Historical Records Commission Minutes February 9, 2023

Members present:
Margaret Purser (Chair)
Gretchen Emmert (Vice-Chair)
Steven Lovejoy
Michael Mueller
Eric Stanley

Members excused:
None

Associate Members present:
Amanda King, Secretary
Deva Marie Proto, County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor-Registrar of Voters

Guests present:
Zayda Delgado, Supervising Librarian, History & Genealogy Library
Jaime Anderson, Division Manager, Collection Services

1. Call to order 4:01 pm
2. Introduction of Guests
3. The January 12, 2023 minutes were approved
   1. Motion by Michael Mueller
   2. Second by Steven Lovejoy
   3. Approved
4. Budget Discussion
   1. Balance is $3,796.07
5. Continuing Business
   
   1. HRC Commissioners Report
      1. Margaret's report:
         • No report
      2. Gretchen's report:
         • No report
      3. Michael's report:
         • One of the local surveyors, Fred Brown, passed a while ago and we’re in the process of acquiring all of his records for the California Land Surveyors Association (CLSA). He had acquired the collections of several surveyors from the 1930s and 1940s.
      4. Eric's report:
         • No report
      5. Steven's report:
         • No report
   2. Library Commissioner Report  
      1. Update from Deborah:
         • Deborah provided her updates via email:
         • The Sonoma County Library Commission’s big news is that we made an employment offer to Erika Thibault and she has accepted the library director position. Staff and Commission are delighted.
         • The Commission will be meeting in person, beginning with our March 1 meeting at the Rohnert Park branch library (not HQ).
         • The audit for FY 21-22 has been completed and accepted by the Commission. It was clean.
         • We will hold a workshop for the 23-24 budget in April, as is customary.
         • The Commission heard a terrific presentation from the H&G department at its February meeting.
         • We still have 2 vacancies on the Commission.
         • The SCL Foundation is continuing its work on the Roseland branch library campaign. They are looking for additional board members.
         • Questions by Steven Lovejoy:
           • When does Erika officially begin?
             • Jaime: she already has
           • Why the move to the Rohnert Park Library?
             • Jaime: It was felt that the Rohnert Park meeting room was the largest and had the best AV set up for their public needs.
           • Will there be any separate line items for the Archives in the budget process?
             • Jaime: not that I’m aware of and I was hoping to have an update for this meeting but we have not heard back from the County.
   3. Archives Activity Report
      1. Update by Zayda Delgado:
         • Month of January, we received 14 resources requested; 5 requests from one county department
         • Upcoming Library events:
           • Tuesday, March 28, 7PM, virtual event with Margaret Press of the DNA Doe Project. She will be discussing the uses of investigative genetic genealogy in identifying John and Jane Does and solving cases. You will be able to register for the event starting next week.
           • Saturday, April 29, 10AM, Rincon Valley Regional Library, former library commissioner and genealogist, Melissa Kelly, will be giving a presentation, “From Migrants to Mermaids: Researching Your Ancestry” Her talk will highlight resources and strategies for compiling and organizing family research
   4. Collections & Archives Recognition Awards
      1. Sonoma County Historical Society’s Annual Meeting, March 12, 2023, 11:00AM-2:00PM, Flamingo Hotel and Resort, Santa Rosa
      2. Margaret to prepare Press Release for Secretary to provide to County Communications
      3. Margaret to prepare letters to the awardees notifying them of the award and request their presence at the awards ceremony.
      4. Secretary to prepare tabling items such as HRC brochure, HRC commissioner applications, Researching the History of a Sonoma County Property pamphlet
      5. Secretary to reach out to Ray Johnson to see if pamphlet information may be included in a program for the day.
   5. Outreach
      1. “Researching the History of a Sonoma County Property” pamphlet update:
         
         • Commission to review each March for updates to be published in June.
      2. Other California County Historical Records Commission
         • Gretchen has about 8 more to enter and is moving the project up on her priority list. Hopes to have it completed by end of February.
   6. County Recorder update on the status of the Restrictive Covenant Modification Program
      1. Still working on the RFP, purchasing has reviewed and sent back with comments and suggestions for our review.
6. New Business
   1. Steven Lovejoy and Eric Stanley terms ending 5/2023.
      1. Steven Lovejoy would like to renew his term
      2. Eric Stanley is going to let his term expire but will remain on as a commissioner until a new Commissioner is located.
      3. Secretary to notify the Board of Supervisors and begin recruitment of the next commissioner.
      4. Secretary to check on Brown Act requirements for a commissioner attending virtually.
7. Public Comment
   1. Library Commission meeting, March 1, 2023, 6pm, Rohnert Park Branch Library.
   2. Sonoma County Heritage Network Meeting, April 2023, 10AM-12PM, location TBD.
   3. Museum of Sonoma County Exhibits:
      1. Art of Risk: The Innovative Sculpture of Michael Cooper, December 10, 2022-May 28, 2023
   4. Sonoma County Finding History Day, October 21, 2023, 10:00AM-2:00PM, Finley Community Center, Santa Rosa
8. Meeting adjourned at 4:45PM

Next Meeting - March 9, 2023 - ZOOM, 4:00PM

• In Person: County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor, Sonoma Room, 585 Fiscal Dr Rm 103, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
• Virtual: Guests may also join virtually. Please see the meeting month’s agenda for login information.