Commission members were informed that a check has been received to fund a Theresa Cooper historical marker; staff said the deposit will occur on the following Monday and that the project has one year to spend the funds.

A staff member explained the delay in depositing the funds was due to vendor setup: the city’s fiscal agent relationship and Sequoia vendor setup had to be completed before the check could be processed. The staff member also said the commission’s secretary is on a two-week vacation, which has contributed to processing delays.

Separately during the meeting the staff member presented a completed example marker produced by Woodland Manufacturing that is installed in the Upper Ramble near the Walton Arts Center on West Avenue. The marker is a stainless steel photo-etched plaque with the Palatino font; staff said the unit weighs about 60 pounds, measures 32 inches tall by 24 inches wide, and that the installation included a 6-foot post set with about 19 inches of the marker embedded in a concrete footing. The staff member said the marker’s height was set so a person in a wheelchair or mobility device can read it and that the manufacturer offered options in stainless or brass finishes.

Staff described the manufacturer’s image handling process: to achieve the photo clarity needed for that marker size, a high-resolution original photo was required, and Woodland Manufacturing digitally removed an unwanted utility pole from the image before etching. Staff said the total cost for that example, including shipping, was "just over $5,000." Anna (a meeting participant) asked for the manufacturer specifications; the staff member agreed to share the specs. A commissioner (asked about Henderson School) and another participant discussed whether similar etched-photo markers could be used for other sites.

No formal vote or contract award was recorded on the marker at this meeting. The only formal action recorded was acceptance of other meeting business earlier in the agenda. Staff said they will start purchasing items and planning events tied to the Theresa Cooper marker once the funds are deposited, and that they have one year to expend the funds.