Historical Records Commission Minutes July 18, 2024

Members present:
Michael Mueller (Chair)
Robert Chase (Vice-Chair)
Steven Lovejoy
Margaret Purser

Members excused:
Seana Gause

Associate Members present:
Amanda King, Secretary
Jaime Anderson, Collections Services Division Manager, Sonoma County Library
Eve Goldberg, County of Sonoma Library Commissioner and Liaison to the Historical Records Commission

Guests present:
Zayda Delgado, Supervising Librarian, History & Genealogy Library

1. Call to order 4:01 pm
2. Introduction of Guests
3. Approval of Minutes
   1. May 9, 2024 minutes
      
      1. Motion to approve by Margaret Purser
      2. Second by Robert Chase
      3. Approved
      4. Abstain by Seana Gause and Michael Mueller
   2. June 13, 2024 minutes
      
      1. Motion to approve by Robert Chase
      2. Second by Margaret Purser
      3. Approved
4. Budget Discussion
   1. Balance is $3,719.59
5. Continuing Business
   
   1. HRC Commissioners Report
      1. Michael's report:
         1. No report
      2. Robert's report:
         • Speaking in Hawaii and Australia on his Santa Rosa animal arrests history research project
      3. Steven's report:
         • No report
      4. Margaret's report:
         • No report
   2. Library Commissioner Liaison Report
      1. Update from Eve Goldberg:
         • LC voted at the July meeting to put Measure Y extension on the November 2024 ballot.
         • Showed the Archives Video at the Library Commission meeting.
   3. Library Report
      1. Library Director Report
         • Library Update by Jaime Anderson:
           • Library is in the middle of the Summer Reading program, ending August 10, including Lunch at the Library at seven locations where kids 0-18 can get a free lunch at the library,
           • Library is celebrating Disability Pride Month in July and has started a new Disability Advocacy Team to research ways the library can better serve disabled community members
           • The Petaluma Regional Library is now closed for renovation. The Petaluma Mini-Library is open right next door. The Healdsburg Regional Library will be the next one to close for renovation, tentatively in September, and will also have a mini-library during its closure.
           • The economic impacts of the library are being promoted on the website (https://www.sonomalibrary.org/about/economicimpact) and through email newsletter. For every dollar invested in the library, the community receives $3.82 back!
           • Library applied for 5 grants for disaster preparedness, including preservation supplies, shelving and more. The H&G Library has been awarded its grant.  The other 4 library locations are waiting to hear back.
         • Archives Operating Agreement Update
           • No update
      2. History and Genealogy Library Report
         
         • Update by Zayda Delgado:
           • Awarded a preservation grant for H&G, preservation supplies recommended by the assessment done by the professional consultant. Will be using the grant for H&G and the Archives.
           • Waiting on grant for the shelving at the Archives. Seeking to replace shelving that is not ideal for an earthquake.
             • One of the major recommendations was to improve the shelving overall.
           • Application is open for a part-time library associate.
           • Petaluma History Room is closed but they sent some items to H&G mainly related to property research.
           • Looked at statistics:
             • 82% increase in visitor from the last fiscal year
             • 125% increase in collection use
             • 20% increase in interactions
           • Upcoming Events:
             • Meet the Director, July 20, 2024, 11AM, H&G Library Reading Room
               • https://events.sonomalibrary.org/event/meet-director-2
             • Unlocking the Past, August 9, 2024, 11AM-12PM, Windsor
               • https://events.sonomalibrary.org/event/unlocking-past-historical-research-databases-sonoma-county-library-58846?language=en
             • Playback Memory Lab has a handful of appointments still available in August:
               • https://events.sonomalibrary.org/events/month/2024/08?program_types%5B306%5D=306
   4. Archives Activity Report
      1. Update by Zayda Delgado:
         • 47 resources requested in the month of June, from 8 unique requestors and two requests from one county agency.
   5. Collections & Archives Recognition Awards
      
      1. Margaret to send Secretary template documents
   6. Outreach
      1. “Researching the History of a Sonoma County Property” pamphlet update:
         • Secretary will review submitted changes for a new update.
      2. Finding History Day, Saturday, November 2, 2024, 10:00am to 2:00pm, Veterans Memorial Hall, Santa Rosa
         1. Secretary requested a table for HRC and County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor
         2. Secretary to look into office iPad and iPad stand
         3. Secretary to look at HRC table runner for events
   7. Strategic Planning
      1. No update
   8. County Recorder update on the status of the Restrictive Covenant Modification Program
      1. Documents January 1964 through May 1990 have been sent through the system for OCR
      2. Documents January 1964 to December 1983 have been reviewed and 42Restrictive Covenant Modifications were recorded.
      3. All images through 1964-1987 have been reviewed:
         1. 1,902,750 documents have been reviewed
         2. 3,721,241 pages have been reviewed (of an approximate 24+ million)
   9. Legislative Updates pertaining to public records
      1. Assembly Bill 1785
      2. Continuing to monitor legislation
6. New Business
   
   1. None
7. Public Comment
   1. The Rural Cemetery & the Archives by Eve Goldberg, July 20, 2024, 12:30pm to 2:30pm, Virtual:
      1. Register as a guest: https://scgsonline.org/event-5791593?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=7/18/2024
      2. Showing the Archives Video to the Sonoma County Genealogical Society
   2. Registrar of Voters Open House, 435 Fiscal Dr, Santa Rosa, August 1
      1. Session 1 is 2:00pm to 4:00pm with Q&A at 3:00pm
      2. Session 2 is 6:00pm to 8:00pm with Q&A at 7:00pm
      3. Anyone interested in attending the open house is encouraged, but not required, to RSVP by email to rov-info@sonoma-county.org or by calling (707) 565-6800 (Toll-Free: [800] 750-VOTE [8683]; TDD: [800] 565-6888).
   3. Library Commission meeting, August 7, 2024, 6PM, Rohnert Park Library
   4. Sonoma County Heritage Network Meeting, October 2024, 10AM-12PM, TBD
   5. Museum of Sonoma County Exhibits:
      • Sonoma County Stories, September 9, 2023-Ongoing
      • Light, Clay, and Copper: Mid-Century Arts and Crafts in Sonoma County, September 9, 2023-Ongoing
      • On Tap: Sonoma County Hops & The Beer Revolution, April 20, 2024-September 1, 2024
      • Cruisin' Sonoma County Lowriders and the Art of Justin Favela, June 22, 2024-November 24, 2024
      • MSC Collections Gallery: New Acquisitions, June 15, 2024-ongoing
8. Meeting adjourned at 4:52PM

Next Meeting - August 15, 2024 - 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.