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City of Redlands accepts Museum of Redlands gift, agrees to operate facility
Summary
The Redlands City Council approved a transfer agreement to take title to the Museum of Redlands from the Redlands Historical Museum Association and to operate the facility as a museum; council found the transfer exempt from CEQA.
The Redlands City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to accept the Museum of Redlands from the Redlands Historical Museum Association (RHMA) and to take title to the land and building at no cost to the city.
Assistant City Manager Christopher Boatman told the council the agreement conveys the museum — a facility the staff described as a $30,000,000 project of roughly 24,000 square feet — to the city and requires the city to operate the facility “as a museum in perpetuity focused on historical, cultural and educational use.” Boatman said the AK Smiley Public Library Board of Trustees will serve as the administrator and that the city will assume operational staffing, utilities and care. RHMA may continue to participate in fundraising and operating the museum store and event pavilion by entering into a future operating agreement, Boatman added.
The council found the transfer agreement exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines, section 15061(b)(3), and approved the real estate transfer agreement. The roll call recorded Council Member Berridge, Council Member Tejeda, Council Member Davis, Mayor Pro Tem Shaw and Mayor Sacido as voting “yes.”
Why it matters: The council’s action secures long-term public ownership of the museum building and property and makes the city responsible for the institution’s ongoing operating and maintenance costs. That change shifts budgetary obligations to the city and ties the city to the facility’s mission and upkeep.
Supporters from RHMA urged the council to accept the gift during public comment. Tim Rochford, who said he is part of the RHMA team, called the donated facility “possibly the most expensive gift on record” and thanked donors, staff and council for the partnership. In public comment, resident Dennis Bell urged caution, saying the city should disclose contracts and utility costs associated with operating the facility and questioned long-term maintenance funding; he cited staff numbers for initial operating costs that he said ranged in city materials from about $824,000 to $835,000 for the first full year of operation.
Key provisions and context: Boatman said the museum includes exhibit galleries, an outdoor event pavilion, a museum store, office space and archival storage designed to national museum standards. RHMA is obligated under the agreement to repay an earlier loan to the city; Boatman reported the loan is half repaid. The agreement gives RHMA the option to continue certain fundraising and retail operations under a future contract.
The council’s approval followed staff presentations and public comment and did not include an amendment to the draft agreement presented at the meeting. Council discussion included expressions of gratitude to the donors and volunteers and statements that the museum will highlight local history and broaden public access to historical exhibits.
Looking ahead: With council approval, staff will proceed to implement the transfer terms in the agreement, which include operational responsibilities for the city and continued opportunities for RHMA participation under future contracts. The staff report and presentation at the meeting described estimated near-term operating needs; the city’s finance staff will account for the museum’s operating and maintenance costs in upcoming budget actions.
