Capitol Building Advisory Committee (02/17/2012)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

CAPITOL BUILDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Date:	02/17/2012	ATTENDANCE

Time:	01:32 PM to 03:05 PM	Eddins	X
		Green	X
Place:	SCR 354	Hoeft	E
		Lee	X
This Meeting was called to order by		Markwell	X
	Georgianna Contiguglia	Nichols	*
		Nunnally	X
This Report was prepared by		Patterson	X
	Jennifer Thomsen	Sill	E
		Stephens	E
		Newell	X
		Contiguglia	X
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Approval of Minutes Proposal to Restore Liberty Bell Dome Fund-raising Quarterly Report		- - -

01:32 PM -- Approval of Minutes

The committee was called to order by the chair, Georgianna Contiguglia.


BILL:	Approval of Minutes
TIME:	01:33:01 PM
MOVED:	Green
MOTION:	Moved to approve the summary of the committee's January 20, 2012, meeting. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Nunnally
		VOTE
	Eddins
	Green
	Hoeft	Excused
	Lee
	Markwell
	Nichols	Excused
	Nunnally
	Patterson
	Sill	Excused
	Stephens	Excused
	Newell
	Contiguglia

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 4 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

01:33 PM -- Proposal to Restore Liberty Bell

Sue Johnson, Sally Evans, Susan Donohue, and Gina Moore from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Mount Rosa Chapter came to the table to speak to the committee about their proposal to restore the Liberty Bell replica that is on display in Lincoln Park. Ms. Johnson provided a handout containing historical information about the bell (Attachment A). Staff provided copies of the information that came to the committee in November regarding the bell (Attachment B).

Ms. Johnson said the records show that the bell was displayed in the Capitol, and was later displayed in front of the Legislative Services Building at 14th and Sherman. She said the bell was moved to its current location in Lincoln Park in 1986. Ms. Contiguglia noted that, between approximately 1977 and 1986, the bell was displayed outside of the Colorado History Museum at 14th and Lincoln.

Ms. Johnson said she would respond to questions raised at the committee's November meeting, describe where the project stands now, update the committee on plans to apply for State Historical Fund (SHF) grant, and define the next steps of the project. She said the DAR's mission is to create and sustain civic pride in Colorado's Liberty Bell replica. The specific objectives she said, are to restore the bell, increase its visibility, replace and repair damaged elements, replace missing plaques, and encourage regular maintenance.

Ms. Johnson described the damaged areas of the bell, noting that the yoke and frame are damaged. She explained that a structural engineer has inspected the bell, and the findings created a sense of urgency to repair the bell. She said there are safety implications given the bell's current condition. She explained that project will focus on restoration and addressing the structural issues. Ms. Johnson said the project will need to be accomplished in phases.

Ms. Johnson said the plaque identified as "plaque 1" in the handout is the only plaque that still remains. The second and third plaque shown in the handout are likely similar to what is missing.

01:46 PM

Ms. Johnson responded to committee questions. She clarified where the missing plaques were located on the current display.

Next, Ms. Johnson talked about what was found when DAR contacted other states regarding their Liberty Bell replicas. The handout contains a table showing where the bells are located, the type of mount, whether the bells are working, whether the yokes have been replaced, whether any structural changes have been made, and how the bells are maintained. She noted that the biggest concern in the states DAR contacted has been issues with the yoke.

Ms. Moore talked about the restoration of the Arizona Liberty Bell replica, explaining how the metal frame was restored. She next talked about the bell in Idaho, saying the yoke was repaired by adding a steel inner structure. She said some states have locked the clapper, and others allow visitors to ring the bell.

Ms. Johnson asked the committee to consider whether it would like to see the clapper freed so that the bell might be rung. Finally, she referred the committee to the report of the structural engineer and the architect who inspected the bell.

01:58 PM

Mr. Patterson asked whether DAR has talked to anyone in Utah, noting that the Utah Liberty Bell replica is displayed indoors at the Utah State Capitol. The DAR member who visited the bell in Utah responded, providing information about the condition of the Utah bell.

Ms. Nunnally commented on the current support structure of the Colorado bell, and discussed the materials that might be used in the restoration. Ms. Contiguglia asked whether the bell is designated as an historical structure, or whether it qualifies as one. Ms. Johnson clarified that the bell is a part of the historic places designation.

Mr. Patterson suggested the committee explore moving the bell into the Capitol. The committee discussed this issue. Senator Newell commented that she would support freeing the clapper so that the bell can be rung. Ms. Johnson suggested that the bell could be moved to a location south of where it is currently located in order to provide more visibility. The committee discussed whether it would be desirable to have a working bell in the building.

02:17 PM

Committee discussion continued, with Ms. Contiguglia explaining the role of the Capitol Building Advisory Committee in advising the Capital Development Committee (CDC). Senator Newell reiterated that she would like the bell to ring. Ms. Contiguglia said there are several issues the committee might consider in deciding how to proceed, noting that how it is restored depends on whether the bell will be housed indoors or outdoors. Further, she said, if the bell were to remain outdoors, the committee should decide whether it would be desirable to build an enclosure for it.

Mr. Nichols commented that adding a structure in Lincoln Park might impact the nomination of the Civic Center as a National Historic Landmark. He also expressed his opinion that it might be desirable to allow the bell to be rung on specific occasions, but not openly and continuously. Mr. Lee suggested that the clapper be designed so that it could be removed.

Mr. Patterson suggested that a structure in Lincoln Park might be eligible for Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) funding.


BILL:	Proposal to Restore Liberty Bell
TIME:	02:25:43 PM
MOVED:	Newell
MOTION:	Moved that the committee recommend that the restoration project include a locked clapper so that the Liberty Bell replica may be rung on ceremonial occasions. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Green
		VOTE
	Eddins
	Green
	Hoeft	Excused
	Lee
	Markwell
	Nichols
	Nunnally
	Patterson
	Sill	Excused
	Stephens	Excused
	Newell
	Contiguglia

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

02:26 PM

The committee discussed whether the bell should be displayed inside or outside, talking about possible noise issues and the capacity of the building to accommodate large ceremonies.


BILL:	Proposal to Restore Liberty Bell
TIME:	02:30:45 PM
MOVED:	Newell
MOTION:	Moved that the committee recommend that the Liberty Bell replica be permanently displayed outside. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Green
		VOTE
	Eddins
	Green
	Hoeft	Excused
	Lee
	Markwell
	Nichols
	Nunnally
	Patterson
	Sill	Excused
	Stephens	Excused
	Newell
	Contiguglia

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

02:31 PM

Ms. Johnson discussed her organization's request to relocate the bell within Lincoln Park.

Ms. Johnson explained that the SHF grant proposal is due April 1. The committee discussed the grant application time frame.

Ms. Johnson said her organization is trying to locate information about whether the concrete pad on which the bell is currently displayed is sufficient.

Ms. Contiguglia asked the presenters to come back to the committee in March with a proposed budget.

In response to an inquiry from Ms. Johnson, Mr. Lee said the custodian of the bell, for purposes of the SHF grant application, is the Executive Director of the Department of Personnel and Administration, Ms. Kathryn Nesbitt. Ms. Contiguglia asked Mr. Patterson and Mr. Lee to speak to Ms. Nesbitt about the grant application. Ms. Contiguglia further asked that, as part of the restoration process, the DAR provide a recommended maintenance schedule.

02:49 PM -- Dome Fund-raising Quarterly Report

Jennifer Thomsen, Legislative Council Staff, provided committee members a copy of the Share in the Care Colorado quarterly report for the quarter ending December 31, 2011, which was prepared by Colorado Preservation, Inc. (CPI). She explained that the report was presented to the Capital Development Committee (CDC) on February 9, 2012, and that CPI staff would be available at the committee's March meeting to respond to any questions about the report (Attachment C).

Ms. Contiguglia reported that CPI presented the CDC with a proposal to clarify the items that are and are not subject to an administrative fee under the Share in the Care campaign (see Attachment D). Kori Donaldson, Legislative Council Staff, clarified that the CDC had heard, but not yet acted upon, the administrative fee proposal. She told the committee that the CDC would act on it at the February 23, 2012 meeting.

03:00 PM -- Other Business

Ms. Contiguglia reminded the committee that it had approved, at its January meeting, the drafting of a letter supporting the Civic Center National Historic Landmark designation.

Ms. Donaldson reported that Havey Production's "Centennial Statehouse: Colorado's Greatest Treasure" will be shown at 6:00 p.m. on March 3, 2012, on KUSA. Ms. Contiguglia said the film premiered at the Saving Places conference.

Ms. Contiguglia reported that the scrim covering the scaffolding for the dome renovation project is going up, and one Share in the Care logo has gone up as well.

Ms. Thomsen reported that CPI proposed, and the CDC approved, three new sponsorship categories -- bronze, silver, and gold -- that will allow small corporate donors to participate in the fund-raising campaign at $5,000, $10,000, and $25,000 levels (see Attachment E).

Ms. Contiguglia reported that the CDC also heard the presentation on National Historic Landmark Designation for the Civic Center, and it was well received.

Ms. Contiguglia, in response to a question from Senator Newell, noted that the dome fund-raising task force and the CDC would be kept apprised of how CPI is using the money it earns as an administrative fee on Share in the Care donations.

Ms. Contiguglia reported that the presidential portraits have been moved to the east wing of the first floor for the duration of the dome restoration project. Mr. Lee explained that the third floor rotunda will be repainted as a part of the restoration project. Ms. Contiguglia further noted that the tour guides like having the portraits on the first floor because it is easier to talk about them there than in the rotunda, which is a big, open space. She expressed thanks to Jil Rosentrater for overseeing the move of the portraits.

Ms. Contiguglia asked the committee to think about long-term issues that need to be addressed, such as conservation of the artworks and stained glass in the building. She said the committee should do some strategic planning after its April meeting to set forth goals and objectives that could perhaps be worked into the budget or grant funded. She asked the committee to give some thought as to what they would prioritize.

03:05 PM

The committee adjourned.