Minutes 04/29/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1998 the community and asked her to keep up this good work. Vice-Mayor Crabtree complimented Mrs. Cobbe on their very successful performing arts program, and Mrs. Cobbe noted that there were plans to try to expand on this program area. Mr. Dallas then stated that the Piedmont Arts Association had made a very wise choice in selecting Mrs. Cobbe as their Director. The next presentation on council's Agenda was made by Mr. Steve Pike, Executive Director of the Virginia Museum of Natural History. Mr. Pike noted that the previous year had been interesting for the Museum, with capital improvements activity and battles in Richmond over funding for the organization. He stated that the Museum and the community were poised for major advances in their operations, and pointed out that there had been a 900% increase in on-site attendance in the past year, as well as a 351% increase in off-site activity. He thanked the City for having helped fund an off-site location for exhibit fabrication, and stated that this had helped them keep their accreditation and do bigger and better exhibits. Mr. Pike also noted that the Museum programs are closely coordinated with educational programs in the school system and the Standards of Learning. He then went on to state that eight new exhibit kits for the students were planned for the coming year, and that another "blockbuster" exhibit was planned for October, a 3,000 square foot national premier exhibit on the Ice Age, for which local residents would receive flee and/or discount admissions. Council Member Haskell asked how the Museum had fared with their efforts to get funds from the State Legislature, and Mr. Pike replied that they had received $650,000 for planning and design work for their new facility and $1 million for construction of the facility. He also noted that he had a plan for leveraging the available funds to generate additional money, which he would share with Council in the near future. Council Member Haskell then asked about the newly hired Development Officer and was told that his name was Chuck Hotchkiss, and that he was a welcome and enthusiastic new member of the Museum staff. Mr. Pike stated that they had come up with a plan to lower the cost of the new facility, which they would share with Council in about six months. He also reinforced the view that the City park site chosen for the new facility offered tremendous opportunity for a great project. Mrs. Haskell asked what Mr. Pike's feelit~was about whether