Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Manager
Subject: Authorize the President of the Board of Supervisors to Execute an Agreement with San Mateo County Historical Association to Contribute One Hundred and Sixty Thousand Dollars toward the Carriage House Project
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board of Supervisors to execute an agreement with the San Mateo County Historical Association (“Association”) to provide funding for work associated with the Carriage House project at the San Mateo County History Museum, for the term of September 20, 2021 through December 31, 2022, in an amount not to exceed $160,000.
body
BACKGROUND:
The County is the owner of the San Mateo County History Museum (“Museum”) previously known as the Old Courthouse, located at 2200 Broadway Street, in Redwood City. As approved and authorized by Resolution No. 59166, the County has leased the Museum to the Association since March 1995, for a term of 30 years, wherein the Association operates the Museum. The Association has been granted authority to expand the Museum by constructing a carriage museum (“Carriage House”) adjacent to the existing Museum building. Toward this end, in December 2019, this Board authorized an agreement with the Association to provide funding for pre-construction work associated with the Carriage House, in an amount not to exceed $475,000. See Resolution No. 077119.
The Carriage House will be a 3-story, 15,000 square foot building. It will include a ground floor gallery for changing carriage and automobile exhibits, a second floor dedicated to the permanent display of the Museum’s Brewster Carriage collection, and a roof-top terrace that can be used for public events.
This new Carriage House will enable the public to appreciate an important part of San Mateo County’s history. From Phaetons, to Broughams, to Light Park Drags Carriages, the planned exhibit will display some of the most spectacular vehicles of the Victorian era. The majesty of these carriages will be on full exhibit in a building designed exclusively for this purpose. By showcasing these elegant vehicles along with educational information, the public will understand Victorian mechanical engineering up close. The Carriage House will feature transportation concepts in the context of larger historic themes of western development on the peninsula, enabling the public to better understand the full scope of the growth of what we now call Silicon Valley.
The project is slated to break ground in late 2021 and be completed within 18 months. The Carriage House will be a premier cultural amenity in the heart of San Mateo County, available to the entire community to enjoy.
DISCUSSION:
The Carriage House project is expected to cost $12.4 million. The Association has secured $10,005,100 in donations and pledges and has various requests with individuals and foundations and believe they will close the gap. The Association is asking the County to contribute an additional $160,000 necessary to complete architectural and engineering costs. In exchange for this funding, the County shall have the right to use the Carriage House facility for an additional 2 days per year, bringing the total days to 17. Any such use shall be coordinated and scheduled with SMCHA at least 10 business days prior to each event and shall be at no cost to the County.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of this agreement is September 20, 2021 through December 31, 2022 and for an amount not to exceed $160,000 in non-departmental funds.