I.

Calling of the Meeting to Order – Diane B. Wilsey, President

The annual meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco was held on Thursday, April 13, 2006, in the Piazzoni Murals Room of the de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.  A quorum was present that being one-third of the number of Trustees in office.  The meeting was called to order at 3:20 p.m.

President Wilsey presided; Mrs. Gough acted as Secretary.

II.

Calling of the Roll

The following Trustees were present:

Del M. Anderson
Adolphus Andrews, Jr.
Cheryl L. Bancroft
Alvin H. Baum, Jr.
Carol W. Casey
Barnaby Conrad III
Marion Moore Cope
Molly Murphy Crowley
Denise B. Fitch
Karen B. Francois
Lauren Hall
Diane B. Lloyd-Butler, Vice President for Marketing and Communications
Nion McEvoy
Robert P. Morrow III
Marianne H. Peterson
Shelagh Rohlen, Vice President for Annual Support
George B. Saxe
Randolph R. Scott, Vice President for Audience Development and Civic Affairs
Trevor D. Traina
Nancy Willis
Diane B. Wilsey, President

On motion, duly seconded and carried unanimously, the following Trustees were excused:

Arlene Ackerman
Shelby W. Bonnie
Kermit H. Boston
T. Robert Burke
Iris S. Chan
Penny Coulter
Harrison S. Fraker, Jr.
John A. Friede
Elise Friedman
Dr. Rupert Garcia
Richard N. Goldman
Nancy B. Hamon
Jacqueline Hoefer
Lorna F. Meyer
Josie Mooney
Michael H. Podell
Louise H. Renne
Jeanne Robertson
Mara E. Rosales
Carlos Pedro Villa
Lonna Wais
David Winton

The following ex-officio Trustees were unable to be present:

Mayor Gavin Newsom
Gloria Bonilla, President, Recreation and Park Commission

Other Trustees in attendance were:

Constance Goodyear Baron
Genevieve di San Faustino
Nancee Erickson
Richard W. Goss II
George Hecksher
Stephanie MacColl
Anne McWilliams
J. Alec Merriam
Gail Merriam
Steven MacGregor Read
Paul A. Violich

III.

Report of the Nominating Committee – Nion McEvoy, Chair

Chair McEvoy presented the report of the Nominating Committee.

A. Report on Trustees Rotating Off the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

Having completed three terms of three years each, the following seven Trustees will rotate off the Board of Trustees at the conclusion of this meeting:

Del M. Anderson
Alvin H. Baum, Jr.
Richard N. Goldman
Nancy B. Hamon
Diane B. Lloyd-Butler
Nion McEvoy
Nancy Willis
.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, President Wilsey extended appreciation to these Trustees for their nine years of dedicated service.  The Board of Trustees acknowledged Trustees Anderson, Baum, Goldman, Hamon, Lloyd-Butler, McEvoy, and Willis with a round of applause.

B. Consideration and Possible Action to Elect the Following New Trustees to the Board of Trustees for an Initial Three Year Term

The nominees for election to the Board of Trustees for an initial term of three years to end in April 2009 were:

Gwen Chan
Gretchen Kimball
Kathryn Lasater
Monica Maduro
Lisa M. Sardegna
Arlene Schnitzer
Jim Tananbaum

On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among the Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to elect the nominees to initial three-year terms to expire in April 2009.

C. Welcome New Trustees

Trustees Gwen Chan, Gretchen Kimball, Kathryn Lasater, Monica Maduro, and Lisa M. Sardegna joined the meeting.  Chair McEvoy noted that Arlene Schnitzer and Jim Tananbaum were unable to be present.  The new Trustees were welcomed with a round of applause. 


D. Consideration and Possible Action to Re-elect the Following Trustees to a Second Three Year Term

The nominees for election to a second term of three years to end in April 2009 were:

Shelby W. Bonnie
Molly M. Crowley
Karen Francois
Jeanne Robertson
Trevor D. Traina

On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among the Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to elect the nominees to second terms of three years to expire in April 2009.

E. Consideration and Possible Action to Re-elect the Following Trustees to a Third Three Year Term

The nominees for election to a third term of three years to end in April 2009 were:

Barnaby Conrad III
Marianne H. Peterson
Randolph R. Scott
Lonna Wais

On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among the Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to elect the nominees to third terms of three years to expire in April 2009.

F. Consideration and Possible Action to Elect the Following Vice Presidents to a Term of One Year[1]

The nominees for Vice President for a term of one year were:

Marion M. Cope, Vice President for Annual Support
Randolph R. Scott, Vice President for Audience Development and Civic Affairs

On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among the Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to elect the nominees to one year terms to expire in April 2007.

G. Consideration and Possible Action to Elect the Following FAMSF Executive Committee Members to a Term of One Year

The nominees for election to the FAMSF Executive Committee for a term of one year were:

Kermit H. Boston
Iris S. Chan
Marion M. Cope, Vice President for Annual Support
Penny Coulter
Robert P. Morrow III
Marianne Peterson
Michael H. Podell
Louise H. Renne
Jeanne Robertson
Randolph R. Scott, Vice President for Audience Development
  and Civic Affairs
Trevor Traina
Lonna Wais

On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among the Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to elect the nominees to the FAMSF Executive Committee to one-year terms to expire in April 2006.  The President also serves on and chairs the FAMSF Executive Committee.

H. Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution Setting the Number of Trustee Positions

Chair McEvoy read the following resolution setting the number of Trustee positions:

WHEREAS, The San Francisco Charter, Section 5.105, provides for a variable number of Trustees; and

WHEREAS, The Charter sets the number of Trustees at no more than sixty-two, with the exact number to be set by the Board of Trustees from time to time; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco does hereby set the number of Trustees at forty-five until such number is changed by this Board.

On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among the Trustees.  There
was no public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the above resolution as Board Resolution 1597.

IV.

Report of the President – Diane B. Wilsey

A. Consideration and Possible Action to Approve the Minutes of the March 2, 2006 Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees

There being no discussion among the Trustees or members of the public, the minutes of the March 2, 2006 meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, having been mailed in advance to all Trustees, were unanimously approved. 

B. Report of the March 22, 2006 Meeting of the Acquisitions Committee of the Fine Arts Museums Foundation - George Hecksher, Vice President for Collections, and Chair of the Acquisitions Committee of the Fine Arts Museums Foundation

1. Purchases

Chair Hecksher, Vice President for Collections and Chair of the Acquisitions Committee of the Fine Arts Museums Foundation, discussed the following purchases recommended for approval by the Acquisitions Committee:  a) La Maternité, 1973, a bronze sculpture by Joan Miró, made possible through the generosity of a Trustee and his wife; b) Cornelia Parker’s Anti-Mass, 2005, a gift, in part, of a supporting organization in honor of Harry S. Parker III and Steven A. Nash, who founded the affiliated group; c) Cristo, ca. 1850-1907, by José Benito Ortega; and d) six works on paper, Umbrella Handle, 1932 by Imogen Cunningham; Houses on Incline, Virginia City, 1941, ca. 1970, by  Wright Morris; Poster of la Plue, 1898, by James Ensor; Henry Duberty Esq. Paymaster 8^th Hussars, & Mrs. Duberty, 1855, by Roger Fenton; Untitled (Man at Table), 1931, by Louis Marcoussis; and Tote Mutter (Mutter and Kind) Dead Mother (Mother and Child), 1889, by Max Klinger. 

A motion was made and seconded to approve La Maternité by Joan Miró as a Foundation purchase for loan to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.  There was no discussion among Trustees; there was no public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the Joan Miró sculpture listed as number 1, on page 1 of Appendix I of these minutes.

A motion was made and seconded to approve the eight other purchases, two American artworks and six works on paper, as gifts of art from the Fine Arts Museums Foundation to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.  There was no discussion among Trustees; there was no public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve and accept these eight works of art listed as items 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 on page 1 of Appendix I of these minutes, as gifts of art from the Foundation. 

2. Gifts Offered to the Museums

Chair Hecksher particularly noted the following gifts:  1)  Conversation, 1963 and Abstraction #52, 1969, by Emil James Bisttram; 2) thirty-five teapots by various artists; 3) Seated Nude, ca. 1919, Guy Pène du Bois; 4) Senate Hearing, ca. 1950, by William Gropper; 5) Greek, Cycladic figure, ca. 2500 B.C.; 6) a partial interest gift of an initial 33.3% in Still Life with Crabs on a Pewter Plate, ca. 1669-1672, by Abraham Mignon; 7) The Lewd Fool (Unflättiger Naar), 1542, by (Hans) Sebald Beham; 8) The General, early 20^th century by George Grosz; 9) Central Park Bench, 1932, by George Grosz; 10) Beneath the El, 1939, by Reginald Marsh; and 11) twelve prints for the Crown Point Press Archive.

A motion was made and seconded to approve and accept the gifts offered to the Museums.  There was no discussion among the Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve and accept the gifts offered to the Museums by the Fine Arts Museums Foundation listed on pages 2 through 4 of Appendix I of these minutes. 

3. Bequest of Ninety-One Works on Paper Offered to the Museums

This bequest of ninety-one works on paper represents a collection of prints  from an artist’s collection.  A motion was made and seconded to approve and accept this bequest.  There was no discussion among the Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve and accept the bequest offered to the Museums by the Foundation listed on pages 5 through 9 of Appendix I of these minutes. 

4. First and Second Step Deaccessioning

A motion was made and seconded to approve first step deaccessioning for twenty-five American artworks.  There was no discussion among Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve first step deaccessioning for the twenty-five American works of art listed on pages 10 and 11 of Appendix I of these minutes. 

A motion to approve second step deaccessioning was made and seconded for the three (3) works of American art, one painting and two marble busts, Portrait of a Young Woman by William Merritt Chase; Reuben Lloyd by Melvin Earl Cummings; and William Franklin Herrin by Rupert Schmid.  As required by Board policy, the Acquisitions Committee viewed these artworks at its March 22^nd meeting.  There was no discussion among Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve second step deaccessioning for these three works of art, listed on pages 11 and 12 of Appendix I of these minutes. 

5. Purchases for the Record

These objects are listed on page 13 of Appendix I of these minutes.

Chair Hecksher introduced the following resolution:

RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of
San Francisco does hereby approve the appended March 22, 2006 report of the Acquisitions Committee of the Fine Arts Museums Foundation, including approving the works of art acquired through purchase, donation, and bequest as gifts to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco from the Fine Arts Museums Foundation; approving one purchase of art by the  Fine Arts Museums Foundation for loan to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; and approving first and second step deaccessioning.

On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the above resolution as Board Resolution 1598.

C. Report on Saturday Closure of John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park

President Wilsey noted that closure of John F. Kennedy (JFK) Drive on Saturday was defeated by the electorate on two occasions.  Sunday closure of JFK Drive has been in place since 1967, when admission was free to the de Young Museum and other cultural organizations in the Park.  Generally, Sunday attendance at museums throughout the country is higher than on Saturdays.  The de Young has been an exception due in large part to Sunday closure of JFK Drive. 

The November 2000 ballot included Proposition G, which posed the question:  “Shall the City close John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park to automobile traffic on Saturdays after the Music Concourse parking facility is opened?”  The ballot set forth a number of arguments for and against Proposition G, including a statement of support from President Wilsey and then Director Harry Parker after the opening of the Concourse underground parking facility and the study and mitigation of parking, traffic, transit and access for all Park users.  Proposition G was defeated. 

At the urging of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, Supervisor Jake McGoldrick agreed to introduce legislation for a six month trial closure of JFK Drive effective at the end of May 2006.  It is proposed that one and one-half miles of JFK Drive would be closed to traffic on Saturdays, as it is on Sundays, between Kezar Drive and Transverse Drive.  President Wilsey noted that the California Academy of Sciences is under construction to be completed in 2008 and is not affected by the trial closure. 

The Land Use and Economic Development Committee, chaired by Supervisor McGoldrick, will hold a hearing on this matter on Friday, April 14^th, at 1 p.m., in Room 263 of City Hall.  Supervisors Sophie Maxwell and Gerardo Sandoval also serve on this Committee, which will make its recommendation to the full Board of Supervisors.  A compromise solution, which would move the recreational road closure to another area of Golden Gate Park, has been suggested.   President Wilsey read her April 13, 2006 letter to each of the Supervisors proposing the permanent, seven-day closure of Middle Drive West and offering to assist in a fund-raising effort to provide amenities, as well as improve the existing facilities in the area.

1. Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution Opposing Saturday Closure of John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park and Urging the Board of Supervisors to Oppose the Proposed Saturday Closure

President Wilsey read the following resolution:

WHEREAS, With the initiation of the closure of John F. Kennedy Drive (“JFK Drive”) in Golden Gate Park on Sundays in 1967, the Board of Trustees has documented its concerns over the importance of adequate access to the de Young Museum; and

WHEREAS, The closure of JFK Drive has historically reduced visitorship to the
de Young Museum on Sundays; and

WHEREAS, The voters of the City and County of San Francisco approved an initiative ordinance, known as Proposition J on June 2, 1998, called the “Golden Gate Park Revitalization Act of 1998” authorizing, among other things, the Golden Gate Park Concourse Authority (the “GGPCA”) to construct an underground parking facility and related circulation, transit and other surface improvements in and around the Music Concourse area of Golden Gate Park, and

WHEREAS, The GGPCA completed the garage construction in February 2006, and the City owned and operated underground parking facility in front of the de Young Museum has been operational since the opening of the Museum on October 15, 2005; and

WHEREAS, The related surface improvements to the Concourse have been partially implemented, including the removal of over 800 parking spaces from the surface of the Park, many in the area of the de Young Museum and Concourse; and

WHEREAS, The California Academy of Sciences is still under construction with an anticipated opening in 2008; and

WHEREAS, Park programs using the Concourse bowl and bandstand area have yet to commence because of the on-going construction of surface improvements; and

WHEREAS, The de Young Museum has just re-opened on October 15, 2005 to record numbers of visitors and has established itself as a museum of international stature; and

WHEREAS, Significant exhibitions are planned for this year, such as the important Chicano Visions and Gee’s Bend Quilts exhibitions, as well as other major exhibitions in coming years; and

WHEREAS, Attendance at the de Young Museum since its opening has continued to demonstrate lower average attendance on Sundays than Saturdays; and

WHEREAS, Sunday closure of JFK Drive severely compromises access to the Museum, particularly for seniors, families, persons with disabilities, and anyone who cannot afford the cost of the parking garage; and 

WHEREAS, Initiating Saturday closure now will result in fewer visitors to our planned exhibitions, making it harder to fund future exhibitions and programs; and

WHEREAS, The de Young Museum is an important resource that should be readily accessible and welcoming to all visitors; and

WHEREAS, Regional, national, and international visitors spend time and money in our City, providing much needed revenue and creating jobs for our community, and making the de Young a vital contributor to our City’s economy; and

WHEREAS, Closure of JFK Drive on Saturday has twice been voted down by the electorate and has been shown to be unpopular in polls for the last decade with the broader community of San Francisco and Park neighbors; and

WHEREAS, Other locations in Golden Gate Park exist where recreational activities could occur without such negative impacts to the de Young Museum, its exhibitions, programs and visitors; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco does not support closure of JFK Drive on Saturdays; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco calls upon its civic leaders, the Board of Supervisors, and the Mayor of the City of San Francisco, to support the de Young Museum and to oppose Saturday closure of JFK Drive; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums would be willing to support a compromise solution that moves recreational road closure to another area of the Park, and hereby authorizes the President of the Board of Trustees and the Director of Museums to negotiate with civic leaders and community groups to forge such a solution.

On motion, duly seconded, discussion among the Trustees ensued.  There was no public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the above resolution as Board Resolution 1599 and expressed appreciation to President Wilsey for her efforts with a round of applause.

V.

Report of the Director – John E. Buchanan, Jr.

A. Consideration and Possible Action to Approve a Loan Request

Mr. Buchanan presented the following loan request:

From:Museum of Fine Arts
Boston, MA

For:El Greco to Velazquez:  Art at the Court of Philip III
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA:  4/13/08-7/27/08
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, Durham, NC:  8/22/08- 11/9/08

Domenikos Theotokopoulos (El Greco) (Spanish, 1541-1614)
St. Francis Venerating the Crucifix, ca. 1595
Oil on canvas, 58 x 41 ½ (147.3 x 105.4 cm)
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Samuel H.
Kress Foundation
61.44.24

Stipulations:The painting will be accompanied by a FAMSF courier to
Boston and return from Durham to San Francisco.  All related
Expenses will be paid by the requesting organization.

A motion was made and seconded to approve the loan request noted above.  There was no discussion among Trustees or members of the public.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the loan subject to the conditions stated.

B. Report on Executive Committee Approval by Mail Ballot of the Following Loan Request

Mr. Buchanan clarified that the subsequent loan request surfaced immediately after the April 13, 2006 Board of Trustees meeting.  Due to the need to ship the painting to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art for installation by April 20^th, a mail ballot to approve the loan was sent to the Executive Committee.  Twelve of thirteen Executive Committee members returned ballots, approving the following loan subject to the conditions stated:

From:Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Oklahoma City, OK

For:Images of Storms in European and American Art
Oklahoma City, OK:  4/20/06 to 8/13/06

Jan van Goyen (Dutch, 1596-1656)
The Thunderstorm, 1641
Oil on canvas, 54 ¼ x 72 1/8 (137.8 x 183.2 cm)
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Museum
Purchase, M. H. de Young Memorial Museum
48.7

Stipulations:The painting will be accompanied by a FAMSF courier to Oklahoma City and return to San Francisco.  All related expenses will be paid by the requesting organization.

C. Current and Future Exhibits

Mr. Buchanan advised that this report would be provided later in the meeting.

D. Update on the City Budget

The Museums’ Fiscal Year 2006-07 City Budget totaling approximately$10 million has been submitted to the City.  It represents the annualized support required to operate the de Young and Legion of Honor for a full year.  Traditionally, the City has funded the guardianship costs of the Museums, insurance costs for the collections, and the costs of utilities and partial maintenance for the two buildings.

E. Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution Acknowledging Funding Expended by the Corporation of The Fine Arts Museums During the Period October 1 through December 31, 2005

Mr. Buchanan advised that the City’s Sunshine Ordinance requires the Fine Arts Museums to disclose the amount and source of all gifts received.  He presented the following resolution, which acknowledges funding expended by the Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums for the period October 1 through December 30, 2005:

WHEREAS, The Corporation of The Fine Arts Museums is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that exists to support the activities of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and served as the developer of the new de Young Museum; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco does hereby acknowledge with gratitude funding in the amount of $9,095,924 expended by the Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums for operations and $2,726,548 for the new de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park during the period October 1 through December 30, 2005.

On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among the Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the above resolution as Board Resolution 1600.

F. Consideration and Possible Action to Adopt a Resolution Acknowledging the Bequests of Funds Received During the Period October 1 through December 31, 2005

In accordance with the City’s Sunshine Ordinance, bequests received by the Fine Arts Museums must also be disclosed.  Mr. Buchanan introduced the following resolution, acknowledging the bequests of funds received by the Museums during the period October 1 through December 31, 2005:

RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco does hereby acknowledge the following bequests of funds received during the period October 1 through December 31, 2005.

Joan Diehl McCauley 1991 Trust, $18,803
Mohr Family Trust, $71,894

On motion, duly seconded, there was no discussion among the Trustees.  There was no public testimony.  The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the above resolution as Board Resolution 1601.

VI.

Public Comment

Members of the public may address the Board of Trustees on items not on the agenda that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.  Speakers may address the Board for up to three minutes; the President or the Board of Trustees may limit total comments to thirty minutes.  There was no public comment.

VII.

Meeting Schedule, Future Events and Current and Future Exhibits

A. 2006 Board of Trustees Meetings

B. 2006 Executive Committee Meetings

C. Future Events

D. Current and Future Exhibitions (*Exhibitions organized by FAMSF)

Legion of Honor

Main Exhibition Galleries

Departmental  Rotations

2. de Young

Main Exhibition Galleries

Departmental Rotations

VIII.

Adjournment - Diane B. Wilsey, President

There being no further business, President Wilsey adjourned the meeting at
4:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,



Judy Gough
Executive Secretary


Note:  These minutes set forth all actions taken up by the Board of Trustees on matters stated, but not necessarily in the order in which the matters were considered.