QUARTERLY MEETING

February 10, 2015 | Sunset Demonstration Gardens, Menlo Park

Chair: Larkin Owens
Recorder: January Ruck
Attendees: Cate Bainton, Thomas Brody, Denise Bradley, Fredrica Drotos, Diane Einstein, Betsy Fryberger, Cathy Garrett, Janet Gracyk, Justin Greving, Jill Johnson, Helaine Kaplan, Virginia Kean, Frederic Knapp, Stephanie McAllister, Melissa Mourkas, Larkin Owens, Gordon Osmundson, Chris Pattillo, Andres Perez, Blaire Prentice, Fred Rachman, Sara Raube, January Ruck

This meeting was generously hosted by Johanna Silver, Associate Editor for Sunset magazine. Silver provided a private tour of the grounds, demonstration kitchens and office building from approximately 4:00-5:00 p.m. The HALS-NCC business meeting followed the tour.

Larkin Owens called meeting to order, requesting all present to sign the attendance sheet. Given the large group present, time was allocated to introductions.

1. HALS Northern California Chapter Intro/History - Cathy Garrett
   In the interest of having a basis to consider the future goals for building community, growing interest in HALS documentation, and bolstering attendance of future quarterly meetings, Cathy Garrett provided a summary of the group's history. For more than 10 years, HAL-NCC has existed to promote HALS documentation as a tool for cultural landscape preservation in Northern California. The primary activity, in addition to quarterly meetings, has been HALS documentation projects including photography, historic research and measured drawings. In addition, the group has provided grant funding in support of HALS Heroes documentation projects and launched the HALS Challenge Program, which has since been adopted by the National Park Service as a national program. Cathy closed by encouraging everyone to coming to meetings, even occasionally, to share news with the group.
2. Project Updates
   1. Berkeley Panoramic Hills Stairway Project - January Ruck and Fredrica Drotos
      January shared the findings of the Cultural Landscape Report she completed for the Orchard Lane Stairway in the Panoramic Hills Neighborhood of Berkeley, CA, as part of University of California Extension course taught by HALS-NCC members Gretchen Hilyard and Doug Nelson. Next steps for January and Fredrica will be to determine a scope and budget for rehabilitation before researching grant support and fundraising. Jill Johnson has volunteered to assist. They will set a future meeting date.
   2. China Camp Completion - Fred Rachman
      Fred reports most of the field work associated with the China Camp Project has been completed. CAD work is on-going.
3. 2015 HALS Challenge: Documenting Modernist Landscapes - Chris Pattillo
   1. Last year's challenge elicited 45 submissions from throughout the country.
   2. This year's theme is modernist landscapes (1930-65).
   3. Submission deadline is July 31.
   4. If you choose a site in California, reserve the site before you start documenting it by sending an e-mail to Chris Pattillo at PGAdesign.
   5. Download 2015 HALS Challenge flier from the NPS HALS Challenge page.
   6. Download HALS Short Format History guidelines, brochure, and template from the HALS Guidelines page.
   7. Our chapter needs to continue its strong response -- other states are getting competitive!
4. Documenting Sunset Demonstration Garden - Chris Pattillo, Janet Gracyk, Gordon Osmundson
   1. The team of Chris Pattillo, Janet Gracyk and Gordon Osmundson intend to document the Sunset Demonstration Garden as part of the HALS Challenge. They will complete the short form and photography. They would like to recruit a volunteer to help with measured drawings. There are prints from a remodel that was completed during the 1990s. UC Berkeley has a single sheet of layout plan.
   2. Helaine Kaplan may be able to assist with student recruitment. Other schools to approach could be West Valley College or UC Berkeley Extension.
   3. HALS-NCC may investigate soliciting Sunset or the new owner for sponsorship in support of the documentation.
   4. Gordon will photograph the site in April and May.
   5. Jill Johnson will coordinate with Gordon, as she will be writing the section about how the building and landscape relate to each other and may want some specific photography to illustrate.
5. Announcements and Upcoming Events - All
   1. As the formal HALS Liaison with NPS, Chris Pattillo shared information that NPS is planning a 100th Anniversary celebration for 2016. She will provide additional details as they become available.
   2. Janet Gracyk shared progress on establishment of Secretary of the Interior's professional standards for landscape architects.
   3. Chris Pattillo shared additional information from NPS -- there is a goal to update bulletins and guidelines for HALS, HABS, and HAER. There is also a threat of burying the HALS program within the HABS program because of funding/staffing challenges. Chris Stevens at NPS will let Chris Pattillo know if any advocacy in support of keeping HALS funded as an independent program becomes necessary.
   4. Janet Gracyk shared progress on effort to work with OHP on revision of State Register Survey form to be more relevant to documenting cultural landscapes. They will be meeting in April.
6. Upcoming Meeting Locations and Speakers - All
   1. May 16, 2015, 11AM - California Nursery, Fremont (Possibly on a weekend day?)
   2. August 18, 2015, 6PM - Lake Chalet, Oakland
   3. November 10, 2015, 4-5PM tour, 5-6PM meeting - State Capitol, Sacramento (Tour of Capitol Grounds)
   4. Discussion of alternative meeting times included recognition that half the meeting attendees believe weekend meeting would be preferable. One third of the meeting attendees believe weekday meeting times after 6PM would be preferable, although during certain times of the year, darkness will prohibit site visits.
   5. Other issues that motivate attendance include access to public transit and appeal of venue.
7. Leadership Transition - Larkin Owens
   1. Current leadership system includes a Co-Chair system of three chairs: incoming chair (currently Gretchen Hilyard), current chair (currently Larkin Owens), and past chair (currently Cathy Garrett).
   2. Chair terms are two years.
   3. Current chairs are looking to recruit the next incoming chair. They have invited January Ruck to consider and she has expressed interest. An invitation will be sent to the HALSncc e-group for additional expressions of interest.
   4. Addition considerations -- refreshment provided during the meetings are not funded by the chairs. In the past, they have been in-kind donations. The group may consider other ways to fund in the future.