HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-10-07 Memorandum - RemodelDate: Tuesday, October 7, 2008
To: Mayor Pat Porter and Kenai City Council and City Manager Rick Koch
From: Kenai Convention Visitors Bureaus' Board of Directors
RE: Heating Renovation, and Kitchen Remodel at the Kenai Visitors Cultural Cente
Since February of this year, the Kenai Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of
Directors has received a variety of reports and several opinions regarding a new heating
and mechanical system to be installed in the Center due to the failure of the current
system. As replacement plans move forward, we need to reiterate our concerns that the
new system to be installed in the permanent exhibit areas, meet the following criteria as
recommended by Alaska State Museum Conservator, Scott Carrlee.
The Board of Directors would appreciate your immediate attention to the following
concerns:
How evenly will heat be distributed throughout the exhibit area? Will any area
get a stronger flow of direct heat than another and will the heat be distributed
evenly from floor to ceiling?
How consistent is the proposed mechanical/heating system? Sensitive objects
need a consistent temperature level 24 hours a day otherwise they become
stressed and deteriorate with fluctuations in temperature.
Will the proposed system have dust control, dust filtration and humidity controls?
Objects in the exhibit area are sensitive to humidity level fluctuations. It's
imperative that the exhibit area be kept at an even and constant humidity level.
The KCVB board feels that the City of Kenai has both a responsibility and liability issues
involved in the housing and caring for the collection housed in the exhibit area. This
means that professional conservation standards need to be adhered to for long -term safe
keeping. Many priceless objects have been loaned and donated to the City of Kenai. The
Board feels the City has an obligation to see that these objects are kept in a safe and
environmentally controlled building.
It should be noted that currently, there is not an exhibit or museum area surveillance
system to guard against theft or damage. The Board of Directors strongly urges the City
of Kenai to consider the installation of an interior security system during this remodel
work. This would give staff the ability to monitor building activity including the City's
valuable Collection.
As the caretaker of the City's collection, the KCVB Board of Directors takes this
responsibility very seriously and we look forward to working with the Council now and
in the future as we both seek to make the Center an even greater asset to the City of
Kenai.
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On another serious building issue, the Board of Directors feels they must alert Council to
the fact that the kitchen within in the Center is literally falling apart. Cabinet doors can
not longer be attached to their hinges, trim is falling off and the fifteen year old
appliances are all failing. A kitchen remodel had been discussed as a component of this
construction project and remodel plans have been submitted to the City. This would be
the perfect (and probably most cost effective) time to remedy this issue. As the City's
only Convention Center, a DEC approved kitchen would be a tremendous asset if not a
necessity for events large and small, event caterers and Saturday Market vendors who
need to use the kitchen to add value to their Alaskan Grown berries and produce. Not
having a DEC approved kitchen, limits and affects our ability to accommodate income
producing events, meetings and conferences.
The KCVB requests your consideration regarding these important issues. We look
forward to working with Council and the Administration to resolve our concerns.
Respectfully,
Vice President, Fred Braun
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