Suzanne & Steve Diamond’s Proposal to Privately Finance the Building of a Museum in the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea?
ABSTRACT: Whatever happened to Suzanne & Steve Diamond’s proposal to privately finance the building of a museum in the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea? The City Council agenda item and minutes of the 1 November 2005 meeting are presented. The City Council unanimously voted to form a two-person committee consisting of City Councilman Gerard Rose and Mayor Sue McCloud to proceed with "the development of a proposal." Comments are made, including an Update related to communications from Monterey Museum of Art Executive Director E. Michael Whittington. Apparently, E. Michael Whittington expressed “collegial” support to the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea and has not gone beyond that since the demise of the Diamond’s proposal.
City Council Agenda
Regular Meeting
November 1, 2005
XI. Orders of Council
A. Receive a proposal for the construction of a museum and to provide policy direction.
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
November 1, 2005
XI. ORDERS OF COUNCIL
A. Receive a proposal for the construction of a museum and to provide policy direction.
John Thodos presented a proposal on behalf on Suzanne and Steve Diamond to privately finance the building of a museum in the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Mayor McCloud requested policy direction from the Council in the form of an expression of interest by Council. Council Member Rose volunteered to work with Mayor McCloud on the proposal.
Mayor McCloud declared the public hearing open at 5:50 p.m. and closed at 5:51 p.m. as there was no public comment.
Council Member ROSE proposed forming a two-person committee consisting of himself and Mayor McCLOUD to proceed with the development of a proposal seconded by Council Member CUNNINGHAM and carried by the following roll call:
AYES: CUNNINGHAM, HAZDOVAC, ROSE, McCLOUD
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: BETHEL
ABSTAIN: NONE
COMMENTS:
• Since the November 2005 City Council meeting, the two-person committee of Mayor Sue McCloud and City Councilman Gerard Rose, charged with proceeding “with the development of a proposal,” have presented no progress report or update on the Diamond’s proposal at a City Council meeting.
• Apparently, Mayor Sue McCloud alluded to the Monterey Museum of Art having offered its services to assist the City in the planning of a museum for the city’s art collection at the north parking lot of the Sunset Center at the Carmel Residents Association 25 October 2007 meeting during her lecture “Looking Back As We Go Forward.”
• As a matter of city policy, it would behoove City Council Members who form committees to give regular updates, reasons for lack of progress, abandoning proposals, et cetera, at City Council meetings.
• UPDATE: Today, Monterey Museum of Art Executive Director E. Michael Whittington stated that Mayor Sue McCloud graciously informed him in an “informal telephone conversation” of the Diamond’s proposal. As Executive Director, Whittington extended a “collegial” gesture as a cultural institution to assist the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea in technical matters, et cetera, relating to the planning of an art museum. However, since Mayor McCloud notified him that the Diamond’s proposal was dead, the Monterey Museum of Art has not gone beyond the original statement of “collegial” support.
REFERENCE:
Meeting Date: November 1,2005
Prepared by: Rich Guillen
City Council
Agenda Item Summary
Name: Receive a proposal for the construction of a museum and provide policy direction.
Description: Mr. and Mrs. Steve Diamond are proposing the construction of a museum. A representative of the Diamonds will present a conceptual proposal to the City Council.
Overall Cost:
City Funds: $0
Grant Funds: Unknown at this time.
Staff time: Staff time will depend on whether the proposed project is pursued or not.
Staff Recommendation: Receive the report on the proposal and provide policy direction.
Important Considerations: Additional information will be provided when a firm proposal is brought forth.
Decision Record: No previous actions have been taken by the City Council.
Reviewed by:
______________________________ _________________
Rich Guillen, City Administrator Date
2 comments:
There were rumors back in the day that the reason the Diamonds came to the City of Carmel with their proposal was because they had had a falling out with the Monterey Museum of Art to which they had gone with a proposal first. If this is true, and the City Council knew about it, could the Council's unwise turning to the museum for help have upset the Diamonds enough to rethink their Carmel proposal? It would be interesting if this blog were to pursue the matter, which is a major and potentially controversal one, by contacting Sue McCloud, Gerard Rose and Rich Guillen for more information. It might be a good idea to talk with McCloud first since Guillen doesn't do anything before getting her permission in advance.
To: anonymous
FROM: villageinforest
Consider contacting McCloud and/or Rose yourself since previous contacts with the city have been met with failures to respond and nonresponsive responses. Then, please post any info you gleaned from these sources about this item as the public should have been apprised of this situation long ago at a public meeting.
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