Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Jonathan Gervais, Parks Director
Subject: Agreement with San Mateo County Historical Association for exhibit renovations and needed furnishings at the Sanchez Adobe Interpretive Center.
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with the San Mateo County Historical Association for renovating display areas at the Sanchez Adobe Interpretive Center, for the term of June 7, 2018 through June 30, 2019, in an amount not to exceed $130,000.
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BACKGROUND:
The County has owned the Sanchez Adobe Interpretive Center since 1947, with the property preserved as a public historical park. The Sanchez Adobe Interpretive Center is an important historical resource with exceptional significance to the State of California, including tremendous potential as an educational and recreational site for the residents of San Mateo County and beyond. The site features the physical evidence of several significant periods in California history.
Modernizing exhibit displays and purchasing necessary furnishings are essential steps in the preservation, interpretation, and improvement of the site to promote its significance to California history and ultimately, the critical link to San Mateo County history. Integration of modern technology is crucial to making learning more accessible and more interesting for future generations, and is likely to increase the number of park visitors and community support.
DISCUSSION:
In FY 2015-16, through the California Natural Resources Agency endowment program, the San Mateo County Historical Association was awarded a museum program grant of $130,000 to be used towards capital projects. Capital asset projects can include structural integrity improvements to an existing facility, expansion of existing buildings or construction of new buildings, interior or operational enhancements needed at an existing facility, or preservation. Funds can also be used for construction of a building or permanent structure; permanently installed exhibits or exhibit space; reconstruction or preservation of a building; permanent landscape/hardscape; or any combination of these activities.
The San Mateo County Historical Association presented the grant award to the San Mateo County Parks Department with the intention of engaging in collaborative construction improvements at the Sanchez Adobe Historical site, including the purchase and installation of a new pre-fabricated interpretive center. County Parks and the Historical Association agreed that this $130,000 could be used to purchase items for the interpretive center.
After careful consideration, the San Mateo Historical Association developed a detailed proposal for how best to use the grant award at the Sanchez Adobe Interpretive Center. The grant will be used to create new historical exhibits at the center representing significant timelines in San Mateo County history, using modern technology to provide an improved educational experience and convey interpretive information more clearly for all visitors.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
Approval of this agreement contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Collaborative Community as the grant agreement was developed with the San Mateo County Historical Association. The result of the collaboration will preserve significant historical resources while improving and enhancing the educational and recreational uses of the Sanchez Adobe Interpretive Center.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is June 7, 2018 through June 30, 2019, for a not to exceed amount of $130,000. There is no Net County Cost associated with this agreement.