Afternoon everyone. Uh it is Thursday, May 22nd, 2025. It is 10:04 in the afternoon. This is a meeting of the town of Fort Myers Beach Cultural and Environmental Learning Center Advisory Board. And uh it is that town hall
chambers probably for the last time until we move to new town halls. This one will be the last one to go. So we'll see how long it can can stay. Okay. Or sitting isn't on a pickle ball court per se like those are. So, okay. Well,
gotcha. Until further notice, we'll be meeting here, but we may be at the new town to be decided. So, I'd like to call this meeting to order. And please, let's begin with the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of the United States of
America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And um I would like to recognize that Ellen has requested to be uh on Zoom to
participate in this meeting. And do we have a consensus for from our uh board that we can um allow her to participate virtually? Yes. Yes. Yes. All in favor? Okay. Consensus has been reached. Thank you. Welcome, Ellen. Yep. Thank you. All
right. We have um Uh, roll call beginning with Jeff, Jeff Hogy, Adam, Petty Simpson, Barbara Hill, Sher Samantha, Carolyn, Ellen Vaughn, and Ellen Le.
U, and we have the approval of the minutes. Has everyone had an opportunity to review the minutes that were um emailed to us by Adam? Yes. Any changes or amendments? I'd move the approval of the minutes. from April 24th, 2025. And Carolyn is
seconding that. And um any um additions or changes? There being none, um vote to approve. All in favor? Opposed? None. Okay. Motion carried. Thank you. Uh so we have
no public here to comment. We'll move on to staff report. Oh, great. Uh I'm going as fast as I can. No worries. Okay. Things are great at Mountain House. Um, so, uh, before you on the
page with the various columns is our is a breakdown of the numbers in terms of visitation as well as, um, the one exception being merchandise revenue for the museum store. As you can tell, numbers are holding up pretty well. Um, we're actually up slightly from April
this time, uh, which was last month for May 1st through May, which is unusual because season was over. I was trying to figure it out. Uh, mostly it has to do with our, um, uh, we've had a lot of field trips. Okay. So, that might
explain uh that uh, elevation numbers. So, um, they're actually here today and yesterday. Oyola Elementary School. Yeah. Um, yes. I remember those. Yes. The last two weeks, the kids are paying really close attention.
Um, no, but Ashley and Franklin are doing amazing work there and so our events are good. I've been doing a lot of outreach, especially with the um Southwest Attractions Expo, the Rock the Arches Cinco de Mayo Festival on St.
Carlos Island. Um, unfortunately don't have the membership numbers for you, but I'll have that for you next meeting. Merchandise is actually holding SETI as well as visitation. Might be some correlation there. Um, wait, are you on page two? Bottom of page one. Merchandise. Oh, there's a Okay. The
very bottom. Yes. So, we've exceeded over eight over $1,000 in sales for the month of or for the first 21 days of May. That's actually quite good. Quite good. For the f for the fiscal year, we've made uh $8,5521. So, how much for the previous
for the fiscal year? It's at the bottom. $8,5521 in revenue for the museum store merchandise. So that's not programs or Right. Specifically the museum store merchandise items. Exactly. With with the field trips do we sell quite a bit of you know the little kits and things we have those are those? Not that I know
of. No. Um but typically the kids will come with some money and purchase little um little duads. Yes. Yeah. Okay. Best part of a field trip. Yeah. You bet. You bet. Okay. Thanks. Everybody likes those. Yes. On uh page two, we had uh no rentals. Uh social media outreach is
holding strong. Increase in followers. Uh pretty drastic increase in followers overall for May, the first 21 days. Uh marketing is going strong, the continuation of those um the digital marketing initiatives through Expedia um
Trooper Advisor. And then some things of note. Uh the last two meetings uh I won't get into it because it's not an agenda item, but uh and I don't have a lot of information of which I'll have more detailed information regarding the underground exhibit next meeting. I'll
have a more comprehensive report for y'all, including timelines, numbers, those kind of things. Um so I don't want to speculate on a lot of things, but if you have any questions, please I'll I'll try my best. Can can we I'm sorry we skipped over the marketing pretty much
quickly and I just had a question um because you had this Valpek direct marketers I marketing and the mailers and I know that that was something you were very excited about when it was first proposed what two years ago I think or a year and a half ago or
something. Uh this is the second season we've been doing. It was two years ago. About two years ago now. So um what was your rationale for our doing these mailers and what was our cost of being involved because that's actually a print publication, right? It is. Yeah. Um I
don't have the exact numbers of how much it cost, but we have seen uh a notable increase. We've been targeting areas that typically would not uh or areas that we thought had or not thought areas that we knew through Valpac's uh marketing data of households
which had high concentrations of families with young children. Okay. especially we were really targeting at first uh last fiscal year we were targeting the Iona area and the southeast Cape Coral area but Cape Coral has grown so much they've actually
broken Cape Coral up into five districts and not four. So we're doing southeast Cape Coral and South Central Cape Coral. So that's a very high concentration of new family home construction. A lot of new families moving there. So a lot of marketing there. So just another way uh
to get people in through the door. And how how do you know how effective those mailers um are? Because there is a coupon uh that they bring in and so they have to bring the proof and have that coupon on them to get a uh it's a buy one get one free adult admission and
it's working good. Yes. Pretty well decent. Decent. Not, you know, blowing through the doors. Uh we're stopping for summertime um just so we can allocate uh the remaining marketing money that we have.
um through the end of the fiscal year probably for promotional materials for our outreach especially um we've hit a lot of people through outreach and we we've noticed a lot of people just from anidilical anidotal information of people hearing about Mounts through all
the outreach events we've been doing. So word of mouth very powerful force. So, we uh we started allocating the remaining marketing money we have left for this fiscal year into um promotional material and um things like uh word
searches, buttons, bags, uh koozies with the Mount House logo with our address and key information. Are you going to be doing the the We don't have them already, right? We do. We do. Yeah. Oh, I have to get one. Anyone stop by Mount House, I'll give you a koozie, a button,
uh a tote bag. supplies while last. Is that what you're talking about? The swag. Yeah, the swag. Swag. The swag. That's our swag. Definitely. We'll be there. We actually have a button maker we purchase. So, we actually make our own in-house uh buttons.
I don't know what they're called, but they're the circular buttons that you'd see in like a campaign. Uh they usually will have the Mountain House logo logo with a tel and it says um Mount House. I dig it. Um and cute things like that. That's cute. I like that.
Okay, thank you for answering my question. You're welcome. Sorry, I didn't mean to um interrupt, but I was curious. Um, so yes, so the underground exhibit previously I discussed applying for a uh spe a small matching grant through the state of Florida for reasons
um I can get into in more detail with that report that's forthcoming. Uh we don't qualify for that small matching grant for the purposes of the exhibit. it that grant is specifically reserved for historic resources. Um, and as the Shellmound exhibit is an exhibit and not
a historic resource, it does not qualify. Exactly. I'm still, you know, still looking for grants, state, federal, private. Um, but I have a an ulterior path that we're working on and
formalizing that I'll I'll share next meeting. Okay. um on a path forward for preserving the shell mound. That's good news. Uh speaking of the underground exhibit, um we went ahead and uh
contracted the industrial or a industrial hygienist to inspect the underground exhibit. Um they did find three types of harmful mold inside the underground exhibit. Uh which we are currently working with uh companies for a mitigation protocol as well as a
remediation plan to uh sanitize the air and the HVAC system of the uh underground exhibit. So that will be forthcoming as well in the report. But that's all the information I have so far that should be scheduled by the time we meet next in June. Um, as I said, working on that
comprehensive report expected next cell meeting on steps to preserve the Shell mound exhibit or excuse me, to preserve the uh the Shell mound. Um, as it says on the report, uh, we had some the Shell mound in its entirety, not just the
underground exhibit. Exactly. Yes. A more holistic view of the situation and some of the challenges. And so, uh, next we had some great landscaping installed. Um, new landscaping has been installed alongside the observation pier. So, if you enter
to the moundhouse through the shell loop drive, um, alongside the kayak shed where the the mural has been temporarily placed while the work in the underground moves forward. That area right there that was heavily affected by the storm surge from Helen and Milton. We replaced
it with new landscaping. All extremely salt tolerant. So hopefully it will be well established, fingers crossed that there will be no storms or future flooding uh this year. But we are prepared. But we are prepared. You know, um the dune
sunflowers, how do the landscapers feel about the um the durability of the dune sunflowers given the storm surges? There are two ways of thinking about that. one is that they do recede and they come back nicely but when a storm comes through such as we've had over the last
several years they actually fully die out. Uh so at the Mount House property if you visit now I can't speak for the landscapers I'm not holdist but just based on what I've observed and what staff have observed at Mount House the uh we I don't think we have any dune
sunflowers left maybe it was a mixture of the three flood events that we had within a month of each other with Debbie Helen and Milton flooding those lower areas uh and then the remaining survivors especially at the top part of
the shell mound near where the pine tree is located, that little pine tree. Um, and closer towards the path from the parking lot to the front entrance of the museum, those remaining dune sunflowers and a couple others like the blanket
flower um all the tropical sage um unfortunately they even with intense watering um did not survive the current drought we're in. Um really? Yes. So, it's probably many factors, but from what I've seen for this season, the dune
sunflowers in the other perennials or other or perennials in general didn't make it so well in the lower levels. But on the upper part of the mound, unfortunately, the shell mound is not a very forgiven uh soil. Rich and
alkaline, extremely well drained, not a lot of nutrients for a lot of plants. So, the dune sunflower hasn't been holding up so well. Um, so we've made note of that. The things that is holding up best right now with all the saltwater intrusion, the the shell mound itself,
and the extentive drought conditions we're going through have been uh the grasses like the cord grass, mooly grass, as well as the prickly pear cactus. Um, the gumbo limbo's holding up, the stringler figs are holding up.
Um, but the smaller flowers not as good. So in the lower level you'll notice we actually have some small mang some buttonwood mangrove planted as small shrubs well decent sized shrub but silver buttonwood really holds up well
in even submerged water so I would think that storm surges are not affect button yes so fingers crossed uh we also removed a lot of the dead landscaping at the overflow parking lot located at 216 Connecticut Street and basically We've
removed the dead landscaping and mulched the area. Looks hundred times better than what it used to. And basically, we've prepped the area so for next fiscal year when we get further funding from TDC for landscaping, we can use those funds to beautify 216 uh as well
in addition to the uh a couple other spots in the Mount property. Um any questions for Adam while he's going through this report? Um, I don't want to wait till the end because maybe we'll forget, but I just want to touch base with everyone. Ellen,
um, do you just like to comment? Is it Do you have any comments, Adam? This is just a wonderful report. I mean, you you're you're moving forward on so many fronts. Um, kudos to you and your team. Okay. Oh, thank you. Thank you. Um, uh, we're moving forward. We're
applying um, as the town for the attractions marketing grant through the, uh, BCB. So, I'm working on that right now. The deadline for that is June 13th, so should have no problem with that and submitting for this year. Um, we're moving forward on getting logistics for
the Mountain Key Boat Tour tenatively. Uh, the Wednesday after Memorial Day, we're doing a um what would you call like a mock tour with staff and the boat operator um and tentatively um based on
conditions and everything else to try and time it and see if we can get that 2-hour tour possible. It should work out 30 minutes there, 45 minutes there or 30 minutes to Mount Key, 45 minutes spent at Mount Key, and 30 minutes returning
from Mount Key with 15 minutes buffer zone. So hopefully that moves forward and I'll have a pretty exciting update um next cell meeting regarding that. Um and will that be will that be terribly title dependent? Uh that is one of the things we're going
to be figuring out. Um there's been a lot a lot of the soils been moved especially after the last hurricanes. Um but there is a captain we're working with who's very familiar with the Back Bay in the the shifting sands um and the tides. So, okay, it not as much as it
was in the past. Um, but I'm sure it'll still be especially with our area's unique irregular tide system that we have here, right? Has anyone been over on M Have you been to Mount Key? Is it cleared? I heard it was kind of a mess for a while. I haven't. However, we have
had some volunteers go on their own accord. Um, Roger Lesley, they've kayak. They're avid kayakers. So, they've been out there um a couple times. Okay. And uh he said it's cleaned up and good. They didn't have a problem uh accessing it
via kayak. I'm assuming the state park system because there for years they won't touch it have anything to do with it. Yeah the state park system um you know correction manages it directly. Of course there's no facilities on Mount Key State Park.
Uh but the the folks at Caressian um they're doing a wonderful job um because for a while they were overseeing themselves. Lover's Key, uh, Caression, I think, Book of Grand um, a lot of because a lot of facilities were destroyed with Milton. So, they're doing
a lot of great work. So, it's, uh, fantastic that they're able to, uh, clear M key even though it doesn't have as many visitors as others. So, really kudos to the state Florida State Park system. Fantastic. Isn't that wonderful? That's excellent. Yeah. Make sure they take mosquito spray off. Yes.
Yes. Yes. We're uh, we're working on some of those things. Maybe a VIP package. uh package skin so soft or something. That's great. Wonderful. Um so we're excited about that. Um and then regarding the uh lecture series, um
we're actually moving forward. We're going to experiment and kind of start running a pilot program, especially in the fall, but we probably will continue it to be year round to transition the uh lecture series, the community conversations uh series into a um a
purely virtual format um with the traffic issues, especially in the evening um the continued displacement of residents, especially during season. especially during season which and then the high numbers of our seasonal residents who still want to be engaged
with Mountain House. We really don't have anything that keeps our members engaged when they might go back up north or out west wherever they're coming from. So kind of transitioning the lecture series because currently our average attendance for the lecture series this fiscal year has been eight
people per lecture series. Um that's removing an outlier of 55 people during uh uh in January. Uh that was but that was with a rockstar speaker um Dr. Savarice or um not Dr. Saves. I don't
know. I'm blanking on his name. Charge of the water school at uh FGCU. Oh yeah, the water. Mike Parsons. Excuse me. I thought maybe that was the one who did. Oh no, no, no. That rock. Yes. Dr. Case and Dr. Parsons, both rock stars, but it
just so happens that Parsons was the rock star performing that night. I'm sorry I missed that. It's all good. Uh, it was cool. So, are you are you talking about when they do when you're doing these virtual programs, would that be something that even though they're not watching it live via Zoom, is that
something they can access later on through our website? Yeah, we're working on um so maybe posting it on the town's YouTube channel um or making a moundhouse YouTube channel that can be used as both a recording mechanism but
also a way to save some of those videos, right? Um to archive them so people can go back later, especially onboarding new volunteers or onboarding new staff um or just people who want to rewatch them and say, "Oh, this speaker said something. I want to go back and listen to them. And
you know, just like we all can enjoy streaming today, we're all spoiled off it. Uh you know, everyone has very complex schedules, especially um amongst our residents here, you know, with everything going on during u all the recovery efforts. So, we're hoping that
this will kind of provide a a new service to our residents, our members, um and people around the world, which also will help us in um a lot of speakers have turned us down because of the traffic. Uh I think were you there Barbara? Someone was here. Um one of our
speakers got caught in traffic for the March lecture and uh she actually didn't get to the property until about 15 minutes afterwards after the lecture was supposed to start. So um I've had a couple speakers turn us down outright because of the traffic issues. Um a lot
of people have canled because of traffic. You know I get calls at six o'clock. I live at Santini Plaza. I'm not making it. Exactly. So, we're hoping that this will provide greater access for us to share our mission beyond an in-person format.
Of course, we'll still have all those regular in-person things, but it'll give a virtual component and another option for people. And it gives us a better broad reach of speakers. So, out of state speakers, speakers uh reaching out to speakers in Texas, in Puerto Rico, who can speak on the fields of
archaeology more broadly, and the fields of environmental science more broadly. So, be great. That' be great. So, Makes sense, doesn't it? Yeah. Indiana Jones. I kid personally. Yes. Yes. That'd be
quite the lecture. Yes. You never know. And then think, oh, and then on a a bittersweet note, um one of our education coordinators, Franklin, he's actually turned in his notice. Uh he gave advanced notice. Uh he turned in his notice. His last day will be uh June
14th. uh he's uh leaving us to pursue pursue a PhD program. Uh so we're very proud of Franklin for getting accepted to uh the very prestigious program and for continuing his education and uh but we'll be sorry to miss him. Um so we're
working on a drafting a job posting and um putting that out soon so there won't be too much of a disruption in operations but it is summertime so should be a little bit slower. So, um, yes. So, bittersweet, very proud of
Franklin, but proud of him. I know he's very, everyone loves the He will be sorely missed. Um, but he's joining the alumni club. How's that? He is. Yeah. Yes. Maybe we'll be able to welcome him back one day. Dr. Del.
Exactly. Yes. Yes. Yes. What is he pursuing his PhD in? Uh, I don't have it on the top of my head. I know it is broadly cultural studies. I think it's I forgot the exact title. It's it's either global it's African-American studies,
global black studies, something like that. Okay. I forgot the exact uh official title. Uh but it's broadly uh African diaspora story studies. So getting a PhD there. And where is he? Uh Austin. Oh, I know where. I don't think he would
like me to share just because it's a public meeting for his own privacy. Sure. Okay. He's he's an amazing young man. Yes, he is. We'll miss him. And also too, I'd like to say how impressed I am with uh Briana.
She is just a gem. So, that's really I think going to add a nice aspect to to the mouth. Yeah. We're very very very fortunate to have such a great committed passionate well educated team at Mount House. Um Bana, Ashley, Karina, Sandra,
a great team and you've worked hard to get good people there. So thank you. Yes. Just moving forward. Kudos to you Franklin. Yep. Okay. Thank you for the staff report. You're welcome. Um let's move on to old business. Um the MAP
program specifically. And I believe you all have the information from last month's meeting. And of course, and I do want to be um put on record, that our meeting last month was unfortunately
uh cancelled prematurely before we could get through our agenda because of technical issues. So, a lot of the things that we were hoping to go through um and review and discuss last month is now put on this month's agenda. So,
hence the old business um item. Awesome. So, we were kind of wrapping up uh over the last two meetings the governance section. Um and I can feel free to go back again. This is a discussion. We're eager for y'all's
insight and uh opinions regarding the governance section. Um but um overall just to because we we have talked about it uh over the last two meetings the the previous one before the last if that makes sense the one
before the last um but the governance just to go over the recommendations that's kind of a broad outline and again I can go back or anyone can go back um the peer reviewer recommends in the organizational assessment for moundhouse under governance to quote add additional
members to have that have educational, nonprofit or museum backgrounds to the cultural environmental learning center advisory board. The three stakeholders, town council, the cultural environmental learning center advisory board and the friends of mouse need to visit with staff members regularly to fully
understand the challenges that they are facing and find solutions that will allow Mount House to thrive. And and lastly, the last recommendation from this section is the cultural and environmental learning center advisory board and the friends of mouth house should represent a larger
community, diversify and attract new audiences who will advocate in the future for the mount house. Any questions, comments uh you have for me or I I think maybe Ellen might you because you're president of
France, do you want to to the changes that have been made at your board leadership level. Right. Well, we're we're in process and and to be honest, we we were slowed down. I haven't been able to accomplish anything um since the 1st of May, but um
the the the the plan is is to um basically devest well not devest to have no member of the leadership of the friends of the Mountain House also serve on cell cap. Correct. We're in the
process of doing that. The one remaining hold up is me and um I have to figure that one out yet. Um so but that that should give us a broader range of of peoples to be involved um and hopefully
more about that in June. Okay. But you did make some very important changes by already eliminating that duplicate um number. Correct. I I guess to to to um to fully explain this.
So all of the all of the board members of the friends of the mound house who also have served on cellcap have resigned their positions and we have been able to fill those positions with the exception of the presidency. Um so we're in the process of trying to figure that one out and um you know whether I
stay with Cellab or I stay with the friends is is to be determined but that's that's the remaining hangup. Um, and to be honest, that would that was my goal for the month of May, but the month of May kind of got So that will now be June's actually.
Understood. But um, so that means that I believe it's Betty and Sherry and Carolyn, both all of whom were friends, board members, are no longer friends board members. So there's no conflict
here at all with the exception now of Ellen and So at the appropriate time you will make your decision. I I suspect you've already met with Nancy our legal. Yes. And and and well I I would like to meet with Nancy again because I had
presented this idea of being um basically I'm not sure what the right terminology would be but to be as a um you know a non- voting member of South Cab or however it winds up being structured. Oh and to be honest I also think that the friends of the non house
needs needs fresh blood too. um there hasn't been that many actively involved in this kind of stuff and say well I'll be the next president. Um so that that's something that has to be has to be massaged. Okay. So, it's going to go in one one of two directions and that's to
be determined. And um as I said, I'm hopeful that I can get it resolved in June, but given that that you know, this is a slow time of year, it may take a little bit longer than that. But I will make sure that I do touch base with Nancy so she knows knows where we're headed on that. So, what I I will say
that what we have done is we have shrunk the board. The board is now five members and Mike Hughes actually said we can legally get by with having three members of the board. So, but we have we have some wiggle room. I I think our big saving grace is when Mike used this um
volunteer to step up and take the role of secretary. Um so, not only will he be the official secretary to the friends of the Mountain House, but um has as our long-standing legal adviser who will just be he's a godsend to have on board. So, we're I think we're moving forward.
We have a good path forward. Will will a liaison position continue? We did. We did have Bill Grace as our historic advisor as a uh non- voting
member uh sort of because of his obvious direct involvement uh with the mount house, he became not a member of SECAB but was a historic adviser. That's the only time
we've ever had an instance where you weren't a full voting member. And I don't know if there's anything legal with regard to a liaison other than the one that we have with Jim Adhalt, for example, who is our, you know, council vice chair, who serves as our council
liaison. Uh, again, a non- voting position. So, what I'm hearing you say is you would like to consider a non voting liaison as a board person. Maybe it doesn't even have
to be the president of friends as a connector. Is that what I'm hearing you say? Well, who who are you asking that question of? Me or Carolyn or whom? Yeah. No, I'm asking that of you, Alan.
So, I I think that would probably be a reasonable approach. I know that having had conversations during these meetings with Jim Aderhold, he feels that there needs to be a direct direct connection if if we want to keep the communications flowing well. The communication between
CellCAB and Friends of the Moundhouse needs to be strong and it would be strong if there was non- voting representation on CellCAB from Friends of the Mountain House. Um, you know, sitting at on, you know, sitting at the table rather than just presenting a report. I think that the nature of just
presenting a report uh which had been the case before I became a member of SECAB um makes a significant difference in the way that a person feels that they can participate. But I I certainly will talk with Nancy about that and then share that.
So I think what we're hearing is that there have been strides made with the issue of streamlining the government's challenge governance challenge. Yes. Yes. Um so thank you Ellen for that. I really appreciate it. That certainly
clears up uh some of the confusion that we've had and um so I think we're on the right path. Yes. Uh huge strides. I just want to thank you all for taking those recommendations in such stride and moving so quickly u especially with
everything to steal Ellen's raising uh during our snow globe years um where pandemics five hurricanes to restructure. I don't think um another group would have been able to do it as quickly or as well as y'all
have to It's a resilient group. It is. Yeah. So, kudos to y'all. Yeah. Thanks. Great. Okay. So, um, as far as the governance, um, is there anything else that you think,
Adam, that we aren't addressing appropriately given what we've been able to accomplish over the last several months since this report came out um, with regard to governance or should we just move on? I I think we've addressed everything with governance and of course
we'll um hopefully in terms of future agenda items whenever we get to it technical difficulties uh with the exception um hopefully um when we're done with this we'll have another meeting just to go over the whole document and summarize some of the
recommendations and um go forward with you know some board actions on you know recommending those policies if need be you know implement mented or rewarding of ordinances if need be things like that that you the board could recommend
to council. Okay. Um and I think also you know the further clarification of the role of each entity both SECAB and friends with regard to moving forward in the next year what is
the role of and being very clear about what that entails. Yes. All right. Go ahead. That's all I have. If you I if we wanted to move to the next agenda, I guess sub agenda item, the public trust, public trust and
accountability. That's uh part of the governance issue. It is a separate it is a separate section in the map report. It's on page 15, okay, of the map report in the section um public trust and accountability. And it kind of segus well into the previous discussion
regarding um the friends and cell cabab involvement and kind of that you know the public trust and the legal issues regarding the sunshine law. Um making sure members of cell cab are
not meeting with each other outside discussing uh board actional uh items that could appear appear excuse me on CellCAB's agenda. Um and kind of what we were already discussing separating some of that confusion and elaborating
um how best the different stakeholders can walk best in lock step with each other rather than stepping on toes or crossing into paths. Um so that's that's done quite well. Um, and with anything, I'm sure Sunshine Law will continue
being a continued uh point of a for all advisor boards, the council, everyone. It is law. Um, and then then he moves into the strategic plan. Uh, so
currently, I don't know if it's technical or technically not. Uh, Mountain House has a strategic plan, but it hasn't been updated since 2022. Um, as we are painfully aware. Yes. And it's not for the lack of trying. Right.
Exactly. I'm sorry, but I just had to put that in. No, no, I was going to add because we didn't do our best to be diligent about updating. 2022 was a rough year to Yes, it was. We were dealing with 22, 23, 24. Um, not to even mention
the pandemic. Yes. Yeah. Um so the strategic plan um maybe in a future board end when we're done with the map we'll have a better road map to start working on and discussing the strategic plan. But in terms of the um Dr. Scott
Neil's recommendations uh he said the staff should be the ones writing the documents uh with assistance from all three stakeholders. So, council members, uh, cell cab members, um, friends members, and then submitting that as a document. Of course, separate meetings.
Definitely. Exactly. Totally separate meetings. I I'll be traveling a lot. You guys don't have to go anywhere. Uh, that's the good news. Um, but you know, Jeff and I working in writing this and the staff at Mount House writing this concerning especially the different areas of expertise in
collection was always done by staff in any event. I mean the strategic plan was discussed in advance about you know brainstorming and ideas and short and long-term goals but ultimately it was either Teresa or Allison that actually No, they did. We didn't have a strategic
plan when we had Teresa. It was all It was all Yeah, it was Alison, but Allison was the one responsible for putting the document together. So that's there's no change there. Yep. Um and so that should really clear up our pass forward. Um and
of course we'll bring it to CellCA. We'll discuss it, make any edits, clarifications for that long-term planning. You know, strategic plans typically three, fiveyear documents, living documents. He also recommends um
that whenever we update that we if we achieve a goal we should remove it from the strategic plan so it's a little bit clearer that the goal is in fact accomplished. Um and again we can get into the the more uh the weeds of what
makes a good strategic plan. There's a bunch of books I can share resources that am has provided on this specific matter. Great. Um so we can have really productive discussions when that comes up. So he recommends you saying to do that after we complete the map. That would be my recommendation. Okay. So
we'll have the map done and as a good road map based on you know those decisions and policies we'll already be moving forward if like for example the role of cell cab needs to be clarified under a town ordinance. Of course maybe cellc cab needs or believes that you
know this should be in the ordinance that should not be in the ordinance to better clarify some of those rules especially for new members. so that that can be implemented by council, any ordinances are changed. Just for example, not saying ordinances have to be changed, but just as an example for the path forward. Um, and then once
that's all settled, those those um mechanisms are in place, then that would be my recommendation uh to the board to then have staff work on the shooting plan to submit it as a item for review for cell cab and then council. Yeah. And
just as we're talking and we talked about this cab yesterday is that the town's doing their own strategic planning. Yes. And we had at 4 cab we were kind of saying maybe we should wait a little bit until the town has has solidified theirs. Well, I think the
intent was while they are solidifying theirs that we have input both correct from both SECAB and BCAB with regard to you know what you might want to consider as you're doing a town strategic plan that will then guide our specific
So that's why I I said it at board camp yesterday. I think it I'm encouraging you all to be part of like the community planning um on next Wednesday uh at Bay Oaks. It starts at five o'clock, I believe. Yeah. Um on the 28th is is one of our community
um sessions uh to to gain input as as far as the residents go. So I think it's important for our our advisory boards that have strategic plans as well to be involved in those conversations and just at least be aware of them. Um, obviously if you can't make it, you can't make it, but uh I think we should definitely be
aware of what's going on at those uh community planning meetings. You said Bayops Bay, correct? Yeah. 25. Yeah. If you know anyone who's really passionate about Mount House, you know, bring them along. Absolutely. So, Mount Absolutely. Um like, you know, I'm
sure all the properties are well included, but you know, I'm a little correct. And it's 5:01. 5:01 p.m. PM. Oh, yes, I did see that. We have to have it at 5:01, too. It's for something with We have to have it
after 5:00 as part of the bylaws. It has to be like 501 similar to our like budget discussions. It has to always be 501. So, so Jeff, what is the official title of that of that session? Uh, strategic planning. Um, okay. Community forum one.
There'll be two of them. I don't remember when the sec Oh, the second one's June 12th uh at 501 at Bay Oaks as well. So May 28th at 501 at Bays and June 12th is the
second community forum uh at 501 at Bays as well in the gym. Okay, thank you. Um and so um your report then Adam with regard to old business is done for this month.
Uh yeah I think there's just one last thing one. Okay. Um so in so after the strategic plan just looking forward uh he also recommends for accreditation we have to have go through a core document verification process through the
American alliances of museums a am which the strategic plan is one of those core documents that are required to be considered for accreditation. Another would be the collection management policy which is I believe still tabled. Uh yes I was wondering about that. I was
about to ask when is that going to be an agenda item? Probably after the strategic plan. I think that makes that far in advance. I think so because the strategic plan is an all-encompassing and collections is a part of strategic planning. So um with the and you know
one of the plans goals could be approve these institutional documents like the collection management policy and the collection management policy is really the uh really Bana but also all town staff's sword and shield in regards to
safeguarding the collections and uh daily operations on what we can and cannot do under those policies and directions under best museum practices. So it's not it would fit well to be taken after the planning session to think about you know what's the future
of our collections at the museum look like and then maybe circle back to adopting those policies and procedures on how to implement those plans. So that brings up an interesting question because obviously as the mount house has a collection and is
documenting and um you know providing the documents necessary to ensure that all the archives are current and appropriately identified. What happens to those items that come before the town as a donation
but not necessarily to the moundhouse? Is this collection management policy sort of overreaching for the town or does the town have its own collection policy? Uh we've been discussing this. That's
why that's why I gave the thumbs up. That is an e excellent question. Um so the short answer is uh to my knowledge the town does not have a collection management policy nor does mount house have a collection management policy. We have a draft one that we're we have you
you distributed that I remember we have that in our documents. Yes. And um there were a few items brought before town council as a donation. Not a monetary financial donation but a donation of artistic, cultural or historical
significance. So more of a um cultural value assigned to it rather than a financial value. Um in terms of cultural patrimony laws um in terms of um Florida
has vague as a as a layman has vague uh cultural property laws. Um, and that would obviously be a discussion with Nancy and the attorneys for the town about implementing the collection management policy since it does discuss
some complex issues such as uh custody, legal custody and ensuring that you know if something is donated to the town and moundhouse as moundhouse is a town department that it is the towns and the mound houses and so thus to do what the
town judges to do with its material um but protected under the guides of it being uh that cultural value. Um so and then there are some other laws and especially ethics that u a has in regards to how to
properly process um things. So for example, you're not allowed to sell paintings. Um, uh, a university museum in Indiana is in hot water right now for the university selling of its museum's paintings to finance a freshman
dormatory. Uh, a couple years ago, I think it was the Berkshire Museum up in Massachusetts sold a couple artworks to fund operations. It was Brandise University even had a bigger scandal. Yes. So there there's definitely some legal risk that would
have to circle in of course the full council and of course the attorneys, but um in a sense again because the moundhouse is the town um it kind of is applied. So we're in those conversations on the staff level
about the implementation of a policy and you know who to contact. So, the way I envision it, in the same way that the town has an environmentalist, you know, Chad. Anything environmental, call Chad. Um, if there's anything cultural, if there's a donation, a bunch of, you
know, arrowheads left on the front step of town hall, they can call. Don't do that. Don't do it. Please don't. Uh, uh, come uh, you know, we have myself, we have Briana. You know, that's her whole job. She's hired by the town. She's a town employee. It's not just a
moundhouse employee. Um, so we're here to serve the town and serve the residents in more than just at 415 or excuse me, be 451 Connecticut Street. We're here for the whole town. Um, so that's the way I envision it. Um, you know, as we were sorry, as we were
having a conversation with the town clerk about it and just came up as simple as if somebody donates something to us and we don't claim ownership of it and they may pass away and their grandkids want it back, it gets into a real sticky situation where there's not
a chain of custody on that. So, that's just another reason why we want to, you know, do this as well as putting a cultural value on it. And there's virtually no policy with regard to um pursuing a donation or
accepting a donation if it's either appropriate or not appropriate for the town. So, and who is the person who can on behalf of the town accept this donation? The council accepts donations. So, say we get a donation in um but then
it has to be council. It has to be a full council vote. In other words, one person from council can't say, "Oh, yeah. I'm so happy you're interested in donating that." Let's right has to come before the book to accept it. Yeah. If they if they want to deny it, if it's,
you know, if it's something that they don't feel is maybe appropriate, appropriate or ethical or whatever the reason may be, uh, they can deny the donation or it's really bad. Yeah. Or it's really bad or Yeah. It always all of ours either
it's in the you know it's usually in there in in like a consent agenda kind of thing. Uh if it's a big a big value they'll they'll actually pull it and vote on it. So it's usually accepted always accepted by interesting. Yeah. And then um so
we're working on that and uh hopefully that'll be forthcoming. and as uh the disaster preparedness and emergency response plan. We actually have one uh through the townhouse has a whole section in it. Um okay. Uh but we'll move forward with that and
then I think that is it. We already do an annual report um to the town manager. Um so I can at the end of this fiscal year I can also share that annual report with cell cab as well. I don't know if I did that in last fiscal year. I don't
think so. Um I don't think it is. Uh I I don't believe we really did one. I was going to say I don't recall started but um not to my knowledge but we you know we started to do monthly reports that are published as well as an annual
report uh which is on a public record too on our website. Yeah. And and basically it's a compilation of the monthly reports, but I think it'd be good for us that like he says, the public wants to know their local museum is doing everything it can to safeguard
its collections and the town's history, right? And that the staff are holding themselves to high standards and we're meeting national professional practices. So maybe publicizing that um and kind of uh as he points out several times, you know, accomplishing our achievements,
you know, acknowledging how far we have to go, proud of acknowledge how far we have come in many of these steps. Um and that could be another good example every year. Um celebrating the previous year's accomplishments in a more public way. Uh right. But yeah, that's that's pretty
much it. Uh finish up, Adam. No, no, Adam. Finish. Finish. Finish. I was just saying that was pretty much it. Okay. I was just going to I was just going to say this is just an indicator of the town is maturing. I mean, yeah, we're Yeah. Are we 25 now? So, yeah, it's
time, you know, and not to cover and that's kind of been the last couple years is um you know, to cover ourselves legally as well. So, we're trying to do the right thing to put policy in place to cover ourselves from any type of
litigation or anything like that that that may come about with any with anything. So, we're still a diamond in the rough, but we're getting more published. Yes, we're growing up. We're growing up.
Yeah. Yes. Okay. Thank you so much, Adam. You're welcome. Anything more to report before we go on to member items? Uh, oh, you want to make mention of maybe Newton Park because that still is under our I was going to maybe wait until the member
is done, but I can do it now. No, um, which I need to possibly have a vote of recommendation or to deny um something in Newton Park, which I think I talked to most of you about last last meeting individually. Um, Newton Park,
it's still going through the the process for the CDBG GDDR money. Um, we're thinking like July. It actually went out for an RFQ for design. So, a company is going to be looking at that. Uh, I think we have two weeks left and then um all
the the companies put in their put in their bids for design and then we go from there. So, it is a night a big step in the process. Um, so the RFQ is out. We have about two more weeks left for the design part of it. Um, and that's not picking a design. That's a designer.
Pick the designer. Yes. So, we don't uh So, then we get to So, it's RFQ, but not RFP. Correct. All right. Um, so we kind of know what it's going to look like uh from the R2P2. You know, we all liked it, I think. Um, and the community got
their input on it, which was great already. We don't have to go through that again. So, uh, but there is a little sliver, uh, I shouldn't say sliver, it's about a 30 by 30 piece. Um, it it would sit on basically the Strand View and a
stero, uh, corner, um, that we have the opportunity to do a fitness court there. Um, I think it would be a great addition to the southish side. I know it's not the true southside, uh, but the way this one get used out here, I think it would
be a great addition to the park. Um, and the nice thing about that is we could we can render artwork for kind of the back of the wall. So, it could be any kind of history that we want to do. It could be anything. So, we we'd
find an artist that would create it. You're saying this would be under the purview of of a board action item for this project with regard to the artist. Yeah. I think we I think we voted on the R2P2 as as the design we want to kind of go
with, but this would be an addition to that. It would sit if you've driven by it, it would sit in the corner um between Strand View and where the the restroom trailer is right now. That's all that all it would take, right? You know, and we we'd put vegetation around
in the northeast corner. Yeah. So, um we have pursued it. We've actually I mean we're doing the process. I talked to each each one of you individually after the last meeting since we lost internet. Um we couldn't talk about as a group but uh we did receive a grant for it. So or
for a portion of it. So we we're just need the okay and we can continue on. And Jeff, am I I mean am I correct in saying that it's going to be identical to the fitness center? we have um with the exception of the wall which you
can't see on the the one out here in Bay Oaks, right? The back of it can have any design that we want to hire an artist to do or whatever, however we want to uh procure an artist, a local artist if we want. Um that can do you have a budget
for that? For the local artist to create the work on that? Yeah, we do have a budget for that. We do. So, I mean, the town has a budget to hire an artist. Part of this grant. It's in the budget. Allows. Okay.
The the grant allows for an artist. Oh, excellent. How much how much money is set aside for the artist? $25,000 total with the artwork is 25. I got That's reasonable. That's good. I mean, that's for the entire thing. I mean, I don't know how much I'm I'm assuming that
you're talking about a mural. It It basically is a mural. Yeah, it's a mural. And you know, there is a send we send the art artwork to the National Fitness Court and they they put it on. So they don't actually paint it on the thing. We send them a rendering of what
we want. So it could be a digital image. It certainly could. It doesn't have to be a mural. No, it doesn't have to be a mural. It just an image of any they But a mural a mural implies a hand painted artist. And what I'm hearing you say is you're looking and you get the the
dimensions of that wall and that's a call that goes out to artists to produce a digital image that they then would produce and apply to the wall. Yeah. I mean for all purposes it would be all your faces. I was getting saved. Yeah. Yeah. Thanks. So yeah, it can be it can
be anything. It's not a painted mural. Okay. So, with the exception of the selection of the artist and the image, uh, and I guess my question is, can we even do a board action because this is not on the agenda. I'd like to be able
to do that. So, if it pleases all of you, yeah, you can walk on as the as I'd like to make a motion that we approve this fitness court for the south, I'm sorry, the west northwest corner of
Newton Park um for this uh this project this park this project and I'd like to second. So, I'll make the motion. You want to second it, Sherry? Um any other discussion? Are we all in agreement? The grant's been written. The grant's been
approved. We're just waiting to give sort of our blessing, which I think we have. Okay. Out the window all the time, right? How long do you think it'll take to put it together? The you mean to get it done? Yeah. Have
to It'll be part of the CDBGR money, DR money. Um, so as soon as we get that, I think Newton's going to be one of the first places out of that whole out of all the CDBG DR projects to be done, we have the at least the visual design that we want. There's not going to be
sometime during the summer or fall. Well, don't we don't have to time. Yeah, I hate to put timelines, but I was just curious when approximately. I mean, we're thinking maybe July or August we actually get the money and then the design. Okay, so let's see. asking. Yeah, they do. I think it's
Yeah, until we get the designer with they, they can set timelines. I don't I hate to do that. Um because then they, you know, I get emails and people hold me to it. No, so we have a motion. We have a second. We've had discussion. All in favor? Unos? Any opposed? None. Thank
you. Oh, that's right. And I want to make this statement that, you know, we're approving the fitness court in general, but it still remains uh an open question with regard to the artist and the design, which can be a future. Correct. And I wanted to get obviously
Barbara with your expertise and your uh the opinion of here about how we want to go about going after an artist um putting it out. I don't know if there's a special way. I've never done this before with an artist like this. So, you know, week I was in Tampa to resign from
the Florida Association of Public Art Professionals because I said, "My time is done. I've put in 30 years. I founded the statewide organization. I've been on the board." I said, "I'm done. I'm not going to do public art anymore. This is actually a public art project. It the
devil is in the details." I agree. And and that's why I brought it here. I I I can admit I don't know anything about it. And I know you have a lot of experience. Fortunately, way too much. Well, that's what we need because as far as the fitness court and they work, you
know, with private entities, they work with public entities and they say sometimes people just pick one um or they go out for a process and I I don't know what Yeah. Well, the process can be a um a statewide call to artists and
then there's just they like to I mean, yeah, they like to use local artists. Oh, they Okay. of being an area artist, not necessarily Fort Meers Beach. They say in local I don't I have to read the What does local mean in this context? I'll find that out. That would be a good
because then we have a better parameter. Right. Because if it means that an artist doesn't physically have to paint that mural on that wall, it really can open up all Exactly. Even a historic photograph for example or even maybe photograph of
the arches could also be a consideration. You bet. You bet. Or maybe the maybe a photograph of the historic um Newton house, the seven seas. Something along that line can be also um considered. Yeah. As as much as
we probably want something to get a cultural thing. It doesn't have to be, but that's what we want. Something something specific to appropriate. It would be I I I really that that part solidified it for me that we could have
some kind of history on the back and while people are driving they'll see it. You bet. Y well another interesting possibility is is for a photographer to shoot uh obviously at a perfect time which of course is
every day in Fortnite Beach of the Gulf with the sun going down and the palm trees and for that image to be digitally transferred onto that wall. So when you're driving down the stereo boulevard, you see that beautiful
sunset. Hey, if you park your car here, you get to see it up close and person. So it's almost like a a signage, you know, indicator really. This one is going to be an exciting project for us to work on. I think that's great. You know, they'll it'll highlight, you know,
either the history or the progress that we've made on this island. Yeah. Good. Thank you. I'll bring that to the next agenda. Um, we'll talk about that the artist because good we have a few months but we don't really meet in July. So that's good. And there there is one more
thing with Newton I forgot to mention. Uh beach walks or are returning uh Fridays at 8 a.m. starting June 6. Okay. And who's conducting it? Uh staff right now. Staff in general. No one specific.
Probably Ashley. Uh because she after Franklin after Franklin's day, what day did you say that was? Fridays at 8 a.m. Starting June 6. Not this Friday, right? But starting June 6, that'll be the first beachwalk since Hurricane Ian.
Fabulous. Every Friday. Yeah. Ash Ashley has uh her masters in and I think it was environmental science. Uh so that's her passion. Her bread and pardon. Gathering point. Oh yes, the gathering point will be in the parking lot. Uh there are
eight eight parking spots there. So there's the restroom trailer and then there's right where you pull in is the beach access point. So we'll meet right there. So question we can see everything very centralized. So every Friday? Yes.
Wow. Every Friday 8 a.m. Do you have So Adam, will there be signage at at the park indicating that that that occurs on Fridays at 8? Uh we're working on it. People know. Okay. And just to just her as a reminder that this is a these are requirements through the Florida grant
that we obtain. Yep. So these are we we got a a little reprieve a lot of reprieve since Ian knowing that there wasn't much there. But now that we have it open, that was one thing we really wanted to focus on. Yeah. That's wonderful. Yeah. Wonderful. That's very popular. It' be a good draw. Yeah. I was
going to say let's uh like the um observer or places where people can find out. Yeah, because they're really popular. We're starting to have families. Yes. Yeah, we'll have the flyers. Uh we'll start distributing them in June because the flyers say Fridays,
so we don't want to be too premature with someone showing up on True. tomorrow. So, I know people are really excited, but yes. So, in June, we'll start distributing the flyers. I'll send them all to you um in email. I'll share them with Nicole. Uh so, the town will share that on its social media. The
Mountain House will share it on its social media. Um We'll have them available posted at mount house hopefully working. I'll have to talk with Jeff. I haven't actually talked to him about it, but maybe like additional features like um like a chalkboard so people can like write down the wildlife
observations they've had as like a hatch as a popup kind of thing. Um especially as the the work to re build new park continues. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, maybe something in the parking lot right there as a a
continuing feature. We got access to Newton. Let's use it to its full potential that we can. Yeah, that's great. Okay. All right. Thank you for the um update on Newton Park and especially that fitness court. I apologize. I'm the one that actually went over the Yeah, I'm just saying I
tried my best. Don't look at me. But we are very close. We can start with member items. Carol. Oh, let's since since Ellen is up there, um, Ellen, do you have anything to report? I I I think I really provided it when I when I talked about the the plans of of
moving the the Friends of the Mountain House forward. So, I have I don't have anything additional to add to that. Okay. Thank you. And I am sorry you were having problems with your health, but it looks you look great as usual. So, you
must be recovering fantastically. Well, I I sure hope so. I certainly hope so. Well, I'm working at it. I'm glad you were able to participate virtually. That's that's a a win-win for us all. Thank you. We're glad you're home. Yes. Glad you're home. Me, too. Me, too. Yes,
indeed. It's a long slog. Carolyn, I have nothing. Nothing. Nothing. And I have nothing. Okay. I I did my thing, so I am just thrilled about all of it. Excellent. Great to hear. Great. You bet. All right, Ellen.
We were just commenting how your background looks like one of those fake backgrounds that everyone wants to have. It's great. It's It's It's the real deal. I know. That's what I mean. What I'm looking at is what I'm looking at. It's beautiful. It's like an opportunity you get during a Zoom meeting, you know?
It's like this feeding my It's winter in Minnesota. I have this one. Love it. That's why it was so nice to come home, not be looking at beige walls anymore. Okay. Uh, do we have our schedule for next month? I think it's our standard
time Thursday at the fourth fourth Thursday at 1 p.m. That would be it should be added the T because in the beginning of the year we made it that but let me just see the date. I'm sorry I didn't I should always
check that so I know 18. What's the date? Ah, there might be an issue. Oh yeah, we have a holiday that day. Uh the fourth Thursday is Junth, which is a federal holiday the town observes. It's the third. Is it third?
One, two, three, four. It is the third. It is the third. The 19th. Junth is the third. Third Thursday. 26th at one. Okay. 26. 26 at one is our next meeting. And we do have several items that will be going on the agenda obviously. Um now
we have that fitness court issue, right? And um okay. Oh yes. And your um report on the underground exhibit? Yes. And then uh there is still more of the map report. Uh yes. Did we want to also have
that on the agenda? Yeah, let's do it as well. Yeah, we really get it done. I've talked to Adam like it. I was hoping we had a quorum today because I'm like we really need to get this ball rolling. It was given to us in November. Yeah. No, no, we need to do
it. Let's just go a little longer. I won't say a word. Everyone bring snacks. Maybe a meal. Snacks. If there is no other business to come before cell cab, I am entertaining a motion to adjourn.
Thank you. Uh and second. I'll second. Second, Sherry. All in favor? I thank you.