HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES_10-05-17 Minutes of the October 5,2017 Board Meeting
(Approved at the November 2,2017 Board Meeting.)
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The October meeting of the Oshkosh Public Museum Board was held on Thursday,October 5,2017,
in the Lecture Room of the Oshkosh Public Museum. President Hoffman called the meeting to
order at 4:00 p.m. Mr. Larson welcomed Barbara Herzog to the meeting. Ms. Herzog, Oshkosh
School Board Vice President, will be standing in for Ms. Garner, School Board President.
The roll was taken by Ms. Books.
Present: Present: Excused:
Mr. Randy Domer Ms.Jean Thierman, Secretary Ms. Connie Drexler, Alternate
Ms. Carol Fenrich Ms. Barbara Herzog, School Ms. MariBeth Theusch, Alternate
Mr.Jim Hoffman, President Board Vice President
Mr. Gabe Loiacono Mr. Stan Mack, Superintendent
Ms. Becky Matzke, Vice President of Schools
Mr. Rick Rego Mr.John Dinegan, Leadership
Oshkosh Representative
Also in attendance: Museum Director Brad Larson, Auxiliary President Barb Shirtz, and
Administrative Assistant Theresa Books recording the minutes.
No Citizens were in attendance.
Consent Agenda items included the following:
A. Minutes of the September Board meeting
B. October Bill List
Mr. Rego moved that the Consent Agenda be approved.
Second by Ms. Thierman.
The vote went as follows:
In Favor: In Favor: Against:
Mr. Domer Mr. Rego None
Ms. Fenrich Ms. Thierman
Mr. Hoffman Ms. Herzog
Mr. Loiacono Mr. Mack
Ms. Matzke
The vote was unanimous in favor and the Consent Agenda items were passed.
Next on the agenda was discussion and vote on the Museum being closed Sunday, December 24,
2017. Mr. Larson noted that in any given year there is very little attendance on Christmas Eve.
With Christmas Eve being on the Sunday, and the Museum is open just 3-1/2 hours anyway, he
recommends the Museum be closed that day.
Minutes of the October 2017 Museum Board Meeting
Oshkosh Public Museum■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901
Page 1 of 4
Mr. Domer moved that the Museum be closed Sunday,December 24, 2017.
Second by Ms. Matzke. With no further questions the vote was taken.
The vote went as follows:
In Favor: In Favor: Against:
Mr. Domer Mr. Rego None
Ms. Fenrich Ms. Thierman
Mr. Hoffman Ms. Herzog
Mr. Loiacono Mr. Mack
Ms. Matzke
The vote was unanimous in favor that the Museum be closed Sunday, December 24, 2017.
Next on the agenda was discussion and vote on increasing Museum admissions. The Board had
previously received a table comparing admissions at other museums.The recommendation was to
raise rates to the following: Adults $8.00, Seniors and College Students $6.00, Children 6 through
17, $4.00. Children under six still would receive free admission. Mr. Larson reviewed that
admissions have been at the current rates for twelve years. He recommended the dollar increase
for adults, seniors and college students, and a fifty-cent increase for children. He feels the small
increase will not discourage people from attending, but it would make an increase of $15,000 -
$20,000 for annual admissions revenue.
Ms. Thierman moved that the Board approve the recommended Museum admission increases.
Second by Ms. Fenrich. With no further questions the vote was taken.
The vote went as follows:
In Favor: In Favor: Against:
Mr. Domer Mr. Rego None
Ms. Fenrich Ms. Thierman
Mr. Hoffman Ms. Herzog
Mr. Loiacono Mr. Mack
Ms. Matzke
The vote was unanimous in favor to increase Museum admission rates to: Adults $8.00, Seniors
and College Students$6.00, Children 6 through 17 to $4.00.
Mr. Hoffman then requested that Mr. Larson present the Director's Report.
Mr. Larson began with the information that the Museum's budget review is October 31. The
Board will receive a copy of the budget after that review. As with previous operating budgets,
the Museum's number one challenge is to increase revenue. He reviewed that the Museum
generates revenue primarily through admissions and store sales.Increasing the dollars generated
Minutes of the October 2017 Museum Board Meeting
Oshkosh Public Museum■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901
Page 2 of 4
from these two sources is paramount for the future of the Museum. Staff are doing this through
the development of new exhibitions and ways of engaging the public, offering traveling
exhibitions,expanding marketing efforts, and moving to online sales.These will remain priorities
for many years. Mr. Loiacono interjected the recommendation to expand selections of Oshkosh
related apparel in the Museum store and consider marketing to parents that the Museum is a
great place to come with children to explore and play for a few hours on any day. He noted that
his children were intrigued for hours in Grandma's Attic and the log cabin, and really enjoyed all
that People of the Waters has to explore.
Reviewing that the Museum has had some very encouraging revenue years, such as when Art of
the Brick was presented,Mr.Larson noted that the Museum has been unable to maintain a strong,
consistent baseline attendance.Positive change is happening, and staff continue to do everything
possible to increase attendance. Looking toward the future and excluding any unforeseen
windfalls, it seems likely that the Museum cannot expect the tax levy portion of the budget to
expand beyond annual increases related to personnel. What that means in practical terms is that
the income portion of the budget takes on growing significance.
Next, Mr. Larson was pleased to report that the kick-off meeting with Split Rock Studios (SRS) on
September 19 went very smoothly and was very productive with staff providing SRS with a great
deal of material and ideas. He noted that if things go as planned, staff will have the initial look at
the ideas for the entrance and second floor exhibitions on November 9, and the Board will have its
first look at the draft concept at the December 7 meeting. Mr. Larson anticipates that the cost per
square foot will be lower in these galleries than with People of the Waters because staff plan to do
more of the work in-house and only contract for those elements that are beyond our capabilities.
He explained SRS and staff also had a valuable discussion about how to approach the second floor
projects.The proposed timetable would be to tackle the red gallery first,leaving Memories&Dreams
untouched and available for Museum guests to enjoy. Staff intend to use 2018 for artifact selection
and research and thus be well positioned when design development begins in 2019, which is also
when design development starts on building modifications. He reviewed that neither project can
go out for bid until the Museum has full funding; staff anticipate that will be in 2020. Mr. Larson
further clarified that once the red galleries are completed, the aim is to commence work on the
removal of Memories &Dreams. The ideal situation would be to do the removal at the same time as
the "back of Museum' modifications, meaning the freight elevator and loading area. However,
that phase is not yet in the capital improvement program. That concluded the Director's report.
Mr. Hoffman then presented the President's Report. He gave the Board members a copy of the
completed Board evaluation of Mr. Larson, requesting that they review it briefly and then hand it
back to him to keep it confidential. Mr. Hoffman expressed congratulations to Matt Reinke on his
receipt of the City Employee of the Month and City Employee of the Quarter Awards. They are
much deserved. He noted that all of Mr. Reinke's work on People of the Waters and here at the
Museum in general, is extremely valued. That concluded the President's Report.
There were no Directors reports nor World War One Commemoration Committee report.
Minutes of the October 2017 Museum Board Meeting
Oshkosh Public Museum■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901
Page 3 of 4
Mr. Hoffman then requested the Auxiliary Report.
Ms. Shirtz began by expressing that the Museum Auxiliary was pleased to again support the
Museum with a donation to cover the cost of Ancestry.com. Regarding the Gala, Ms. Shirtz
reported that the Board will receive their invitations through the mail, and invitations are being
sent to all Museum members who live in the area. She noted that plans for the Gala have been
firmed up and Auxiliary members will soon sign up for the various jobs. In conclusion,Mr. Shirtz
said she speaks for all the Auxiliary members that they are pleased to be back in the Lecture Room
for their monthly meetings, and it will make it much easier for their food preparer, Faith. In
addition, having the Lecture Room available will also help in the set up and staging for the Gala.
That concluded the Auxiliary Report.
With no other agenda items Mr. Hoffman asked for a motion to adjourn. Mr. Domer so moved
and Ms. Thierman seconded the motion.
The vote was unanimous in favor and the motion was passed.
The meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m.
Minutes of the October 2017 Museum Board Meeting
Oshkosh Public Museum■ 1331 Algoma Boulevard■Oshkosh,Wisconsin 54901
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