Historical Records Commission Minutes September 11, 2025

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

Members Excused:
Michael Mueller

Associate Members present:
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
Zaira Enriquez, Executive Assistant, Clerk-Recorder-Assessor

1. Call to order 4:02 pm
2. Introduction of Guests
3. Approval of Minutes
   1. August 14, 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
         • The event's specialist from The Museum of Sonoma County is struggling to plan and coordinate an event for the master's students.
      2. Seana's report
         • Margaret and Seana met and discussed a public engagement plan.  They will connect with Amanda about logistics and administrative rights.
         • Amanda can assist with a Facebook page but is unable to create an Instagram account.  Seana would have to set up the Instagram account and provide Amanda with login information.
      3. Steven's report
         • No report
      4. Margaret's report
         • No report
   2. Library Commission Liaison Report
      1. Update from Eve Goldberg:
         • Eve Goldberg was not in attendance at the meeting and followed up before the meeting with the following details by email:
           • The Library Commission approved a gift and donation policy, as well as a naming rights policy for the Roseland library.
           • The Commission has contracted with a company called The Ivy Group to assist in developing the new strategic plan for the upcoming period.
           • The Facilities/Capital Improvements Task Force will begin exploring new properties for a new headquarters office.  Their current office space is rented and the rent has increased a lot.
   3. Library Report
      1. Library Director Report
         • Library Update by Jaime Anderson:
           • September is Library Card Sign-up Month!
           • The library has selected a strategic plan consultant, The Ivy Group.  The project will kick off in October and hope to have a new strategic plan by February 2026.
           • Petaluma Regional Library reopened on August 25 to much acclaim from the community and has been extremely busy since reopening.  The Petaluma History Room has been moved from upstairs to downstairs into an expanded space that is much more accessible to the public.
           • The Rincon Valley Regional Library will be the next branch to close for a remodel, tentatively in January 2026.
           • The H&G Library will be closed starting this Saturday, September 13 and will reopen on October 14. This project includes major upgrades to the HVAC system as well as installation of new furniture in the public reading room.
         • 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:
           • The library is preparing to close on Saturday. They will not offer in-person services; instead, they will provide email and phone services. Reopening is slated for Tuesday, October 14. HVAC work and reading room furniture work. The electrical panel will also be updated. This is phase two. Phase three will be the ADA work. The event scheduled for Saturday, September 20, in collaboration with the Russian River Historical Society, is still on at the Guerneville Library.
   4. Archives Activity Report
      1. Update by Zayda Delgado:
         
         • Three resources were requested, zero from county, and three unique users requested for the month of August.
   5. Collections and Archives Recognition Awards
      1. Event 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. Nomination form was posted to the website and emailed to the Heritage Network on August 14, 2025.
      3. Press release for nominations was released on August 19, 2025.
      4. Secretary will prepare a press release including the event date once awardees have been identified.
      5. Sonoma County Historical Society has provided the HRC with their Award Nomination Form.
   6.  Outreach
      1. Finding History Day, Saturday, November 1, 2025, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, Veterans Memorial Hall, Santa Rosa
         1. Secretary has requested a 12’ table to share between the Historical Records Commission and the County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor’s Department
      2. Social Media Plan
         • No report
   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 early-December 2003 that include keyword clues. 
         • 6,610,479 documents have been reviewed
         • 23,919,121 pages have been reviewed
         • 51 Restrictive Covenant Modifications have been recorded for 1964-2001.
   9. Legislative Updates pertaining to public records
      1. Assembly Bill 64 – Vital records: diacritical marks
      2. Assembly Bill 883 – California Public Records Act: personal information of elected and appointed officials
      3. Assembly Bill 1430 – County recorders: fee
      4. Senate Bill 255 – County recorders: notification
      5. 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, October 1, 2025, 6 pm, Rohnert Park Branch Library
   2. Sonoma County Heritage Network Meeting, October 11, 2025, 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. SoCo Clicks, August 15-October 19, 2025
8. Meeting adjourned at 4:33 pm

Next Meeting - October 9, 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.