Title
Resolution to Recognize and Accept City Ownership of Historical Street Exhibits and to Authorize Contracts to Establish Roles and Responsibilities
Memorandum
The Downtown Ann Arbor Historical Street Exhibit Program originated in December of 1986, with initial fundraising, including grant funding, undertaken in 1987-1988. The first exhibit was installed in 1998.
The Since 1994, the Ann Arbor Historical Foundation and the Downtown Ann Arbor Historical Street Exhibit Program have worked to get historical street exhibits installed in Ann Arbor, including fund raising, as well as making arrangements for design and construction of the various exhibits. Exhibits include historical glass panels in metal frames, a map on a pedestal at the County Courthouse, and a number of porcelain wall displays. A list of the historical exhibits and map of their locations can be found on the Ann Arbor District Library's website at: <http://aastreets.aadl.org/aastreets/exhibit>, which has links to information about each exhibit, as well as images. Other information about the historical street exhibits program can be found using links from the Library's main page for the exhibit program: <http://aastreets.aadl.org/aastreets>.
The Ann Arbor Historical Foundation has served as both fund raiser and fiduciary agent for funds raised for the program. Although the City and the Downtown Development Authority have contributed funds to the program, and the initial contract for construction and installation was entered into by the City, the primary source of funding has been private, both for new installations and for replacements and major repairs when necessary due to damage to an exhibit. Some time ago, the City undertook the obligation for maintenance, i.e., cleaning, of the exhibits. However, the roles and responsibilities of the various parties, including ownership of the exhibits by the City, have not been formalized.
At this time, with only four more wall exhibits left to be installed (see the attached letter from the Historical Street Exhibit Program dated September 29, 2014), formalization of roles and responsibilities is in order.
Although some of the relationships will need to be formalized by written agreement, including an agreement with the Ann Arbor historical Foundation that it will fund replacements of exhibits that may be required, and that the City reserves the right to remove any damaged exhibit if funding to replace it is not available, this resolution recognizes and accepts ownership by the City of the Ann Arbor historical street exhibits and authorizes the City Administrator and City Attorney to proceed with all necessary agreements.
Staff
Prepared by: Abigail Elias, Chief Assistant City Attorney
Sponsored by: Councilmembers Sabra Briere, Jane Lumm and Mayor John Hieftje
Body
Whereas, The Downtown Ann Arbor Historical Street Exhibit Program has been a great success since the 1980s;
Whereas, Funding for new exhibits has been from private sources, along with some initial grant funding and funding from the City of Ann Arbor and the Downtown Development Authority;
Whereas, The funding for new exhibits and for replacement or major repair of any damaged exhibit has continued to be privately provided, with the funds held by the Ann Arbor Historical Foundation;
Whereas, The City has provided regular maintenance by cleaning the Historical Street Exhibits for many years; and
Whereas, Clarification of ownership of the Historical Street Exhibits and of the roles and responsibilities of the City, the Ann Arbor Historical Foundation and other parties is in order;
RESOLVED, That Ann Arbor City Council formally recognizes and accepts City ownership of all the Historical Street Exhibits that have been installed by the Downtown Ann Arbor Historical Street Exhibit Program, including the four wall exhibits that remain to be installed;
RESOLVED, That the City will continue its general maintenance program of cleaning the Historical Street Exhibits;
RESOLVED, That the City accepts ownership of the Historical Street Exhibits based on the expectation of continued funding by the Ann Arbor Historical Foundation for major repairs and replacement of any exhibit;
RESOLVED, That the City reserves the right to remove any Historical Street Exhibit that is damaged if funding for major repairs or replacement is not available;
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator and City Attorney be directed to develop and enter into a contract with the Ann Arbor Historical Foundation to formally memorialize this arrangement, and to develop and enter into any other contracts that are required for the Historical Street Exhibits now that the City has formally taken ownership of the exhibits; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be directed to take all other administrative steps necessary to implement this resolution.