HomeMy WebLinkAbout30- City Managers Office ORIGINAL
CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO -REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
From: Charles McNeely, City Manager Subject: Request from the San Bernardino
Historical and Pioneer Society that the Santa
Prepared by: Teri Baker, Fe Clock located in the Council Chambers
Assistant to the City Manager be loaned to the Society for display in the
San Bernardino History and Railroad
Dept: City Manager's Office Museum.
Date March 23,2010
Meeting Date: April 5,2010
Synopsis of Previous Council Action
10/1/1972 - A donation agreement was entered into between the City of San Bernardino (Donee)
and the Santa Fe Railroad (Donor) for the Seth-Thomas Standard Mercury Clock
No 1032.
Recommended Motion:
MOTION#1:
That the loan request from the Historical and Pioneer Society to display the Santa Fe Historical
Clock in the San Bernardino History and Railroad Museum be approved; that staff be directed to
develop and negotiate a loan agreement, which will include a term; and, that the City Manager be
authorized to execute the loan agreement;
OR
MOTION#2: That the loan request from the it 'cal and Pioneer Society be denied.
*SiglYLre
Contact person: Teri Baker Phone: 384-5122
Supporting data attached: Staff Report, Resolution Ward: 1
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: No cost to the City
Source:
Finance:
Council Notes:
Agenda Item No. J
Yrs�ZO��
CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO—REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Staff Report
Subject:
Request from the San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society that the Santa Fe Clock located in the
Council Chambers be loaned to the Society for display in the San Bernardino History and Railroad
Museum.
Background:
The San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society sent a letter to the City Manager in February of this
year requesting that the Santa Fe Clock located in the Council Chambers be loaned to the Society for
display in the San Bernardino History and Railroad Museum located next to the Santa Fe Depot Building
on 3rd Street (Attachment A).
The late 19a'or early 20a' century Seth-Thomas Standard Mercury Clock No 1032 was donated to the City
in 1972 at the request of Mrs. W.R. Holcomb to celebrate the grand opening of the new City Hall. A
donation agreement was entered into between the City of San Bernardino and the Santa Fe Railroad for
the donation(Attachment B).
If this request is approved,the San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society would he responsible to pay
the insurance premium. There is concern that the clock contains mercury. Therefore, it must be moved
by hazmat professionals. The Fire Department's hazmat team has offered to assist with the move the
mercury clock at no charge to either party.
The San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society has an San Bernardino Railroad Days and
Bicentennial Celebration Event scheduled for May 8d'and May 9h at the Historic Depot. They would like
to have the clock on display for the event if at all possible. If the Mayor and Common Council approve
the request to loan the clock to the San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society for display in the
History and Railroad Museum, the City Manager's Office will work with the City Attorney's Office to
draft an agreement for the City Manager's signature.
Financial Impact:
None.
Recommendation:
MOTION#1:
That the loan request from the Historical and Pioneer Society to display the Santa Fe Historical Clock in
the San Bernardino History and Railroad Museum be approved; that staff be directed to develop and
negotiate a loan agreement, which will include a term; and, that the City Manager be authorized to
execute the loan agreement;
OR
MOTION#2:
That the loan request from the Historical and Pioneer Society be denied.
23365 Montalvo Road
Moreno Valley, CA 92557
February 23, 2010
Charles E. McNeely
City Manager
City of San Bernardino
300 North D Street
San Bernardino, CA 92418
Dear Mr. McNeely,
The San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society desires that the City of San
Bernardino loan the Santa Fe Clock located in the Council Chambers to the Society for
display in the San Bernardino History and Railroad Museum.
The purpose of this letter is to seek your help in determining the proper approach to
facilitate the process. Several options have been considered ranging from a letter from
the Historical Society formally requesting the loan to a Council resolution from the
Mayor, the City Manager or the Councilwoman from the I'Ward.
This large pendulum clock (often referred to a Regulator No. 19) was manufactured by
the Seth Thomas Clock Company in the late 19'h or early 20th century. The Santa Fe
Railway Company donated the clock to the City of San Bernardino as part of the
dedication ceremonies during the official opening of the new(current)City Hall in 1972.
This particular clock originally hung in the Santa Fe roundhouse at San Bernardino from
April 18, 1916, until was presented to the City in 1972. The clock measures six and one
half feet in height. It is one of only 225 Standard Clocks of various case styles that Santa
Fe had located at different points on its system. Certain clocks were designated as
Standard Clocks and it was very important for these clocks to show correct time.
The San Bernardino History and Railroad Museum is in the historic 1918 Santa Fe Depot
located at 1170 West 3rd Street. The Depot was renovated in 2002-2004 with new
electrical, heating, air conditioning, fire detection system, sprinkler system, and a burglar
alarm and is patrolled by a 24-hour security guard.
The San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society had its beginnings in 1888 when a
group formed a San Bernardino Chapter of the"Society of California Pioneers". In 1977,
the San Bernardino Historical Society was formed and merged with the Pioneer Society.
In 1978, the group was incorporated by the State of California as a non-profit 501 (c) (3)
organization. The Society maintains a restored 1891 Victorian home, research library
and meeting hall at 8th and D Streets.
In July of 2008, the Society opened the San Bernardino History and Railroad Museum.
The Museum is open to the public every Saturday and other days when tours and other
special activities are scheduled.
The Santa Fe Railway Company was a major part of San Bernardino for over 100 years
and now all that is left of the Santa Fe Railway in San Bernardino is the smoke stack, the
whistle, the depot and the clock. The Museum is the appropriate place to display this
historic Santa Fe clock, as the public will be able to closely view it and the lettering and
face of the clock will become easily discernible. Its historic significance will be
highlighted and properly displayed. The clock will be prominently hung on the wall next
to a large 1940s clock used in the Western Union office that was located within the Santa
Fe Depot.
At your convenience, Steve Shaw, the President of the San Bernardino Historical and
Pioneer Society, and I are available to discuss the possibilities with you. Steve can be
contacted at (909) 856-3229 or sshaw5@,,mac.com and I can be reached at (951) 316-
' 8155 or tlmarek@,mac.com.
Sincerely,
�
Tom Marek
Society Member and
Museum Board of Directors
cc: Mayor Pat Morris
r�Teri Baker
Casey Dailey
SiP 1 19711
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9 A 1 L \A/ A Y C 0 fVI P A N Y
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REGIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
121 E. 6th ST, Los Angeles. Cal. 90014
Phone (213) 628-0111
WILLIAM B.COX,Regional Manager—Public Relations September 13, 1973
HAROLD A.BURROUGHS,Special Representative
W.E.FLOHRSCHUTZ,Traveling Repnisennaliye
Mayor, W. R. Holcomb
City of San Bernardino
P.O. Box 1312
San 3elrnardinD, CA 102401
Dear Mayor Holcomb:
Your files villl reflect that laal November i,.,e passed a
MEMORINDUDI, OF DO11-q2IOK *to you for execution coverin.• the donation
of the Seth Thomas ""'lock which now Is located in '�ne Foyer of the
vna,-*,n entrance to City hall . You returned the MEMORANDUM, to me on
November 27 for further handling by our people. I am not%, attachInS
a copy of that documei,t for retention in your file on this subject .
It was a genuine pleasure visiting with you yesterday at
our luncheon; and I ;,ant to thank you alxa{tn for the Recognition
Certificate l,ibjci, you so kindly presented to Mr. Fish.
Kindest personal reSards.
Sincerely,
wj,6, a 6�
William B. Cox
att.
5
a
't
September 19, 1973
Mr. William B. Cox
Regional Manager - Public Relations
The .A&Afson, Topeka g< Santa Pe Railway Co.
121 --ast Si'th <nraa
Los Angeles, California 90014
Dear Mr. Cox:
I am planning to hang a plague beneath the clock appropriately recognizing
Santa Fe's gift to the City. In connection with the plsoue, the thought struck
me that it might be appropriate to freme the correspondence between
M:°s. Holcomb an! S9RO Pe to show the public how this came about.
If this would seem appropriate, I would appreciate your trying to get the
original letter of mrs. Holcomb so that W will,'. mace It in the frame.
Your comments and cooperation would be appreciated.
Kindest regards,
W. R "Bob" Holcomb, Mayor
WRH:rk
DONATION AGREaM-N'T
This A regiment entered into this 1st day of October,
1972, by and between The Atchison, Topeka and Santa re Railway
Company, a Delaware corporation, hereinafter referred to as
r onor, f° and City of San Bernardino, hereinafter referred to
as 10Donee, "
WIT:NESSETH:
Donee has requested Donor to donate certain personal
property of Donor, hereinafter described, for permanent exhibi-
tion for the sole benefit of Donee, such exhibition to be at
or near the City of San Bernardino, State of California, and
Donor is agreeable to donating said personal property to Donee:
for such purpose, but only upon the terms and conditions here-
after set forth.
iNOT,T, THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED by and between Donor
and Donee as follows:
1. Donor does hereby donate and transfer to Donee
all of Donor's right, title and interest in the following
described persona.1 property (hereinafter referred to as the
"Donated Property") :
1 - Seth-Thomas Standard Mercury Clock No. 1032
2. Donee hereby accepts the donation of said Donated
Property described above. Donee will accept delivery of said
Donated Property at a point convenient to Donor where Donor's
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rails are reasonably near to the site where the Donated Property
will be exhibited by Donee, from which point of delivery it
w qL be transported or conveyed by and at the sole cost,
expense, liability and risk of Donee to the exhibition site.
3. Donee accepts said Donated Property without eaar-
ranty of any kind or nature, express or implied, on the part
of Donor, and no covenant of warranty or guaranty shall be
implied on the part of Donor from the use of any language herein
cone-ined. Donee agrees to accept said Donated Property in "as
is" condition at the delivery point mentioned above.
4. Donee agrees that at all times hereafter it will
keep said Donated Property in a clean, attractive and presentable
condition and shall not at any time permit it to become unsightly
or dilapidated in appearance. Should Donee permit said Donated
Property to become unsightly or dilapidated in appearance, Donee
further agrees to either remove the equipment from public view or
sell the same for scrap purposes only.
5. Donee agrees to indemnify and save harmless Donor
from all claims, demands, judgments, suits, costs and expenses
(including attorneys' fees) for injury to or death of any persons
whomsoever or lore of or damage to the property of any person or
persons whomsoever (including Donor and Donee and their agents or
employees) in any manner arising from or growing out of the trans-
portation from the delivery point, condition, display, maintenance
or disposal of said Donated Property, or the presence of any persor.
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on or about the premises where said Donated Property is exhibited,
and including any claims based on alleged attractive nuisance, or
any other cause whatsoever.
Ili WITivESS 'vj'nz .LOF, the parties hereto have executed
this Agreement in duplicate as of the day and year first above
written.
THE ATCF.ISOr, TOPENA AND SANTA EE
RAILWAY COMPANY Its uirector oc 'rurchases and,
CITY OF SAN yER'_ ARLINO, as Ln'ca�e
By _.
Its