he gives to council. So there's there's, you know,
communication that goes up and down both ways. So I don't want to hold you up. If you want to have conversations around strategic planning, I think keeping that in the back of your mind that the preservation has been a forward quite obvious um commitment through the
the community forums that that will likely appear in some sort of way that you can move forward with that. So that's the update where we are with the town. Um after the November, December and January meetings, then we kind of have a few more meetings in February and
March. Those dates have not been set. Summertime then is hard to think about next summer kind of rolls back a little. And then when we come back in the fall is when we'll start crafting the real goals for the strategic plan. So yes, it does sound like a a solid strategic plan. may be more like 10 months out,
but that again doesn't stop you from being able to craft your own strategic plans. And I'm happy to take any questions. >> I I I was in taking my notes, I missed the January date. >> The January date is January 7th after the M&P or during the M&P. It's okay. >> We're we're not clear. It depends on
what comes up on that agenda if we can do it during MMP or if it would be afterwards. >> Gotcha. Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. When when the consultant was reviewing the town strategic plan, did they also
look at our current uh strategic plan that we developed about six years ago? >> That's a great question. Um, I do not know the answer to that. I would assume that they had gone back and looked through. They were quite familiar with our comp plan and our land development code and things like that. I know you're
asking more broadly specifically towards perhaps yours as cellcap. Um, but I can roll back and double check with them. I think their purpose, they wanted to get the pulse of the community right now to see, but it's always good to have that historical piece. So, I will double check and I'll work with Jeff to make
sure that they have that information. >> Have you seen it? >> I have not seen it. >> You have not seen our strategic plan? >> I have not. >> Wow. That's pretty interesting. >> Yeah, isn't it? >> That's concerning. >> And we have it here. Would you like to see? >> I would love to see it. Thank you. Um I
think maybe Jeff might have an extra copy to give to her. But let me I'll give you >> otherwise you certainly can have mine. I have copies at home. >> We have one right here. But um this was hugely comprehensive. >> And you said it was about 7.
>> It actually provided us with um tremendous um goals both short and long term as well as the objectives. And this was done by a professional consultant and it was done through um a series of meetings. It was very uh drawn out if
you all remember um and um it was updated I believe in 20 >> 21 as far as the strategic plan but of course we had COVID during that time and all the subsequent hurricanes. Yes. But there was actually a timeline. What I don't believe we ever put into this was
were the measurable goals. So that is something that we certainly need advice on and obviously with regard to what our mission is and what our vision is. This was very clearly stated but um this is a core part of what we do and what we
believe in and what our goals are and I would think that would have been tremendously valuable for any consultant to see especially when drafting the new one. >> Understood. They may have they may have looked at it. I I just am not aware of it at the moment. I I am happy. Makes my
heart quite happy when I look through this and I see the education pieces with the education coordinator. As the former beach school principal, we had a lot of partnerships with the moundhouse, including the education piece. We had them coming out to our school with a hands-on activities. We learned a lot
and I know some of those partnerships are continuing and so yeah, just even by a quick onceover, my heart was happy to see it. Education, I think, was even more key than tourism for us because the whole idea of our mission about
education, about the history of the island, the history of the Kousas, and the history of preserving all of that was very core. >> I love to see Moundhouse, Lee County's cultural jewel. I like seeing that statement in there. >> Yes. And this was also too when we did
this, this was before the hurricane. So, we do have, I'm sure, some updates given to what's happened to the property. >> Great. I look forward to seeing the new one once you incorporate those object objectives that are measurable and some of your future updates. So, thank you
for including me here today and I look forward to the revisions. >> Okay. >> And I do, Barbara. I I do remember at least I'm about 99% sure when we started the process, whatever it was more than 10 months ago, that they did ask for our strategic plans. And I believe I I had
sent them both um the both moundhouse and Bay Oaks Bay. >> So I I think you know I think that was probably one of their initial steps. So >> okay I I would think so but I'm not 100% what where they went after that. So >> okay >> that's I just remember sending them off.
I I believe it was was to them initially. I think they just wanted to get a baseline too. So >> because I think we did have that as a a conversation at a cellcap meeting, the importance of that consultant to be aware of what we already um worked on.
Correct. Um so and and off topic, but again with Bay Oaks, there is also a strategic plan for Bay Oaks that that capab developed as well. So um with the same consultant uh just as an FYI for you, but >> Great. Thank you. I appreciate that. >> You're welcome.
>> Okay, that's all I have. Thank you. Great. Congratulations, >> Madam Chair. >> Yes. >> If I could ask Tracy a question. Tracy, as we look at the existing uh strategic plan for Cellcap, are there things we
should be conscious of uh in terms of updating our strategic plan that helps it integrate? So, every every entity that that initiates a strategic plan does it differently and has a different philosophy. Are there things that we should do for Cellcam strategic plan in
terms of when we update it that would help integrate it with the strategic plan that you're working on? >> Great question, Jim. And I think some of the conversations you've had already are perfect. Um creating measurable object objectives. My goodness, I can't say that word. measurable objectives that
are um metricbased so that you can have some updates going throughout and you can catch maybe dips in certain areas before they become a trend. That's really um critical. And as we develop the strategic plan out further, there
will be opportunities for Jeff and and you all to provide some updates on your um key performance indicators, if you will, as you work towards those goals. So, I would say the measurable piece um Vice Mayor Adder Halt is probably the
biggest in terms of the overall goals of the strategic plan. Those are being crafted. But if I were a guessing woman, not a betting woman, but a guessing woman, um the preservation of the moundhouse had had come through quite clearly throughout some of those minutes
that I reviewed with the community forum piece. >> That's great. Thank you, Tracy. >> You're welcome. >> Okay. Thank you, Jim. And thank you. Do you have anything? Anyone have any uh questions that they would like to ask? U Miss Coler, Dr. Kohler,
>> I would just like to thank you for coming and update. It's very nice to feel like we're in the loop. >> All right. It's nice to see everyone. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Thank you. >> That was quite nice uh Mr. Adder Holt that Madame Chair and you
responded right away. >> You you noticed that. >> That was good. But I but I went yes. I didn't say I didn't I didn't say Jim though. I went yes. >> Um but yeah, just kind of going forward and and continuing just a brief
conversation about strategic plan. I I think it's definitely appropriate for us to start setting goals. We talked about it yesterday at Borab, too, is um is to really start setting those goals that we want to see uh and putting them down on on paper and some ideas so when
we're ready to really go forward with this, you know, we're ready to go and set it out and it won't be another setback for us. But and I do I know we do have have goals in mind that we all want. Um, but I think it's, you know, as we're going through this and as the meetings go on, I think it should maybe
be an agenda item just for uh if you if you wouldn't mind, we could set that. >> No, that would be great. I think we need, >> you know, to talk about that at, you know, at least at the meetings we have an opportunity. >> Okay. I think that's a a great idea because yeah, everything's been so discombobulated and kind of get all back
on the same page and what we all would like to see done. So, um, well, thank you. Um, we will now have has everyone read the minutes? >> So, they're they're in the packet. Um, we just we we didn't have them on the
website until uh through >> we just got them. We had them through May of 2025, but we got them. So, I don't know if you want to wait till next meeting or if you are you all are prepared to to accept those. It's up to you. If you want to wait, we certainly can so you can review them a little more closely.
>> I I would prefer waiting. >> Would you like to wait? Okay, we will wait. >> Take the time now to read them. >> Yeah. No, it's that's all right. I think everyone's in agreement that we will >> um Yeah. table the minutes from from uh
Thursday, September. Yeah. >> 31st. >> Yep. >> So, we'll table those. >> It's fairly short, but I I think I'd like to give you all time to >> Okay. We'll table them and then we will vote on them at our next meeting. >> November. >> In November. Thank you. Um
Public comment. Do we have any public comment? Seeing none, I will close public comment and then we'll move on to Jeffer and Karina for our staff reports. >> Yes. Uh, you know, I just want to
preface this with uh thank you and please be patient with us over this transition. Um, I know it's been a it's always a busy time on the beach, but you know, with with Karina and how you know, the thing that I I don't think is is going to be an issue will be the
operations at Mount House. You know, Karina's done a great job of that. It just might be some of these these uh administrative things that she's not used to and then I I I need to do a better job of uh going through it with her. So, sorry about the the late agenda
items and agenda. So >> just blame it on you and not Karina. >> Please do. >> You would not be the first or the last today. >> Um no I yeah I just you know we'll do a better job and Karina and I actually met um you know usually we meet on Tuesdays
but my son was not feeling well so I had to take him to the >> doctor. So, we did meet before this and and I went through the process on, you know, to meet with the at least have a phone call or meet with the chair to go over the agenda items um and get those out at least a week ahead of time, which
>> which, you know, we'll work really hard on and putting them on our calendar and getting those out. So, um give her a little grace because that was my fault, >> of course. Um, but I overall I mean the only thing that I really have is um you
know I I've been around we've been to the mound house and uh it's looking great I guess and uh the programming is great. She uh Karina just said that I can't remember which day but they were super busy. I think you said really busy. I can't remember which which word
she used but that's good to hear that people are are still coming uh and using the facility. um maybe tours, maybe not, but at least they're getting the the beautiful Moundhouse um grounds to use. Um I I think I've expressed to her and all of you that when my office was
there, I hated to leave >> because it's just so beautiful out there and I think people are are getting that. And uh we put up in the report, we put up a couple more signs um for directional. I think we have a couple more to put up maybe on I think on a stero. Yes. >> Um good.
>> Just you know, just to let them know we're over there. and we put one on Connecticut. Uh so when they actually get on Connecticut, they know which direction they're going. So >> Okay. So those signs were ordered and now are being installed. >> Yeah, the Connecticut one's installed. Um the other two we're waiting to put up. So
>> Okay. Excellent. How about the loop sign or the Dan Hughes? >> Yeah, we still have to order that. Yeah, the Dan Hughes >> way. I can't remember the exact >> Yeah, I can't remember. And we can talk about what that I don't know was that was that ever really I mean I'm sure it
was about what kind of um sign that would be. Would it be a >> like a traditional street sign? >> No. No. >> Not not like official one, but would it have that look? I don't know. Whatever you guys recommend. >> I think it the intent um and it was Mayor J. Murphy that actually Ray Murphy
that actually um was recommending that we follow through with what was an idea and he received cell cab approval back then but we never really acted on it because we've had all these hurricanes. So it's probably better that we didn't
because it would have been lost. >> Um but yeah, he did bring that up fairly recently and wanted to know what Silcap's thoughts were on moving that idea forward. Uh, but I don't believe there was any other instructions other
than we were going to have it as a fairly discreet sign at the entrance if I'm not mistaken. >> Yeah. >> And I think and Karina, >> you know, correct me if I'm wrong, like we're just we'd look for some guidance too of what you all think, you know, an
appropriate sign or marker would be, whatever you want to do. Um, I was just thinking like a a fun little street signish kind of thing, but it sounds like that may not been in the direction you all were going. >> We don't want it to look that official like came from like, you know, an official >> from the town or something more
>> and I'm open of course a little >> I would I'm I'd like something a little unobtrusive and just a little sign. >> Yeah. >> When you enter about the placement >> Yeah. >> about where on the loop it should be. Should it be at the at the edge where
where the loop intersects with with Connecticut Street? >> Yes, I think so. >> And because it's one directional, should it be on the entrance way in? >> I would say by the entrance way in by the gate and the little unobtrusive sign, >> but the gate is the ent. That's the
exit. >> Or the pedestrian gate that where you park in the parking lot. >> Yeah, that's the exit. And and I remember having a conversation with Adam and I think it may have come up at a cellcap meeting that wayfinding is very challenging and he had entertained the
idea of having the entrance having people actually make the circle so that they enter and then go in park. >> So that way that they would see the grounds as they're driving through and they would have a sense of things which makes it a lot easier than trying to come up with signage is going to help
them find it. >> Right. >> That that's I forgot about that but you're absolutely right. Yeah, I do remember that conversation. So, we can definitely >> have conversation about that as well right there and then >> we'd have to do something with the with the existing signage and the existing gate, but >> I'm sure that that can be worked out.
>> Well, and that could be an item for discussion maybe for next month if you want. Um >> I think that's appropriate. Give you a little time and then I again we're open. I I just asked Karina if this had really been a discussion even with Adam and and it hadn't been. Um we knew we knew it
was our um I guess dedicated to that but we didn't really have an idea of what the vision was for that >> right. >> Yeah. I I had had a conversation with Adam when I was there in my role do the dosening role. >> Yeah. >> So >> yeah but I don't think we ever discussed it at a meeting.
>> No I don't think so. >> No. So I think it was almost before Adam's or beginning of Adam's time. So we'll put we'll put that maybe on the agenda for >> Yeah. Maybe take a month to think about it and then we can reconvene if we can.
>> I would worry about dust. Thinking about people driving the loop to get to the parking lot. >> Dust and you know it's a dusty road and it's you know it's going to be and you got people walking across and
yeah I guess I'm just voicing some concern your >> I'm using yours. >> Okay. Well, I that was an issue I had raised with Adam and he he mentioned that when school groups come, the buses come and drop the people off there so that they >> and they're parked there. >> Yeah. And they're parked there.
>> Well, yes, but they can pull off so that you can still get around them. >> And then of course when people drop off kayaks are there, so it's not like the road is not >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And I'm not advocating one way or the other necessarily. I'd like to hear pros and cons to both, and I thank you for voicing those. But I think next week or next month, we can really dig into
that. >> Yeah. Think about it. >> Does it need regrowing? >> It's It's shelf. >> It's a sh It's all sh redoing. >> Yes. >> Yeah. Well, think about it this month where we'd like to see it because we all were a little
>> somewhat apprehensive about placement. I was thinking how about on the gate? >> Just an idea. >> Thank you. >> Oh, I like that. >> Then it's up and then it's I just an idea we'll discuss next month. >> Yeah. I mean, I think I think Adam and I had conversations, too, and we know it's
>> it's dedicated there. We just haven't got to that point where to put it up, but I think this is a good time to start, you know, putting something up if that's what the council or >> had had wanted. So, >> yes. And >> kind of going from what Becky was saying
about the dust, uh, I think maybe we would need to take into consideration the cost of putting more shell on. So just operatively speaking, continuing to add more wish is that broke as it's broken down because of the increased traffic might also be a budgetary
constraint. >> Yeah, that's right. >> That's all we can talk about that and I'm open so >> great. Great. And I have the shells if anybody needs them to crush. Um, anybody have any questions then for for Jeff?
>> Um Oh yeah. Yeah. And then Karina will give you the right >> the program. >> Well, actually one item that I we discussed either at the last cell meeting or it may have been even the one prior to well I guess September was the last time we met um about putting some
type of visual on the on the the boarded up entrance to the underground that they would an image of what is in there so that people understand that there's something very important there. Yeah, we'll we'll make a good effort and some notes to to look at what that might
be. But yeah, I do like that too. I like maybe an image or something. >> And I would be happy to take it to the Friends of the Mountain House to see if the Friends of the Mountain House would be willing to. >> Yeah, in in my vision, I guess in my head right now, I'm just thinking maybe
if if we did have a picture of when you walked in, like the initial one, and put it on the door. So, it's almost like you're looking into the the room. >> And then maybe another um uh what do you call those? >> Not a me a sign board or message. >> What do we call those?
>> That the plants are on and everything. They'reformational plaques or something that just kind of tells a little bit about a pedestal. Yeah. Sorry. >> Are the signs that were in there, are they all weather signs that could be brought out? >> Well, one of them is has been brought
out and it's been placed on the kayak shed. Those are the murals. >> Oh, the murals, right? Sign. >> I'm thinking as right as you go in on on the left, there was >> a placer. Yeah, a display sign. >> Yeah. Anformational sign with some things underneath, artifacts of some
sort or something. >> Sure. We'll look. >> To my knowledge, it didn't get unless it got damaged. It didn't get removed. So, we haven't really We've just kind of locked it up. I don't know. >> So, we'll go in and take a look. And if it's there, that'd be perfect. >> That'd be great. That would be great. Excellent. And put that on for next next
month. We're gonna have a big meeting next month. Um, >> Karina. >> All right. >> Well, um, happy to report that although the visitation for September was pretty low, October had great numbers. We had,
um, three different groups so far in October. Um, the Edison Fork Robotic Club uh, and the York Innovation Academy. And we also have FGCU coming in. Uh we also have um another group schedule
uh for the for the month. So for this month so um we're keeping very busy uh on that sense uh with groups. Um the moonlight market event was fantastic. We
had um seven vendors and appro approximately 150 visitors. Um a lot of the visitors were the new very new to the area that um that they found out about us through
Facebook and u the vendors um also sharing the um the site you know where they will be. So that that was a fantastic event >> and and the vendors were happy. >> Vendors were very happy and they do want
to come back. Yes. Absolutely. And as far as another event that we will have this month is the virtual lecture um scheduled on the 30th uh it's called Bats of Pine Island Sounds with Mike
Mills of Tanibel and Captiva Conservation Foundation and uh well that's that's as far as the visitation is concerned then uh for or you know as you are aware the museum museum is still closed. It's
been clo it's going to be it's closed for two weeks. And the first week um that the museum was closed, it started on the 13th was to prepare um the moundhouse for tenting. And uh
>> now you're talking about termite tending. >> Termite tending. >> What day did that happen? >> I'm sorry. >> What date was that? >> On the 13th. >> And that's when the the the entire moundhouse was tended. >> Correct. What about the offices or the kayak shed? Just the main
>> the main building. Correct. >> Thank you. >> Did you happen to take any photographs of that? >> No. Of the tent that while it was happening? No, >> we weren't we were not at uh on site. Um previous to that what all the the groups
and events was going on. We were getting ready for tenting which we had to remove uh all the consumables from the store. Operate opening all the storage bins for the inventory. opening all the artifact wrap bags um and uh whatever you know
all the important documents we had to transfer to the office as well as boxes and bags that we didn't have time to uh to open which were approximately 30 boxes. Um right now uh the staff Emily and
Briana are attending SEMC in the um Montgomery, Alabama. And uh Emily is the first time attending uh the conference and it's a great opportunity for her to gain valuable insights, new ideas, and build connections through networking. and
Briana is one of the speakers for this for a session a session titled unlocking potential creating collection storage for small museums. So we are very proud of her and we look forward to for to her uh presenting a special version um
exclusively for the mountains. So >> excellent. Um I did complete a virtual training through a AAM um the museum summit uh titled the new era of volume tourism. So see if we can
bring more volunteers to uh for mount house and I do have great ideas. >> Excellent. Good. >> That's my idea. >> Yes. And um Sandra, you know, we'll have her um register for the guest first
customer service program um with the VCB. Um it's for a guest service professional certification. >> Excuse me. Could you give me Sandra's last name? >> Brites. >> What is it? Same as B. Yeah. B R I T E Z. >> Oh, okay. That's Karina's sister.
>> They're sisters. >> Oh. >> Mhm. >> Oh, yeah. I did not realize that. >> So this month we also started the new volunteer orientation and tour um program which is the first Tuesday of
the month which is a dropping program going over volunteer opportunities available at the moundhouse in Newton Park >> for November. >> We started uh this we started October. >> You did do it in October. Okay. I'm sorry. >> So there will be one November 4th. And
what time? >> Correct. It's um it's always at 10:00 a.m. >> Okay. >> And we are scheduling additional training and refreshers for uh current volunteers, but we don't have a specific date for that.
>> Okay. >> So, November would be November 4th. >> November 4th for Is there a time on that? You said 10 a.m. >> 10. Okay. And could you go back please um on the virtual program? I didn't get
um that we're going to have is it next month? >> No, it's on the 30th. Okay. >> On the 30. October 30th. >> Okay. Okay. >> And that's at 700 p.m. >> Okay. >> And the link to that since it's virtual,
it will be um posted on our social media. >> Okay. Good. Does it get sent out like the announcements to the >> Yes. >> Oh, great. Yeah, Facebook has been been good on
that. Um, okay. As far as the volunteers go, did you get any new ones? >> Not yet. >> Not yet. >> No, we had a few from FKCU, but they, you know, they have >> a very limited number of hours that they can give us. So, we're um continue to
look for other ways, too. >> Well, we're getting people back, too, which is which is going to be a big help. Um, and if we volunteer, what days do you need? Um, what what what will we be doing? >> Well, um, right now we as the, uh,
season starts, we're definitely going to need, um, dosent for the house >> and the grounds as well. >> Okay. Andy, certain days, I know Saturdays are busy. >> Yes. Wednesday through Saturday. We have
Wednesday already taken. And I try I'll try and do my Saturdays again. So, okay. Any other questions for Karina? >> No. >> We have we continue to advance with our
MAP program and um as you can see in your package, one of the recommendations is under under public trust and accountability was to develop a collections management policy. And we are pleased to present this document to you for review. It's in
your in your packet. Yes. >> And this is Brianna's work. >> It is Brianna's worked really hard to also um add additional uh all the recommendations that our peer reviewer suggested.
>> Okay. So this was the >> um this was the collection management policy that was begun by Adam and now added to by staff >> and really uh presented to us as a draft
>> and you would like for us to review this >> review it correct >> and we would then have a board action to approve this um for recommendation for council. Is that what I'm hearing is the procedure? Okay. Thank you. just to clarify that
>> we have a lot >> and >> we have a lot of homework to do for next month. >> Yes. Yes. >> Um we are also getting ready uh getting our presentation ready to request funds for the friends of the mountain house.
And as far as other um I added a few pictures there so that you have if you didn't drive by the new directional sign or staff at Montgomery. I know that most of you have not u met Emily yet and um
she's there in one of the pictures and uh oh I wanted to highlight that um or maintenance um first uh Seth was able to um secure a
donation for um by landscape lighting by illumination Florida who generously donated lights for the mural outside. And there's Yeah, there's a >> Excellent. >> Yeah, those are the I know my pictures was was not very very good, but it
looked amazing um at night. Great. And then uh you have your um per or performance metrics or the visitors um the grounds and museum admissions uh or programs. Kayaks of course we you know
because of our limited staff we're still don't have um we we don't have any kayaks for this month so far. Um and uh we do have three four uh renewed
membership. I just got um I remember just today. >> Okay. You said you have no kayaks. Could you explain that? Just expand on that. There was no >> tours, >> right? That's just there. There were nobody bought uh kayak tours. This
>> nobody nobody participated in any kayak tours for the entire month of October. >> Correct. And remember talking about the first 13 days because the museum's been closed. Okay. So, just to clarify that.
on excuse me on the kayak tours we do need a staff member right we can't just have a volunteer we need a staff member also >> okay >> um does this has this already gone to council or you know I'm I'm just saying you know because this kind of doesn't
give the full picture if you could say rather than month to date that this would be from October 1st to October 13th which gives a clearer picture of the actual status of why the lack of attendance is so pronounced. Of course. >> Yeah. And and there'll be I we give a a
report a town manager report to the town manager. So that'll be ended the full October. Um we'll give at the end of the month to him. So that goes to council as well. So Okay. >> Yeah. They'll see a they'll see the whole month >> and not just to date. So >> Right. Okay. But again, you know, it's
for our purposes too. It's very disturbing because the kayak tours have been so popular for them to see, you know, you're looking those you keep forgetting, well, wait a minute, that's only the first 13 days. So, >> yeah. And I think we we kind of hammered that home on those budget meetings as to
the risks of cutting these staff. Um, so seeing the numbers drop is >> Right. Right. >> evidence of that. But I mean, that's what we had to do. That's I'm not can't go backwards. So, >> um, >> yeah. Yeah. And I just wanted to point out and I I talked to um
to someone and they said this September was probably the worst September they've seen as far as uh businesses and and traffic. So uh but I do know that I've seen a lot of traffic since probably October 1st. >> Yes. >> Uh seasons coming back. I mean I live up
McGregor and I definitely takes me a little bit longer to get home and even on the island I see a lot of traffic and the beaches are, >> you know, are busier. So that's that's good. So >> lots of car carriers delivering cars. >> Yes.
>> And I think that's it for um for my report. If you have any questions. >> Okay. Okay. um volunteers with something else that was are are there is there anything in the
works as far as hiring a town a house >> is did they advertise the the position or >> um not yet. We got the job des looking at the position description and know we really haven't had much
um as far as that. It's also staff review time so HR has been very busy with with that. But I know this is this and a lot of other positions are uh our priorities for the town and uh >> you know that's something we're going to have to work around. So but I like I
said before uh I have all the confidence in Karina. he's been there long enough, >> you know, and uh has the knowledge of everything there. >> Um so I think as far as as far as the >> programs and organizational wise, I think we're we're in great hands with Karina.
>> Yeah. >> Um >> as far as keeping the place, you know, definitely running and and enhancing it as we go along. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yeah. She's been our go-to person for I don't know how many years. She's been the wheel that keeps everything turning. So >> that Karina, how many years I know that
there was an interruption in your service, but when when what was the first year that you worked at the Mount House? >> 2017. >> 2017. And here we are almost 10 years later. And >> yeah, >> I like that interruption of service. >> That was very good.
Very good. Okay. Where is my uh >> agenda? My agenda. It disappeared. Here it is. all marked up. Okay. Any more um comments or questions for Jeff or Karina?
>> Just to comment that it was a very helpful report and appreciate all that you do. >> Yes. Yes. Thank you guys. I know. >> I agree. The format was very nice. I >> know. I'm impressed with the folder and with everything and that's great.
>> So, thank you. >> I have a quick question. Did the jackaranda tree really die? >> Sorry. the big jackaranda tree down by the seating area as you go toward into the um underground. >> Yes. >> I mean, it's gone. So, it's No, no, it didn't. It didn't.
>> Oh, no. It's >> It was one of the last things from the lawn because it was Yeah. >> The bugenville um >> it was dry. It was drying out. Yeah. >> Yeah. My point is still And it was uh Do you remember that tree? >> Yeah.
>> And it had to >> It hasn't looked good for a couple years. >> Yeah. I mean, we try our best even if it has one leaf or one butt on it to keep it, >> you know, and even uh there was another >> location, I can't remember where, and they're like, "Should we take do should we take that down?" Like, "No, it's
still budding. We're going to see if it comes back." >> So, it we try not to, you know, and we can look at maybe trying to plant something else there. I don't know if Seth already has something, but >> generally, if we >> take down a tree, we like to put one back up. So
>> that actually is a a a good question with regard to if a tree is removed, is there money in the budget to replace that tree? >> We could talk to finance. We'll put it that way. I think we can make it. Yeah. I mean, even when you're talking I'm not
talking palm trees, but like our our palm trees are are aren't that much when we get them from our wholesaler. So I think that would be good. A yeah, >> I I think that the jackaranda was left over from Mrs. Long's time. According to what I heard, she loved flowers and
flowering things, but it's not a native plant. So that so the replacement correct need to be >> and a plan for replacement is maybe more important to know about than the actual
funds at this point to do it. >> But I'm thinking back to I guess I need to ask somebody else about this. Um, you know, the scientific and medicinal garden which was part of the original plan which has kind of gone
completely by the wayside and was that >> a decision that Cellcap made? >> I don't believe so. >> I don't believe so. >> I mean, so is that something that could be discussed, you know, way down the road? Um, some of those things were really interesting. Well, we had the
grapefruit tree and we had I mean we had different kinds of >> the grapefruit tree was from the the >> the vegetable well the the there was a there were the three planting areas there was the medicinal garden >> and then then there was the um edible garden so and then then there was
another one because that before the house opened that we did tours of the gardens >> right >> exactly >> and I have some information on that at at home not with me of course and I don't recall But I do have some information on that. Which brings me to
Well, are we Yeah, >> they'll go right. Yeah, we'll go right. >> Can I just ask a question about that? Um, >> did that just kind of I And of course, I haven't been around long enough. I don't >> Did that go Was that before Ian that that went away or was that >> Oh, yes. >> Well, I mean, we stopped doing those
tours when the house opened. >> The house opened. >> Okay. >> Um, because when the house wasn't open, people would look in the windows, but we actually had had volunteers there on a scheduled basis. We had two shifts was a morning shift and an afternoon shift. And we did it Tuesday through Saturday. And we just did the grounds and we
didn't charge anyone, but people would tended to be very generous. So we would >> we would collect money on a regular basis. >> Garden tour. >> Garden tours >> would meet under the meet under the the strangler fig and then we would walk them around the property >> and I think I'm trying to think and now
of course it the name is gone. What's the tree that the maringa tree? I think it's still there. >> The maringa it is still there >> and that is one of them. The physic nut tree was another one. >> We had kpock trees which didn't do well at all but could
>> I mean they were non-native things that were >> they were considered Florida friendly. >> They were not >> but they were interesting >> like we had talking to uh I'm sorry um you know we do have some funds through TDC too for vegetation.
So, I'd like to learn more about that cuz so many people are coming and, you know, we we encourage them to take a tour, but they just like the property. >> Yeah. >> You know, and I know you can't I know we talk about budgets, you can't really unless we ask for don, you know,
donations or whatever, but I think that would be great. I think people that come through and it brings some new life um to the bound house. So, >> I'm going to I'm not a member of the garden club. swim club I'm not a member of, but I I know that they put together a list of plants that have survived
>> Ian and and the last four hurricanes and they they would be happy, I'm sure, to come and make recommendations as to >> what could be planted. >> We had we had a nice presentation from the Naples Botanical Garden, too, about that. Um the ones that survived because we were talking about doom plantings and
all those. So, >> um, you know, I think we have a couple avenues we could we could go on that, but I I like the idea. I think we could probably, >> you know, have more more discussion on it. >> What what I'm talking about, I guess, goes way back to the original >> Okay. >> original blueprint for what was
happening there. >> It was laid out. It was laid out by a horiculturist, >> David. There's a there's yeah I don't know if I have all this you know but it was all these different types of plants and gardens were identified and and and it was with purpose
>> right >> and with you know great planning and thought went effort went into establishing each garden >> and there was a book which I have hounded many many people about um about
this thick of pictures and po and signs for all of these different things. Some were done. Um I was certainly accused of wanting uh sign pollution. Um I I liked the plants. I liked all the signs. I
think they only did a third of the signs and I don't even know if they're there anymore. >> There are some signs >> some signs, >> but again, we also have have some TDC funds for that for that purpose for signage. But it might be something to really look at it and to bring forward or um
>> I'd be happy to talk to Karina about has anything been brought back down from the attic that looks like that book of vegetation that was originally >> nothing yet. But I'll definitely there's another >> Oh, so it was like a kind of a
scrapbookish or was it a printed book? Like I got a >> It was slightly big. It was probably this kind of paper, but beautiful drawings drawn by I mean they're gorgeous. And some of the ones we had reproduced and we were selling them actually in the in the art auctions.
>> Oh, you're talking about the artist that did all the botanical signage. >> I know. Her name is Megan Kissinger. >> We still have some of those. I know we >> we have some the book I think Adam was trying to dry out the book. I bought three of those.
>> Right. Okay. So we we do we do have some of those. I know we have some of those stuff. >> Yeah, because we have the we were going to order new signs and the artwork was part of that, right? So >> absolutely. But you should have a digital image for each one of those. Yeah. >> Yeah. Because those are those are important. And getting back to the
tours, I I remember when we had the garden tours, the tree, and those were very very popular, right? And I mean there's almost when we get people back that might not be a bad option of bringing you know a tour once a week or
twice a week or something of the gardens of the grounds. And I know when um I was a do when I was you can't say dosenting but when I was a dosent when I would walk down to the underground I would always give a description of all the plants and I tell
people that the cabbage palm was a native and big people called it the Home Depot tree and we had the cotton plant and people loved it. They just they absolutely the count and they they love stuff like that you know. So I think that's something that we seriously can
consider bringing. >> It is also a tour that could be done by the volunteers as it doesn't need the kind of >> archaeological expertise that is required for maybe some of the >> Yeah. And it's a different kind of niche
too. I mean it >> people travel around look at gardens all the time and it's just another added >> benefit to the mountain. I I actually really love it. Oh, >> so I think that's something that we should highly consider and also something I want to bring up is that I
have talked well I can't say talked with Carolyn but we have communicated but we have mentioned that we had um from I don't want to mix apples and oranges but there was money given for Pat and also for a memorial gardens
>> and I think that's something in our planning that we need to either a bench to designate a place or something in the future. Doesn't have to be done tomorrow. >> No, it doesn't. >> But it's something that I think that we don't ever want to >> forget. We certainly have all also
talked about memorial benches, >> right? or not not necessarily even but benches that could be purchased, you know, and and put I mean there there are very little places to sit down there >> and you know something stone that
wouldn't wash away would be good. >> Well, and so I guess I'm just going to ask a question. So before like when I would talk to I guess Adam um I thought and maybe I'm wrong maybe that's just my misunderstanding was that Cellcap didn't
want or maybe the I don't know who it was kind of the same at that point. Um didn't want a lot of that out there but is that not correct? >> That's not correct. >> It's not correct. In fact >> okay then I was just either maybe I heard it wrong or >> No, we didn't want real big cement ones that were proposed that were like
$5,000. >> Okay. that was about the only >> and that's fine and >> and that was a cell cab discussion years ago years ago. >> So I'm open to that and we do I mean we do have the >> the townwide memorial benches but >> I I talked to Adam too about getting
some >> different ones to to not not I won't say nicer but >> to kind of distinguish out there >> more in keeping with the property and Carolyn >> Go ahead. I was just going to say benches that are more in keeping with the property. Exactly. Caroline has some
ideas. >> Well, I had uh a number of people had talked to me about this over the first year and in all honesty I was not in any condition to deal with it and I apologize for that. But that's me. >> But here I am now and I would really
love to follow up. I had followed up. It was July, right, Ellen? >> Mhm. >> And we had talked with Adam at that time about uh a space between the office. It's way back. It's it's it would be a perfect spot for someone viewing the
property and you're hot and you're tired and you just want to sit down for five minutes. And it was just a nice little space back up under the uh trees. And I I'd be more than happy to, you know, show anybody what I was talking about. Maybe Ellen could describe it better,
but we thought that a couple of benches there and a little um metal statue of some sort between the two of them like a sundial. I mean, nothing, you know, but just something meaningful for for that space to make >> and I don't know what happened.
>> I don't think it went anywhere. Um because I think >> he was gonna Adam was going to look for >> suitable. Yes. And then I think other things intervened. So this was literally this past July. So, it's not that many months ago, but it's that area. I'm okay. Remember when um Evette was here
and they designated a a wildlife area and there's a little placard out there? So, it's in that general area, right? >> It's just a little nook. Really? >> Yeah. And it's so as the walkway winds around where you So, it would be on the on the vegetated side of that where that
walkway is. So, you've got the the um gumbo limbo tree, >> the gumbo limbo. What? And then then next to it there's more vegetation. So it's it's nicely screened and it would be a lovely place to have. >> Doesn't the path kind of dead end a little bit further right there? >> Oh, no. But I'm talking about on the other side so that you would be you
would be on the lawn in the >> you'd be on the on the the the house side of that. So >> would it be proper to have um a volunteer for someone to start thinking about this and look into it and >> Well, Carolyn had and Caroline talked to
Nancy and she's talked to me. >> Yeah. And and there was a little over $6,000 I think all total something like that. Karina was helpful. Um and if if if there were more that's no problem. I would be more than happy to help support
that because I think it's, you know, thinking back, this was something else I was going to mention when um I think there was a meeting that I couldn't make and something was mentioned about, sorry, the history of the MountainHouse
and I happen to remember the story by Anita Sarasitta and and John Gusardo and Bill grace, >> grace. Uh, and it is absolutely something that we should not lose, >> right?
>> U because here we are today because of everything they did. And I was also thinking that could we possibly combine a moundhouse uh friends meeting and this board as well. No. No. Okay. Well, then scratch
that. But somehow we need to capture uh this this fascinating story of a number of people who sat on barrels and wrote um uh for funding and it's it's
just an amazing story and with a lot of humor. So, uh, I would love to have, um, that, uh, shared and and maybe even I think Jeff in your email, you said something about a video. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. So, I think for the archives, for this, um, um, effort, I think that would be a valuable thing for us to have. >> Yeah. Two things for years to come. >> Two things. I can see another book coming out. >> What? >> I can see another book coming out.
>> Another book? No, I don't. And two, yeah, I just thought if you know if we could get like um you know, Anita uh and some of the other >> be glad to organize that and do it even uh in the evening because it's it's I don't know 45
minutes, maybe an hour. I don't know what time would be appropriate to do that. >> Where where would we do this? >> Let let me >> That's you know that's what I'm throwing out. That's >> that's primarily I think that would be a f if it's a fundraising project that would be a friend's project
>> whether it's fundraising or not. That's what I'm wondering is that a cellcap is that kind of thing to come to cell cab with the proposal and say this is what we would like to do. Um >> and then and then yeah whatever whatever
is appropriate. So, we could have um I'm sorry, Barbara. What we could do is if it's if it's going to be a friends item, um we could have a representative come and we could talk about it publicly here. Sure. >> Um you know, we don't we won't have a joint meeting, but I think having >> whoever they'd want out of that that
group um to have a discussion about it uh would be appropriate. >> And I think any of these ideas are all great. And I think the idea of the history and the garden uh issue certainly is worth pursuing further because we've kind of dropped the ball there. So I agree. However, I do believe
that should be dubtailed with the strategic plan. You're very short staffed right now and we really need to deal with the core operations of this moundhouse to be reality focused in terms of the budget constraints that we've got with the town in general but
to build it into our strategic plan. So we know the plan going forward because the staff is really ultimately responsible for you know moving the um museum in the right way and all of us will have input from the cellcap point
of view and then when funding becomes a need for any particular projects that have been vetted then definitely it goes to friends because you know so in other words if you remember when Teresa and uh Allison was working with friends it was
that you that this was something that we need funding for and she would give you a menu of items that would would require the funding and then you basically got the the incentive to to >> So are you thinking that the impetus to
do something like Carolyn is speaking about some sort of program like that or video or whatever um must come from CellCA or could it come from >> and then be done by staff Or could it >> well friends can't
>> who could direct staff to do that? >> Absolutely. I agree with that. >> That's that's the issue. >> Does it have to be staff inspired? >> Does it have to be staff done? >> Well, again, that's kind of why we're here too as a sort of a quite governing
body to re make a recommendation. >> Somebody brought it before us. >> That's what I'm wondering, >> right? And then we could all discuss it and then if we like approve. >> Yeah. Yeah. And I I don't know what kind of level we're we're talking about here. It's fairly fresh idea, but uh not for
me, at least it is, but you know, we have people come out. I mean, Karina just did a an interview with with somebody. I mean, that it does happen. The news will come out. We did stuff with uh with uh Vice Mayor Adder Halt with key questions from key staffers. Uh
I think he'd appreciate that shout out um to do that and things like that. So, you know, it didn't it wouldn't necessarily have to come from staff if it came from a volunteer. Um, I know Borcab, for instance, there's somebody on the Friends that they're starting the
Friends of um of Bayokes that that's what he does and he's going to be doing some aerial shots and some photography. So, it can certainly come from, you know, a volunteer. It would just have to get presented to CellC after that. So, yeah, just bring it. But thank you for
thinking about the uh the staff and the staff time because >> oh you you've got you've got I mean it could be something like say for example it was a presentation about the history that would be huge that would be so incredibly exciting and we just fit it into the lecture series that we are
already planning and to say okay you know we've got all the data we've got you know Anita's input and everyone's uh and then you make that as part of what you then begin to promote as staff going forward. So none of that is a bad idea.
It's just more of a protocol thing. >> Yeah. Yeah. Of course. >> And with regard to the the benches, you know, when Allison and actually it was before Allison with Teresa, the conversation about putting these concrete benches in, which would be
solid and intrusive, which was the order. They're not to be decorative or add any other aesthetic input, just something very straightforward. um but that they were going to cost the individual money in order for him for there for that to be a memorial bench.
And I think that's where it got a little sticky >> because you know there were many people that needed to be honored but you know they were I think what $1,500 if I remember >> if I remember I they went from three to five >> and that was 10 years ago. Yeah. And
that's kind of where we stopped the conversation. I I thought that that was originally a friend's idea for fundraising. >> It was at one time also. Okay. >> And then and then Allison brought it to us as as a board member and then she had
she wanted something concrete and and the ones she recommended were were very expensive >> and so and then after that for some reason it just somewhat got dropped. Well, no, that that's good to bring up because I know like the memorial benches we have townwide, you know, they're paid
for by the individuals. Um, right. >> You know, it's it's not it's not three3 to $5,000, but >> yeah, I think it could be a good fundraiser. I don't know. It could be. So, I I think it's something if that's >> Yeah. >> And I don't know why I had in my head I don't know why I had in my head and I
apologize that >> signage and benches is just not something I don't know. I have no idea why I have that in my head that something that people didn't want. So >> I I requested when the donations were coming in, a lot went to the town and a
lot went to the friends and I requested the town council that the funds be earmarked and and I believe uh Councilman Vice Mayor, do you recall that? Um >> I do. I do. Yes, you're absolutely
correct. >> So it it should still be there. I'll I'll double check. Much of the financial support for this effort is already >> covered. >> Okay. Yeah. Sorry. Yeah, I'll check. I mean, everything, for instance, the again the BOR, the friends of Bay Oaks,
we held on to their $18,000 for like five years and they finally got it back. So, yeah, if it's earmarked for a a specific thing, we don't use that for anything else. So, >> okay. I believe that was >> or the concession stand items or whatever it is. >> No. Yeah, there's that. So, so we have a
lot on our plate once we all start to get organized here. And I think uh after probably the holidays and Christmas and stuff and I think we all should be thinking about making a list of all the things that we want to get accomplished and we each can take on kind of projects
>> and that gives us all little motivation. >> Yeah. and and to barber >> I think that I think the concern that we would need to address at this point too when we have these conversations is how much signage how many benches you know how you know what happens if all of a
sudden there are 20 benches that are needed to be installed I mean that's I think where it got to be a little um >> exactly >> uh awkward because you know if there are 20 people that want to be honored with memorial benches how are you going to make that happen That's when it does
become intrusive to the main message of why the mount house exists. >> We don't want it to look like a cemetery. >> Right. Right. >> And we and we have precedent with that with the memorial town memorial benches. Like we have a waiting list because we only have so many spots we can do. >> Exactly. >> You know, so
>> um it's just a matter of finding additional locations and and it is limited. It's moundhouse. So I think it has to be strategic. >> Yeah. >> And I was just going to say that, you know, to Barbara's point, it is something to put on a strategic plan. >> Agreed. Exactly. You know, that's That's a goal that we want to do. So, thank you for bringing that up and >> exactly
>> and and I recall a conversation where it got this far and and I think Alice Alison was given this was taking on coming up with a with a plan as to where the benches could possibly be located. >> She situated them. >> I think it got that far with it was a
tentative here here and she had marked places on on the little map. Um and but I think again if you go back to the friends part >> Annis was working on designs and we did >> concrete no back can you do something
slightly organic feeling how how does that work do you have signs I mean there's lots of things to be figured out but but then it should be is it going to be a cell cab thing >> or are you going to you know put it back to the friends to do figuring out and
bring to selfcare. And again, I think that would be a almost a proposal. >> Yeah. >> From us too. Like this is our parameters. This is what we're looking for. This is the budget. You know, >> those kind of things to to present to the friends. >> Okay. The limitations. >> Okay. Strategic planning.
>> Right. Exactly. Um there's also too you don't have to have a bench for every person. You could do a reflective area and a plat. >> Oh yeah. >> Or something like that also. So, does anybody else have any We kind of did um
items for discussion and everybody kind of got in which was good. So, >> you can just go around down the line. >> Carolyn, do you have anything else that you would like to bring up as far as items go? We've got Jim also. So,
>> I'm sorry. No, no, I don't. That that's, you know, I'm just ready and willing to help however. >> Okay, that's wonderful. >> Subject close. Yeah. >> Thanks, Becky. Good. I'm just thrilled that all of these things have come back because they've
all been in our in our in our space for a long time. And I think we need to be very careful about forgiving ourselves because the last five years have been nothing but chaos. >> Yes. Exactly. Exactly. But we had good guidance. >> Yes. We we've come through the storm.
We've come through the storm. >> Barbara, I just want to congratulate the new chair and the new vice chair. Congratulations to you both. Um, I'm here to help in whatever way, but I'm really pulling back. So, you guys are great new leaders.
>> I like your guidance. So, >> so my pleasure. >> I'm going to take back privilege and say I want to thank Barbara for all of her. Amen. >> Extremely wise and wellthoughtout counsel. And if you stop doing it, I'm really going to be mad.
>> Oh, thank you. >> So, don't mess with me cuz >> Yeah. Ditto. >> Thank you, Becky. >> Yeah, I need you. So, um, and you guys are all okay. Jim, do you have anything you'd like to add?
>> Well, again, thank you, Barbara, for your service. I know you're going to continue in a different format, but we're thankful for all you've done. And congratulations, Sher and Ellen. And I would just say aside from all the substantive things that have been raised today since this is my first uh time
calling in to this new town hall, I would say this and it's really a reminder to myself when I'm sitting at the deis is that for when when folks are speaking, be sure a your mic is on and b make sure you're talking directly into your microphone because I could there were
people I could hear really clearly and then there were folks I couldn't hear hardly at all. So it's it's reminder to myself when I get up there, but for you all just because it's a new system and we're all adjusting. But if you for those who were talking directly into their microphone and it was on it was
loud and clear, but for those who weren't, it was a little bit challenging. So just just a food for thought, but that's all I have uh today. Thank you. >> And I'm going to say this system was made for big people. >> Yes, it was. Thank you, Jim. And again,
thank you, Barbara. You have been an excellent, excellent president and with all your knowledge and everything, we just really hope to rely on you in the future and keep you close. >> So, um I believe uh Jeff has one more thing he'd like to add.
>> Yeah, Barbara did this to us yesterday at Borcab too. She >> sidestepped the vice chair. So, >> I did that. >> This is a double whammy for me. >> This has been like 15 years. Yeah. Uh, Vice Mayor Arrol, I I hope you heard Becky loud and clear that time. That was
good. >> Becky Becky was not the problem. >> And then I just wanted to remind yesterday we had um our Sunshine Law training. Um, is anyone >> I was there? >> Yes, there was. You were one of six, I think, that showed up. I was one of six.
So, thank you for doing that. But it is online um on our you Facebook, our YouTube channel. >> On YouTube. >> Yeah. That you can go ahead and and watch that. Um, and I I did hear a few things today. Just make sure that, you know, it can come through myself or Karina, but just I just want to protect
you all. I know there's a lot of stuff going on there. >> There was one in the spring that I attended and you Yeah. >> No, that that's good. Yeah. I'm just saying there's there's a there's one it's it's recorded, so if you want to go ahead and watch it again. I don't know. Was it about an hour? >> It was little almost an hour and a half. >> Hour and a half. And actually, I think
Nancy went into to things in more detail at this this one yesterday than I remember from the spring. It was much more about um >> channels of communication and >> Sure. >> and how did Yeah. >> Yeah. I just want to bring that up because it is it has been brought to light a lot lately.
>> Um and I want to protect you all and not >> you know. So just a thought. I know you all are friends and that's that's great too. >> I mean friends not friends of >> you know what I mean. >> Yes. Yes. So, I just want to bring that up, but yeah, just just another reminder. >> And and one thing to recommend, well,
this I've known this my whole adult life that if you put anything in writing or you put anything in a message, expect it to live forever. >> Correct. >> That's especially, you know, for me because everything's public record. Exactly. >> And if you do, um, you know, if you want
to get a message out, just email one of us and then we'll blind copy everybody so they're not >> Oh, and this is something that I thought was very wonderful. If you have if you have information that you want to share with the group, send it to Amy Baker and she will forward it on and that way
there it is a public record and I didn't say ask Amy this yesterday but Amy gets a gazillion well some enormous number of messages a day. I would recommend putting in the subject line for forwarding to and then say what the group is >> so that way she can just easily forward
it on and it's a public record. Yeah, you can do that or we are the staff liaison so we can always you know >> or you can do the same. >> We can do the same. >> Yeah. Okay. >> And then I'll I usually when I send a message I'll try to the BC the blind copy on that. I know it's kind of it's different than we we're used to but um I
just want you all to be protected. So >> So we should send stuff to you rather than Karina. I know. >> No, no, no. You can send it to Karina. I'm just saying either one of us is fine. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Because eventually Karina is just going to take this over and interim. Yes. is fromuseum and I'm the
>> essentially yes the director I'm the community services director which incorporates >> culture uh parks and rack >> utilities and um public works. So if it's physical, it's it's job. >> But I have some really good I'm an umbrella. I have some really great
people. My managers, all the departments are are wonderful. I trust them. So things run real smooth. It's like, you know, I I sometimes had to apologize to Adam like I didn't get out there enough. Um but I I trusted what was going on out there. So >> and I feel the same with Karina.
>> Yeah. >> Okay. Well, I just also and I know that I've already did I already did my member item thing, but if I may, I just want to thank Adam. I know it's now that he's gone, he's not going to hear this, but I just am very grateful for what Adam was
bringing to the Mount House in terms of his expertise and his uh knowledge. And so, uh I respected um the work that he did during the time that he was here and most especially with the map planning. That was vital. and I hope we continue
in that same direction. I just want to be on record for that. >> Yeah. >> Do do we still have then the map group together? >> No. >> No. >> No. >> No. The next steps will be the agenda, the um action items that we have. Okay. >> So, we'll bring that up at another
meeting and just talk about that. But those are goals that we will also want to put into our strategic plan. >> Some are some are almost they're immediate. We we they've addressed the immediate ones. So yeah, we'll go through those um at a at a future meeting and and go over what those might
look like as far as our strategic plan. >> All right. Well, that kind of brings um just so you know, the collections management management policy that was done started by Adam and continued by uh Briana. They uh it is part of the
recommendation that we can that we are moving forward with all the items that was listed that we still need to do. >> Yes. Okay. So basically Adam's punch list will be incorporated into nothing but get anything that he left. That's
that I think was the idea. Great. Thank you. >> Okay. >> And we have pretty much um next meeting date and I've got a list of agenda items. Um >> can we just go over those so Karina can write those down so when she sets out the agenda? >> When's the next meeting date?
>> Um we haven't said it yet. Okay. >> It's sad. I just got >> to January. Are we going to >> what? >> I think we set I think we set the whole fall meeting schedule. >> We did. I'm just looking it up right now. >> Okay. Oh, so not till January.
>> So So the 20th November 20th. >> Oh, >> yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. 20th >> and we skip December at >> 1:00. One >> and and and December 18th. >> December 18th. >> Oh, that's right. >> That's at one o'clock. I'm going to need
an excuse. I mean an excuse. I think we generally skip December that we skip December. We normally do that December. >> Yeah. There's nothing I mean there's nothing. >> If it's an emergency, you can always call us, >> right?
Becky, there's no reason why we have to have a meeting every month. Remember, we could go for several months. If there wasn't agenda item, there was no reason to meet. Exactly. Certainly historically >> seems to me that in this big transition thing
>> if we're helpful we should meet >> that we should meet more regular >> and it sounds like we have a whole lot of stuff. >> Yes. Put on the agenda >> and we can and I say we I mean Karina can you know communicate with Sherry and say if there's not much on the agenda you want to just >> Okay. The things I have >> and we did that with Barbara was nice
enough to do that too. We don't have anything on the agenda. So, let's wait, you know, let's I mean, we had a big meeting. Obviously, this was the election of of the officers, but you know, in general, if there's not a hot topic that can't wait till the next month, um there's no reason.
>> Yeah. Okay. >> And this is only so far going to be an hour and 20 minutes. I like hour meetings, but this is pretty good. We got a lot >> fast. Um do you want me to go through some of the agenda items? Okay. This is defin my writing. um the continuation of
the MAP program and that that should be I think we probably should put strategic plan because um that includes the map program and then somebody coming um to us with like the gardens and uh so I
have the map um we have the underground what we could put out front of the underground I'm sorry I'm not talking into the mic >> that's much better much You're the one. >> Yeah, I'm the one.
>> I'm short and I sit back. Um, okay. So, we have the the map program, the underground, what we could put on the outside of it to explain to people >> board action for collection management policy. We will have reviewed it. We need to vote for its approval.
>> This policy statement >> um on our next one >> at in November. >> In November. Okay. So we need so yes so we need to vote on the collections management policy >> which is the map
>> I think we vote send it to council >> isn't that what happens >> we we recommend >> yes >> you vote to recommend it to council >> exactly exactly >> and then it'll go on a >> sorry if you didn't hear me vote to recommend to council and then it'll go
to them as a administrative agenda item >> okay um then the other topics that we have been talking about are the gardens and the benches. Um a tours maybe um beginning having to
um a garden tour or um full you know of the botanical would be probably better to describe it. Um the the loop road. Yeah. And
week ahead. Okay. That's me. Underground benches, strategic plan, tours, gardens. Basically, roof roll. Is it Did I miss something? >> I think I think you've captured it. >> Okay. All right. Um, if that's agreeable
if anybody has any other agenda items that they want to mad >> chair, madam chair, >> just just for clarity, I heard a couple people and and I'm included in that group that have some challenges with that December 18th uh meeting because of the holidays. Is are we on or off for
the 18th of December? Can we determine that now or is it too premature? >> I think that's a good idea because the holidays are going to come up fast and I would say no meeting in December if everyone's in agreement. >> Should we set our January meeting dates? >> I agree.
>> Now we have a November correct >> November 20. >> Mhm. >> And that's set. And then but should we set a meeting for January? You want to do a January some? >> I would think we would have enough that we need to get done. >> January. We also have
>> January 27 is the >> 22nd. >> 22nd. Okay. And again 1:00 here at town hall. >> Mhm. >> Okay. So, we have >> January 22nd. Okay. >> January 22nd >> and one o'clock. So,
>> yep. at one o'clock. Again, if everyone's in agreement and we have uh moving on, we have no public comment. And if all has been said, um could I have a motion for
adjournment, please? >> I move. >> I'll second. >> All right, we are adjourned until November. >> Thank you, Sherry. Thank you, Sher. Well done, Barbara.