Historical Records Commission Minutes November 13, 2025

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

Members Excused:
None

Associate Members present:
Amanda King, Secretary
Deva Marie Proto, Sonoma County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor
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:
Zaira Enriquez, Executive Assistant, Clerk-Recorder-Assessor
Zayda Delgado, Supervising Librarian, History & Genealogy Library

1. Call to order 4:00 pm
2. Introduction of Guests
3. Approval of Minutes
   1. October 9, 2025 minutes
      
      1. Motion to approve the minutes by Margaret Purser
      2. Second by Seana Gause
      3. Approved
4. Budget Discussion
   1. Balance is $3,598.64
5. Business
   
   1. HRC Commissioners Report
      1. Robert's report
         • No report
      2. Seana's report
         • No report
      3. Steven's report
         • No report
      4. Michae's report
         • No report
      5. Margaret's report
         • No report
   2. Library Commission Liaison Report
      1. Update from Eve Goldberg:
         • Five-year strategic plan is underway with listening sessions
         • Ad Hoc Commissioner Committee for JPA review have identified two areas that need some improvement and work: Governance issues – onboarding for Commissioners and the Library Advisory Boards (LABs)
   3. Library Report
      1. Library Director Report
         • Library Update by Jaime Anderson:
           • This month the library is celebrating Veteran’s Day, Native American and Indigenous Peoples' History Month and Thanksgiving. Community members are invited to share what they’re grateful for by adding a note to the gratitude trees, featured at every library throughout November.
           • The library is well into the development of their new strategic plan. In October, they held three staff listening sessions and nine stakeholder sessions with Library Advisory Boards, Friends of the Library groups, and the Sonoma County Library Foundation. A community survey will launch soon to gather input from residents across the county.
           • The Roseland Regional Library project is on schedule. Architectural renderings are 75% complete.  The City of Santa Rosa project at the corner of Hearn and Dutton Avenues will include a new library and a new fire station.  Construction is underway and we anticipate a Spring 2027 opening.
         • Archives Operating Agreement Update
           • There is no update from the County on the Archives Operating Agreement.
      2. History and Genealogy Library Report
         
         • Update by Zayda Delgado:
           • Closed in September and October; reopened on October 14.
           • Preparing for a short closure; see website updates for most up to date information
           • When closed, providing email and phone service. No in-person service.
           • Anticipates the Playback Memory Lab to open in January
           • Continue to work with the Russian River Historical Society to document the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the river response.
   4. Archives Activity Report
      1. Update by Zayda Delgado:
         
         • Twenty-two (22) resources were requested, zero from county, and four unique users requested for the month of September
         • Six resources were reqeusted, zero from county, and two unique users requested for the month of October.
   5. Collections and Archives Recognition Awards
      1. Sonoma County Historical Society (SCHS) Annual luncheon is to be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at Iron & Vine Restaurant in the Bennett Valley Golf Course, 3330 Yulupa Ave, Santa Rosa.  Purchase tickets here: https://www.sonomacountyhistory.org/annual-luncheon.
      2. Two nominations received as of November 13; deadline to apply is November 30.
      3. Secretary sent a reminder email to Heritage Network to request nominations on November 3.  Will send another reminder on November 20.
      4. Seana Gause to post the nomination form to Facebook.
   6.  Outreach
      1. Finding History Day, Saturday, November 1, 2025, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, Veterans Memorial Hall, Santa Rosa
         • Robert, Seana, Margaret, and Amanda were present. Good sized audience, more guests at our tables.
         • Secretary sent out the "Researching the History of a Sonoma County Property" QR Code handout to the Heritage Network.  Many historical and genealogical society members stated they get asked frequently, "How do I research my property?"
      2. Social Media Plan
         • Created two Events for November and December HRC monthly meetings.
   7. Strategic Planning
      1. No update
   8. County Recorder update on the status of the Restrictive Covenant Modification Program
      1. Documents January 1964 through December 2024 have been sent through the system for OCR
         • Staff is currently reviewing documents from late-November 2004 that include keyword clues. 
         • 6,610,479 documents have been reviewed
         • 23,919,121 pages have been reviewed
         • 56 Restrictive Covenant Modifications have been recorded for 1964-2003.
   9. Legislative Updates pertaining to public records
      1. Assembly Bill 64 – Vital records: diacritical marks
         • Approved by Governor on 10/12/2025
      2. Assembly Bill 883 – California Public Records Act: personal information of elected and appointed officials
         • Held currently
      3. Continuing to monitor legislation.
   10. 3850 and 3880 Brickway Blvd Building Purchase update
       1. No update
6. New Business
   
   1. None
7. Public Comment
   1. Library Commission meeting, December 3, 2025, 6 pm, Rohnert Park Branch Library
   2. Sonoma County Heritage Network Meeting, January 10, 2026, 10 am-12 pm, TBD
   3. Museum of Sonoma County Exhibitions:
      1. Sonoma County Stories, September 9, 2023-ongoing
      2. Light, Clay, and Copper: Mid-Century Arts and Crafts in Sonoma County, September 9, 2023-ongoing
      3. MSC Collections Gallery: New Acquisitions, June 15, 2024-ongoing
      4. Bruce Johnson: Sculptor, June 28-November 20, 2025
      5. Take Me to the Water: Histories ofo the Black Pacific, November 15, 2025-March 22, 2026
      6. 36th Annual Artistry in Wood, December 13, 2025-May 24, 2026
8. Meeting adjourned at 4:42 pm

Next Meeting - December 11, 2025 - 4:00 pm

• 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.