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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 10, 1993A G E N D A ARCADIA CITY COUNCIL %- F�= t.*f3MMTegT6ff== = == AUGUST 10, 1993 5:30 P.M. ROLL CALL: Council Members Fasching, Harbicht, Lojeski, Margett and Ciraulo ORAL COMMUNICATIONS 1. Presentation by Newco Waste Systems 2. Update on Wilderness Park - Jerry Collins 3. Update on Library Expansion - Kent Ross 4. Discussion regarding Southwest Museum - Don Duckworth 5. Closed Session pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8 6. Items from Council Members ADJOURN to 7:00 p.m., August 17, 1993 .Su. ;412 e) c►� w` l'flemojandum ch, oryaro 711L r ++ouss9' August 10, 1993 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Cindy Rowe, Administrative Assistant SUBJECT: Southwest Museum BACKGROUND The Southwest Museum has been a southland attraction in the Highland Park area of Los Angeles since 1914 . The current facility houses an internationally recognized collection of American Indian materials, however the museum has outgrown its current location and is seeking land or an existing building to move the museum to another location. The Southwest Museum is interested in a location with good public access, approximately 7 acres or 100, 000 square feet, expansive parking areas, and nearby leisure destinations . The Museum enjoys an annual attendance of 300, 000 people and brings to an area a valuable cultural, artistic and educational resource. ANALYSIS A Request For Proposal was mailed to the City of Arcadia recently and requires the receipt of a Letter of Intent by August 16, 1993 . A full proposal for this project would be due on or before November 1, 1993 . Newspaper reports indicate 140 Southern California cities have already responded to the RFP, including the cities of .San Dimas and Duarte. In reviewing possible sites Arcadia might have to offer, the staff discussed the possibility of the Arcadia County Park as a location. If the County wants to be rid of the park maintenance costs, and if the County would deed the land to us, the Southwest Museum could provide a viable solution to concerns regarding the park' s future. A cultural use such as this would also be in keeping with deed restrictions which limit land use to recreational or cultural activities . Additionally, the museum could absorb the bulk of the park maintenance costs which relieves the County of that expense and greatly reduces the expense to the City. LASER IMAGED The most important consideration, however, is the major anchor this project would provide for our revitalized downtown. Having a regional cultural center such as the Southwest Museum in Arcadia could result in the following benefits both to the Museum and to the City: 1 . Arcadia can offer a park setting in an established community which borders Pasadena and is close to downtown Los Angeles . 2 . The site has desirable public access with close proximity to the 210 Freeway, Huntington Drive and Foothill Boulevard. 3 . The site offers close proximity to other tourist attractions such as Santa Anita Race Track, the L.A. County Arboretum, the Huntington Library and the Norton Simon Museum. 4 . Visitors to the museum and employees of the museum will shop in our stores and eat in our restaurants . 5 . Arcadia has the expertise to handle high volume traffic which may be created by increased tourism. 6 . The Museum may encourage the establishment of a Blue Line station as exists near the Museum' s current location. 7 . The Museum would compliment the Arcadia Library, the Historical Museum and the Arcadia schools . . t 8 . The addition of the Southwest Museum would accentuate the historical significance of the Arcadia community to Southern California. Challenges surrounding the project are: 1 . Successfully negotiating with Los Angeles County for title of the property. 2 . Dealing with potential environmental issues which may exist with regard to underground hazardous materials . 3 . Exploring design considerations which would keep tree removal to a minimum. LASER IMAGED RECOMMENDATION The Southwest Museum is an attraction which could have positive cultural and economic affects on our community. Although there are some difficulties associated with land acquisition, staff is confident that with City Council support, negotiations could prove favorable . It is therefore recommended that the Council authorize the staff to pursue the proposed project by sending the requested letter of intent . • 1 LASER IMAGED JI PASADENA STAR NEWS July 29, 1993 Museum- looks to :I.. relocate Southwest receives bid from San Dimas By Ruby G«nads• j It's a long shot but San Dimas.. hopes the arrow will find its mark' The museum has discussed in Horsethief Canyon San Dimas' proposal with city " leaders. But it is waiting for the The city is one of 140 hopeftils best offer it can get, Wilson said angling to be the new home for If the Southwest Museum relo- the Southwest Museum in Los.; Angeles. If chosen, San Dimas.• ��to San Dimas,it would fit in A o A build the museum in the nicely.The 32-year old community. plans es • canyon,a largely undeveloped rec prides itself on its western rey- reation area north of Foothill Bou--° • The Old West theme is prev- -levard. • -alert in everything from City Hall • stationery to downtown wooden The private museum is ink, board*alks and storefronts. search of larger quarters and re= Yet the museum might not be cently sent out notices to cities in the only new tenant in Horsethief Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside, Canyon. A San Rafael-based com- Orange and San Bernardino Counties. Cities have until Aug!. -pant, No. 1 Golf Inc has ap- Counties. 16 to let the museum know they're p the city with a a new pro. interested. The proposals are not pal to build a golf driving range in the canyon. due until November. Tom Wilson,museum director,.. But golf balls, horses and hilt,,, said a study conducted a year ago ' -against don't mix was the rallying to _.recommended the museum relo- - � the proposal when 150 to 200 residents discussed options for • sate or renovate. canyon development at a town The bottom line is,there is it • hall meeting Tuesday night enough room in its historic hill-- Residents objected to added side building. Although 35,000 - noise, traffic and glaring night- children visit yearly on class time lights for the driving range. trips, Wilson said the staff has to - The reaction to the Southwest turn down 40. to 60 requests a; Museum was more ambivalent. . year. The museum specializes in- Some said it would be a consider- American Indian materials from.. able coup if the city landed the the western part of the country. museum, while others said the Its collection, which numbers in traffic would not be worth it the hundreds of thousands, is -growing and less than 5.percent of• -- the artifacts are on display. LASER IMAGED LOS ANG. ,S TIMES – 7/8/93 i Cities V.To • , • In Ventura County, .with its : strong ties to the Chumash Indians, ;1 Southwest officials othe Southwest especially Mus excited about the Southwest Museum. • "The museum would have a nice ' draw here,because we do have an Museum Indian culture here,we have burial grounds here,and the Chumash are very prominent in our communi- 1 Thousand ty," Thousand Oaks Councilman • Culture: ; Frank Schillo said. . Oaks says it's a na . • Officials in Oxnard and Camarillo • • t spo for the a. . . i ed I said their cities would be interested in having the museum, but they A' y I I eCtiOn now - had not chosen possible sites. la ed in LA.Bids have I In Thousand Oaks, however, ' leaders had identified two locations , .been solicited from 140 for the museum even before they If Southland cities. _ received an official request for ! proposals. The museum will be. invited to inspect 11.5 acres of By STEPHANIE SIMON city-owned land next to the Civicl TIMES STAFF WRITER Arts Plaza fora new facility,Or the THOUSAND OAKS—Eager to •former City Hall, which would be: establish their city as the cultural i renovated. . center of Ventura County,officals ( With its collection of crafts,man . here are trying to woo the South- uscripts and photographs, the • Southwest Museum attracts 300,000 west Museum away from Los An- � �geles by offering a chore of two visitors a year and has earned a ! prominent sites for its world-class i . reputation as one of the nation s collection of Indian artifacts. • foremost repositories of American Museum officials indicated- i Indian art and archeology. Wednesday that Thouand"DaTta Both local leaders and S b outh i would be in the running if the . west officials see the museum as a i institution decides to rel®cate from ` possible match for Thousand Oaks' its cramped HighlantiPtirk.heady performing arts complex, now un- t next der construction at the former tO the rsty especially Pb Jungleland wild animal park. to the city's new i6�'=udiIIioa Chic i Together with a museum, the Arts Plana would ct available..cet''' performance hall could transform "My initial reaction is certainly Thousand Oaks from a bedroom to encourage a site such as that," ► community into a regional cultural said Michael muse m'-vice pr+ of center, city and museum officials dent of the sus !s i board of . trustees.."It has a•<-couple Of thifige said. re is a synergistic effect 1• that fing,Puri- l�nt'a. ajo between group!_of•attractions le- Including visibility from.a major . • Other. cated near each other,even though I isee 3t*Uand proximity, A they may be. very different !in;. • Loutist�etidiUi�lc:�:�,t1 .�,.�i ,. , The museum•hMIA.solicit dsands nature,"Heumann'said."People get . from 130:citiesin-SoutheinCalifor- used to thinking of those phones nia, including.. Thousand Oakts, destinations, and they may.go One Camarillo, Oxnard,.and; Ventura, time to a museum,another to a zoo,, chosen_because of their!aco —to and another to an.entertainment I' the Ventura Freeway,;Heni'nann ., said. . - . . . Ejt� . • ::-.-.,-;g:. 3 He unann said-he espectaseoreo of responses by the JiilB► 16 deed- • line. The museum has already:re- ceived unsolicited invitations hien half a dozen cities eager to play host, including some municipalities will- s ing to donate land and infrastruc- ture,he said. LASER IMAG D