May 28, 2026 · 14,581 words · 18 speakers · 296 segments
For being here this afternoon, we need to take roll. Sorry for getting started a little late, but Ms. Kelly, please take the roll.
Committee member Garcia-Berry. She's excused. Clifford. He's excused. Contagluglia. DePrince. Fenberg.
You know what? Your mic's not on. That's why people aren't hearing you.
Was it on? It was on, yeah. We're good. Just too far away. Fenberg's here. Here. Oh, there he is. Lee. Here. Mandel. Here. Van Mouric. Here. Oliveto. Here. Riley. Here. Paul. Excused. Madam Chair. I'm here.
All right. Well, again, thank you, everybody, for coming. Before we get started with the agenda, although Ms. Garcia-Berry hasn't been able to join us today, she had said she intended to, but she is not going to be able to continue on the committee from here on out. She just has other family obligations that are taking precedent. How anything can be more important than CBAC, I don't know, but I understand. and so I know the governor's office will be appointing somebody else in her place. But that said, we want to have the record show that we truly appreciate the time she gave us and the expertise she brought, and I know that if we need to call on her for any of her fundraising ability, we will be welcome to do so in the future because she's been very helpful in that arena as well. So thank you all again. And now let's get directly to the agenda. It's a full one. As we've noted, there have been a little change in the order. But other than that, we should be right on top of everything. So let's start with the, no, not the mile-high marker. Are we starting with the mile-high?
Yes, we are.
Sorry, I got things all confused. See, just right off the bat. So we're starting with the mile-high marker measurement. And Brian Shaw and our own Amanda Clapham will be here to talk with us about them.
Good afternoon. Can you hear me? This is Brian.
Is Brian up there somewhere?
Yes.
Okay. There he is.
Can you hear me okay?
Yes. We're on. Okay. Well, thank you for taking the time for this.
As many of you are aware, there's currently two mile high markers in the stairs, the western stairs of the Capitol building, and one engraving that says one mile above sea level. And so the reason there's multiple markers are at the National Geodetic Survey, we create things called a vertical datum, which are surfaces that allow us to define heights. And so through throughout the existence of the National Geographic Survey which was created in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson We had a number of vertical datums And so the engraving was referenced to a vertical datum from 1900. And then the mark above the engraving, I think it's three steps up. And would it help for me to share my screen at all
or is it better to just verbally talk yes you can yes please continue
okay um and so then the mark that's a few stairs up is from reference to a vertical datum called ngbd i thought i had a picture here but it seemed to have disappeared when i went back there So that's weird. Let me try reopening that PDF. There it is. So the engraving was from a datum that was established in 1900. The mark above it was from a datum, the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929. This mark was set in 1969 by Colorado State University students to show exactly where a mile high was above that vertical datum. And then in 1991, we put out a new vertical datum called the North American Vertical Datum of 1988. And so then the lowest mark, again, heights aren't really moving. It's just the surface to which heights are referenced to. So the way I like to think of it is like when I was a kid getting my height measured on a wall in Colorado Springs, my parents had a carpeted floor underneath where I would stand and get my heights measured against that floor. But before we moved, they replaced that carpet with hardwood floor. and that height that surface that what I was standing on changed a little bit and so the heights change with those surfaces and hence why there's a need for multiple marks when they're all of them are right none of them are wrong they're just referenced to different surfaces and so we are about to put out a new vertical datum next year we have it pretty much established this year but we're going through the processes of getting it ready to be used and so there will be a new there'll be a need to put in a new mark because again that reference surface is changing just for some background about why there's multiple marks we are in the process of doing a couple surveys to determine exactly where a mile high will be above this new vertical datum um i did one gps occupation a couple weeks ago i'll be doing two more next week and then we'll be doing another surveying methodology from that point where we determine an accurate height uh to determine which step it should go in with the plan to set the mark where it should go next month to be ready for the Colorado Day event on August 1st.
Well, great. That sounds like totally appropriate. You know, I know a little something about heights changing because I went for my annual checkup about a couple of weeks ago and I always been 5 and somehow they decided now I only 5 So I don know what happened I think that I need a survey to be sure that they accurate But understanding that it is more having to do with specific data collection and understanding that we still are a mile high. We just need to put the marker in the right place. We appreciate your effort. Are there questions or comments from the committee? Mr. Lee.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm just wondering if there's any appetite for renewing the current markers that are out there, because one of the things I always run into when I'm out there with people that are visiting, other than what they come into the Capitol, they don't know which marker is correct, and I'm wondering if we updated the markers with the actual date on them that they were set, you know, so everybody can see the differences on them.
Good point. Ms. Clapham, you have a comment?
I do have a comment. I read through the entire proposal that they have going on here, and part of their proposal is they would also like to create some interpretation to go with it so that when people saw those markers in the steps, they could see the story of how that came to be over time. And in addition, I did want to point out that, and this is also a part of their presentation. I'm sure he'll be getting to it shortly. but we do have some replicas of the mile high marker in right here. This is the actual physical copy. And then we have a sticker and then we also have a pin. And so these are really popular. It's a really popular thing for folks to visit when they come to Colorado. So I think we definitely should also talk about redoing the ones that are in there because they're so scuffed down that you can't read them anymore. So that should probably be part of it, too, if we can. I don't know what that would entail.
Okay, so let's back up a second. We're going to replace the marker in a new spot. That's step one, from what I understand. Step two is that we have two other markers in place right now from different periods in our history. So the new marker is going to place where current data shows it belongs. Where will the explanation for these changes be? Thank you.
I think that that would probably, at least to some degree, be up to you all. I know that there are some plaques out on the stone part of the steps and up on the top, the columns. There's some columns there. There could also potentially be some freestanding explanation as well. It would sort of depend on what the committee wanted to do and, you know, of course, funding and getting that all worked out.
Okay. Okay, so now I want to find out where the funding for A, the new marker, B, cleaning up the existing markers, and C, the explanation is all coming from. Ms. Clapham?
Well, I don't know that. I know that they do have some more of their presentation from NOAA regarding, they have done some research on potentially a new design that they might want to show you. So, yeah, so that's the research for the cost of it, I don't believe has been done. And I think we're at the stage, correct me if I'm wrong, where we're just making sure that we're all on board with this happening, that you guys are all on board with this.
Okay. Well, we're on a pretty tight time frame. August 1st isn't very far away. So I think this committee has a need to understand where the funding would come from. And if we going to add new components to the project we need to understand how that will all get funded before we can move forward I mean we could approve one step but that seems incomplete
Ms. Chapman. I think, and Brian would probably be a better person to speak to this, but my recollection is that at least with regard to the interpretive information, the, I can't remember, what did I tell you it was? The measuring people? No, this is a different one. No. No. It's fine. Anyway, there is an entity that is interested in creating the language around interpreting the different heights, so there's that. And then we've also done some preliminary work on what the cost is, and again, I'd be happy to have Brian go into that a little bit in terms of the handouts that I gave you or our proposal for this latest one, the latest marker. One of the things that I think is really nice about that is it has the date on it, so it distinguishes itself very clearly from all the other marks that we have. In any case, if Brian is still able to talk a little bit more about what next steps they perceive as far as the marker itself, future interpretive information, I think that would be great.
Okay, Ms. Contagulia.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Usually this committee reviews content for some things of that sort. So the content, the design needs to fit in with our other signage in the building, and then the placement in terms of accessibility and safety and things of that sort. So there are several parts to this. We can, I'm sure, get started today, but we're not going to finish.
Well, do we have another meeting between now and August 1st? Because I can't remember if we do, and if we don't, we need to, so they can get it in place as proposed. so we need to know about that.
Mr. Prince, did you have a comment?
Yes, thank you. I'm just curious, the current markers, do they have dates on them?
They do not. And we want to clean them up or replace them.
Ms. Clapham?
So the most recent one has the vertical datum date on it. I believe it says 2003, but they're so worn off that you can't really distinguish what it says. And I also wanted to point out, while we do have August 1st as the kind of deadline, that could be when we maybe announce the step. If we can't get the actual step, the marker placed by then, I think that's okay.
Okay. Well, my thinking is that I like the whole idea. I like the idea of cleaning up the existing ones and giving the history and the history somewhere, we don't know where, and putting in the new plaque in the appropriate spot. But I'm hesitant to say that the committee can approve that if we don't know the cost, because that's always a factor and where the money will be coming from. So with that in mind, perhaps with further discussion if needed, the motion would be that we approve the concept, but we need to wait to hear where the, how much it will cost and where the funding will come from. I don't know, what does everybody think?
Can I speak up real quick?
Sure. Sure.
This is Brian. So at the National Geographic Survey, we have a commandment of mark program where we often will cover the cost of the marks and the surveys in that aspect to establish those marks. So it would be we would easily be able to pay for the mark and work to, you know, drill a hole into the steps to epoxy it into the place where it would go. um i've been meeting with the professional land surveyors of colorado um that are the land surveyors for the state of colorado that organization has been willing to likely help to pay for the interpretive information plaque or at least part of that and i believe the national geonic survey could also pay for part of that plaque um i i think that we could likely have at no cost between those two groups as well as a couple of the surveyors for the PLSC. Their surveying organizations have also been willing to contribute to this effort, whether that's money or survey equipment to survey or just time and effort. And so I think between those three groups, we could easily come up with the funding to pay for this. the I figured the the plaque that the two option I had heard were currently there's two plaques in the columns on the Western Stairs one for Memorial Day one for the Gettysburg Address there is space on the outside columns to possibly put a similar plaque up and I can't remember if it's Jeanette or or Rick that had highlighted that they would want it to look, you know, be the same style and type of plaque. So we could, we could work to likely create that at a later date. I don't think that could be done before August 1st, but we could easily get a mark set in the stair by August 1st. And in that sense, the big thing we would want to do is, and I don't know if you guys can see my screen is this is a mock-up design of what the new marker could be that has the capital mountains state of Colorado the 2026 mile high marker and the elevation in feet in meters I did have the this is a picture of the current mark the navd88 mark which does say 2003 um as these brass markers age and particularly marks like these where a lot of people will touch them um as you may have seen they've been rubbed and i from just kind of looking at the mark and knowing things this is what i believe the original the the 1969 mark looked like um i believe it had a five and then i saw a 69 i know it was set in 69 i'm not sure what the the middle date was but i just put in 513 um and i did see that it did say you know 5280.000 um so um this is an estimate of what the 69 mark probably looked because i could not find any pictures online of how that mark when it was newly established. But yeah, I guess the big thing would be if we were to get this to be manufactured to be set in July for the August 1st we would have to agree on a design And I kind of took the basic design of the 88 mark and did a little bit more with a reference to the datum and again feet the elevation in feet and meters
Okay, so it feels to me like perhaps we don't know exactly what the design is going to be, or are we comfortable looking at what has been passed out and what's up there now as being the design that we're discussing placing in the new spot? Am I clear that that's what we're talking about, that that's been decided, that piece of it?
Ms. Clapham?
The design has not been decided. That would be up to you guys. This is the design proposed for us to consider today. That's what Noah is proposing, and then this is just the design we currently have.
Okay.
Mr. Prince?
Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. I love the idea of trying to get this done for Colorado Day, and I would be fine with this design. I do also like the idea of trying to get the Colorado 150, that being the design, really like leaning into the fact that we're trying to get this done for August 1st, you know, on Colorado's 150th birthday. We have a pretty simple, I'm like looking at it on Danielle's water bottle here because I guess I haven't seen it enough. But if we were to make that, you know, it's nice when we see the 76 bicentennial logo 50 years later. So that might be nice if we can figure out how to still get all of that data on there. And the only other thought I would have, I really liked that first logo from, well, not logo, but the first marker from 1969 that had the exact date. So it's like if not just 2026, I like the idea of having August 1st, 2026. So those are my two thoughts. If we need to just approve this design so this can happen on August 1st, I'm also fine with that. But I just want to throw out there that it would be nice to have the 150 logo to really lean into the 150 anniversary.
I agree that that would be nice, but I'm not sure that it fits on the plaque, although it could fit on the explanation that we hang that that is how, why, when we did it, because the mock-up that we all have in front of us printed out doesn't look like it has room for August 1st, you know, or sesquicentennial. Did I say it right, Danielle? Yeah, we don't need the whole word. Just that little logo thing. Yeah, the emblem. Yeah, I'm not, yeah, I wonder if that would clutter it up too much, though. Yeah, I think it might clutter it up. But if we, yeah, just the little this thing. So I'm not sure if I think that that belongs on this or not. I think I like the idea of it being on the explanation part better, just because I think that this design could look a little cluttered with that added to it. But you know it the committee decision if you wanted to suggest that Ms Clapham Thank you I was just going to say I think that Brian they had Bernstein which is the company that actually physically makes these markers
drop these proposed designs for them. And if not, that's something Bernstein does. So if the committee wanted maybe some other selection, some other choices that included something about the 150, we could certainly have them mock up a couple of more choices. for you to choose from, that's an option.
Mr. Lee? Oh, Ms. Contagulia.
Thank you. I'm also wondering why there are these lines under where it says elevation 5,280. Both designs have that, but if those were gone, it would open some room there to put a date, and then there may be some other options.
Good point. Mr. Lee?
Thank you, Madam Chair. I was just wondering if you wanted to just put State of Colorado and then 150 years right underneath it, right there at the top. Without the little design, just say 150 years. Yeah, if it quarters it up too much. So that's another possibility to put that right within it.
And that, you all have both of these, correct? Yes. Okay, so Mr. Lee's proposal would mean that the capital itself would be smaller, the mountains would be bigger on this design, and so there'd be room, because on the other one there's not quite as much room visually for the verbiage that Mr. Lee has proposed. Well, what does everybody think about all of this?
We have a very full agenda, and it's already 2 o'clock, and I'm nervous that we need to make a decision about something, but I'm not sure what we have to decide today other than maybe just a motion that says we encourage continued effort about this. Ms. Chapman, I always get your names messed up. I apologize.
I think that you could, Jeanette Chapman, legislative council staff, I think you could approve the design and concept. We could ask for Bernstein to come back with some options related to tweaks, whether it would be one thought I had is you could replace the capital just with the 150 logo and not have the capital in there. Yeah, that would be cleaner. Or you could leave it as is and put 150. Like, we could just do a motion that was like we approve the, you know, intent of the design and the placement of a new marker in time for Colorado Day on August 1st. And then as we work with NOAA and the company that makes these, we can forward you some options and say, which of these do you all want?
So that we could, we're not meeting again until August 20th. So I think this, you know, I'm not super excited about voting remotely, but I also think that this is more here are four options, tell us which one is your favorite, and we go from there. So that would be my recommendation.
Yeah, I think that that's probably a good idea. And then at least the deals are in motion. Yeah I don think that we have enough final thoughts today to make a final decision Your name just went out of my brain Eric Mandel I think ...the size of this and the utility of it. There's a lot of information in what you're calling up the stairs. You're not going to read everything. I think it's what you can read by standing up and the whole thing. It might be an editing situation for... Yeah, I think you've got a really good point.
If it gets too busy, no one's going to see it at all. They're going to get all lost in it. Okay, so how about a motion along the lines that Jeanette gave us to propose that we approve of the idea and we want to have further design ideas and discussion and knowledge about the cost for further discussion down the line. Does someone have a motion along those lines for us?
So moved.
Second.
Thank you, Senator Ball. Ms. Coniglia, you second it?
Thank you.
Does that sound like a motion that we can move forward with, everybody? Any opposition? Seeing none, the motion passes. All right. Thank you. That got more complicated than I thought it was going to be, but that sometimes happens. All right. Now, History Colorado Monument Conservation Proposal. Mr. Prince, our own Mr. Prince, will give us this presentation. .
Thank you.
All right, does everybody have all the materials? So we've got one more packet coming. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, we have four packets of information about different historic markers that we are going to discuss with Ms. DePrince. You've got to pull your mic over. The Zoom link should also be in the calendar. Pull the mic over, please. Thank you. We're waiting for Mr. Prince to get set up. There we go. Okay. Thank you. Thanks for your patience, everyone. Okay.
I just would like to share. you may know that this last legislative session, SB 2688, was passed, and it restructured the Preservation Trust Fund, which will help us to care for the monuments and memorials on the Capitol grounds and Lincoln Veterans Park. And what that entails is it will put the responsibility for preservation, conservation, and restoration of memorials in the hands of History Colorado. There was a complicated funding structure, two separate funds. One held interest, one held the principal. That was a complicated funding structure. It also had a committee that really hadn't met all that often. I think the last time maybe somebody was appointed was 2019. And so it was like one of those structures that was probably very thoughtfully constructed but didn't operate really well in practice. And so, you know, some legislators reworked this, and the way it is structured now, the funding and the responsibility is History Colorado's, and also this committee. So we will be responsible for the work, but there is oversight that lies with this committee. So anytime we would like to do work we need to come here and present it to you all And because of the timing of course of our big dual anniversaries we would like to get some work done right away And because work hasn't happened over the last good chunk of time, some interest has piled up. and we would like to spend that interest pretty quickly and address all of the veterans-related memorials, prioritize those right away. And I will say that one of the other changes to this funding structure is that prior, the funding only went to veterans-related monuments and memorials, and now the funding can be used for all monuments and memorials. And this doesn't feel, this feels very much in alignment with the previous bill,
which I, Jeanette probably has the numbers memorized, but that, you know, asked History Colorado to also manage the inventory of, you know, all of the historic objects and belongings that are in the Capitol after the sconce incident. yes so um mr prince when you said you'd like to get started as quickly as possible
are we looking at simultaneous work on everything you've you've laid out for us today or one at a time simultaneous simultaneous great thank you yes so um yes so like i said prioritizing veterans monuments and of course memorials um of course like i just gonna note the loveliness of this flag here, which we, this is a 38-star flag flown at the Battle of Glorietta Pass, and we're the 38th state. But, so these are the four, and you have the proposals in, you know, the handout. And these are the Fallen Heroes Memorial, Wild Plaque, Obelisk, Lincoln's Veteran Memorial and those are pretty co-located. And then Private Joe Martinez statue, General Rose statue. And, you know, as you can see on the state, the team that we would be working with, so our team would essentially be overseeing the vendor who would be doing this work. That's how we could get this done. And this is a company they have worked with in the past. And we, you know, our team are experts in all sorts of things, but they do not imagine themselves to be conservators. That's one of the things that they, but they know how to hire and, you know, provide that kind of professional oversight to conservators. And that is who we would be working with. and the goal is that we would get this done before the end of the fiscal year, which of course is June 30th, which would mean we would be able to get this done before the 4th of July. And I think that is very, very exciting. And that's a pretty quick time frame. It is a very quick time frame, which means we, if you all approve this, we could get started right away, yes. and so if you look at this these are the kinds of things that they would be working on paint loss corrosion some of this vandalism stain scratches So the kinds of things that are impacting these are both more long erosion type things but then also that staining that comes from vandalism and that kind of stuff. but they would be able to address all of those.
Is there anything that they can do that would deter vandalism? I mean, as far as how they would work on the plaques and the various surfaces.
Yeah, so we are asking them for recommendations on, yes, like, are there coatings? Are there types of things that they could use to remove those materials right away? because probably some of the best deterrent of vandalism is removing it immediately, right? Because, you know, that kind of stuff attracts. The other thing I would like, and we will ask them for, is guidance on the kinds of things that last longer. You know, we'll see different things erode more quickly, and that will be really great as we move forward. I was even thinking on this marker. Are there design ways in which these things are embossed and engraved that are going to wear more heartily? Those would be good decisions for us to make long term. Of course, some of these things are older than others, so they have longer deterioration. This will be the most expensive piece and has quite significant impacts on it. But I think this is probably the memorial that people have the most emotional concern around the care and upkeep for. We've heard, you may have all heard, the concern people have for the care of these, and this seems to be the one that people have expressed the most about. The Joe P. Martinez Memorial, and the base of this looks pretty rough. If you can see on these documents, pretty significant. And then, of course, you know, sort of surprising, quite honestly, that the General Rose has had some impacts at all.
Yeah, I mean, I remember going to the ceremony when we dedicated. Yes, yeah, not that long ago, not that long ago.
But I think, again, to some of, I think we're going to just learn some best practices for design moving forward. that can help us thinking through what we want to ask of people as they put monuments forward. So what we're really asking this committee is for your approval to do this work. The funding is there, so this is not a funding question. This is really just approval for the work. and that is the kind of oversight. And then it sort of like this is going to be the new practice for the way that this will work moving forward All right Committee comments concerns
Ms. Contagulia? If we're ready for a motion, I would be happy to make it.
Okay. Let's be sure. Is everybody, Senator Ball, has a question?
Sorry. Before we do that, I just had one question. This is very helpful. and I was looking a little bit more at SP88 while you were talking about some of the changes it made. Just so I can understand the financial piece, so this all comes from the new Colorado Veterans Monument Preservation Trust Fund? Yes.
And I know there's a current amount of money that's in there.
Is this the interest that's drawn on it? And can you just talk a little bit about, you said this will be the practice moving forward, but what's sort of the sustainable way that that funding will work with these future requests?
Good point. Mr. Prince.
Yes, thank you for this question. So the way this is structured is there will be an ability to draw from the principal every 20 years to do really big impact improvements on the monuments and memorials. The way the bill was written is that that won't be until next fiscal year. But because we want to address these before these important anniversaries, and this interest has piled up, we will be able to use the interest to address these veterans' memorials this time. So the idea is we will draw from the principal just occasionally on this very long-term pattern so that the money can grow. but it will move into a maintenance mode of using the interest regularly annually for that kind of annual cleaning and maintenance. And when I say like cleaning and maintenance, I mean the kind that you would do that sort of deep clean, not the everyday clean, that could help maintain these very long term and hopefully help us keep these in better shape so we don't need that big deep fix as often. But that's the idea, and then the money could hopefully build back up, so we're not drawing from the principal and depleting the fund. The other change to how the funding is set up is that any time now when somebody comes to propose a memorial or monument to this committee, part of the ask that we will make of them is that a portion, there's a percentage that they will be required to contribute to this fund that would go towards the long-term maintenance of it. And again, it would be locked into this fund for this very restricted purpose. And then there would be sort of like an emergency lever. If there was anything that was not covered by insurance or risk management, something happened, but somehow did not fall under insurance or risk management. but needed to be fixed. I can't imagine what that is, but, you know, something could happen. We thought we should put it in there. We would come to you all, you know, with all of that evidence and say, we do this one-time need to tap into this. And, you know, but I think that I can't imagine. We wanted to put that kind of, you know, outlet in there just in case, But I don't know that there's any scenario I can think of where that does indeed happen.
Okay. Are we ready for Mr. Lee?
Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a little more background, Senator Ball. The money that goes into the preservation trust funds comes from the permitted events that we do in Lincoln Park. It's a donated fee. So there's not a lot of groups that use the park. It's usually the big things that the City of Denver does, and they pay for the use of the park for however many days it goes.
The other thing is that all the monuments on the grounds in the capital complex fall under the risk management's fine arts policy. So any kind of insurance claim, it would be covered through risk management. Great. We have not. Good information. We have not. Capital complex has never taken any money out of this fund because it would just disappear too quick. so we've always covered all this graffiti removal and everything out of our just general operating. The tune is probably about $10,000 to $20,000 a year, depending on how much graffiti we get. Okay.
Well, I also like that the concept is annual, continual attention, so we don't have this cumulative 20 years' worth of mess. and the vandalism part irritates everything of me but there's nothing we can I shouldn't say there's nothing we can do within this we can't do anything about that but address it as quickly as possible as Mr. Prince says the sooner you get rid of that stuff the better so I appreciate recognizing using the fund more rapidly in the future as needed
Other comments, concerns? Ms. Contagulia, would you like to make your motion?
I would be delighted. I'd like to move that the committee approve the maintenance and conservation in the four items, art items as outlined by History Colorado in the materials handed out.
Is there a second?
I'll second it.
Okay. Thank you. All right. Do we have Ms. Contagulia?
If we have to vote, I have just a comment at the end.
Oh, okay. So are there any concerns, or are we going to pass this unanimously without a vote? It looks like we are, so that passes. Now, Ms. Contagulia.
Thank you. At just some point, I would like to see the bow on the Indians being replaced. I walk by it again, and every time I walk by it, I think, oh, that's something that needs to be done. So just get it on the calendar some year.
Okay, Ms. Prince.
Yes, that is next tier. Once we're able to tap into the principal, that part of this, that is all teed up and ready to push play on.
Yes. All right Anything further on this issue Can I say one more thing I just should also add we can always take donations to this fund so anybody would like to contribute to this we would be happy to take that Thank you. Thank you. Okay, let's move on to our next agenda item. Our next agenda item is from the Daughters of the American Revolution to replace the plaque. and let's see, we have Paula Vuffetti here to talk about that with us.
Madam Chair.
Thank you. Don't be afternoon. Your mic's not on. Your mic's not on. It's on the table. It's kind of confusing. Are we good? There, now we're set. Thank you so much.
My name is Paula Buffetti. I am a member of the Mount Rosa Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. In my chapter, I serve as Honorary Regent, Historic Preservation, Conservation, and DAR Museum Outreach Chair. I serve as the Historic Preservation Chair for the Colorado Society. I am also a Native Coloradan. In 2014, Mount Rosa Chapter completed the restoration of the Liberty Bell replica in Veterans Memorial Park. It was dedicated on September 17, 2014. Since that time, our members have participated in patriotic activities by ringing the bell. Those activities include inauguration ceremonies and Colorado Day celebrations. We wish to replace the marker in celebration of the 150th birthday of Colorado. We are concerned about the vandalism and wear and tear of the marker since it was dedicated celebrating the completion of the Bell's restoration. There were originally 36 stars on the marker since that time, 16 have been removed. There's a picture of it there. We have a bid for replacement of the marker from Classic Bronze Resources LLC in Cincinnati, Ohio. The replacement will have permanent stars. Mount Rosa has the funds to pay for the marker and its delivery. We need your assistance to remove the vandalized marker and to install the new marker. I understand that History Colorado Center are working on a plan to restore and maintain the monuments on the Capitol grounds. Mount Rosa Chapter is committed to the replacement of the current DAO marker. In order to proceed, the National Society requires a written statement authorizing the replacement of the marker, and by what right the writer has the authority to grant that permission. that letter from the historian general you have I believe and the section of the form that I need to submit is there. We need to have the information from section 3 of the application completed and a commitment that removal and replacement of the new marker will be the responsibility of the committee. This needs to be confirmed before the chapter can complete the application, get approval from the National Society and order the new marker. We would love to have this completed by Colorado Day. Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you today. I'm happy to answer questions.
Thank you Well I go back to the thing that I always ask I used to chair the finance committee So I want to be sure that this is 100 covered It is We have the money more than enough Perfect That all I want to know It's left over from when we did the restoration. Perfect. Okay. Other questions, concerns? Mr. Lee?
Thank you, Madam Chair. Did I understand that you need us to remove it as in capital complex, or that's part of your...
I would like for you to do it. I don't know how to do it. We don't know how to do it. I don't think we have enough money to do the removal and replacement.
Okay, so that means that Capital Complex needs to work with you to remove the existing, and then you all will bring in, and then does Capital Complex have to help put the new one in as well?
Yes, and then we have to re-pour the cement, probably.
And Mr. Lee, have you seen this proposal already or not?
I have not.
Okay.
I don't know how it's attached to the concrete, if it's bolts or epoxied down, or are we going to actually have to cut out the concrete? I don't know how the current plaque is anchored in the concrete.
So this seems like it's maybe a little bit more of a project than we were anticipating, Mr. Lee?
I actually think it'll be relatively simple.
Okay, good. Is the plaque that you're going to put back in there the exact same size?
Yes, it is. And it'll have the same mounting, whatever, if there's posts coming out of the box. Yes, I think that the bid talks about what all it involves.
Okay. We'll get it out. Okay, so we're okay with that. Good. Any other questions, concerns, comments? All right, do I hear a motion? Ms. Contagulia?
I would be happy to make a motion that this committee provide the documentation as required to give permission to the Daughters of American Revolution to replace the plaque. Thank you very much for taking on this project.
And perhaps the motion should also include in cooperation with?
in cooperation and collaboration with Capital Complex and History Colorado as needed.
Great. Thank you. Comments, concerns? Mr. Prince?
Thank you, Madam Chair. I have one question. What date will you have on the plaque?
It will be the same. It will be the 2014 date.
I'm curious about adding both like this date and the 2014 date if that is possible. I mean I think there I get like you use the plaque to dedicate the Liberty Bell. But I think just as good history it might be good to add the date of the new plaque. If you look at the picture of it, I'm not sure that there is room. If there is room. Is this the new? This is the top one is the original, the bottom one is the way it looks now.
Yes. Okay. So this, but what is the new plaque?
Is this one?
Yeah, it's exactly the same as the original. Has it already been made? No. No.
So the possibility to redo this slightly to address the Prince concern because I do think for historical purposes to show that it was replaced in this year makes sense Again because of the sesquicentennial I think I said that kind of right Yeah And I think that just kind of moving up the September 1724 and then replaced on whatever date
Yeah, I mean, you could move this date over and, you know, put a second date here or something like that. Next to.
Yeah, I just think it's good to indicate.
I will check with the person who's going to do the plaque.
Okay.
I just think it's good to indicate that this wasn't placed on that date.
Okay. Yeah. Okay. Ms. Montegulia.
I'm sorry to add. However, the plaque says restoration and rededication of the Liberty Bell, and that is not what is being restored and rededicated. It is only the plaque. Yeah.
Okay. So it's like the interpretive text for the bell.
Okay, I could be convinced of that.
That seems fine. Okay. So what are we doing?
Yeah, we can stay with the 2014 date.
Okay. All right, do we have any further concerns? So we decided that putting this year's date on won't really fit because it doesn't match the verbiage per se. Okay. Okay. I just wonder, though, if there is a way to acknowledge the history of it being addressed this year. But maybe you can look into that as far as, I don't know, because then you have to change all the verbiage. So that doesn't really work so well. But anyway, I think Ms. Contagulia made a motion. And did we vote on it yet? No, we haven't voted.
I second. Did someone second it? I second it.
So any objection? Hearing none, that motion passes. Thank you for your presentation and for your patience.
Thank you very much.
All right. Our next item is the lift to allow for ADA compliance for getting to the chambers for participation. So our own Ms. Riley. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Vanessa Riley, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives. We are looking to replace the wheelchair lift from the public gallery on the second floor to the House lobby. The lift that we have had for many years, my understanding is that it was installed, maybe Rick can be helpful here, somewhere around 20 or 30 years ago. Wheelchairs since then have become heavier with the addition of more advanced technology, motors and electronics. And the unfortunate situation we have found ourselves in is that the heavier chairs often get stuck on the lift, leaving folks in a really terrible situation. We want to be able to make sure that everyone can come to the House, can see what is happening in our state government, including, of course, folks who use wheelchairs or other assistive tools to get around. And so we've received funding approval from the speaker through the Legislative Department cash fund, and we just need your approval here today because it's obviously in the public area in the Capitol. And assuming we receive your approval today, we'll go on to the Capitol Development Committee. and then hopefully get this installed before the start of session next year.
Okay, thank you. I just have one question. Ms. Van Moorick, as Ms. Riley's counterpart in the Senate,
is there any concern about the lift in the Senate at this time? Thank you, Madam Chair, for considering the Senate as well. So far, knock on wood, I'm looking at Paul. The Senate ADA lift is working as expected. So knock on wood, that keeps going. But obviously, if that changes, I'll be in front of you as well to make sure that we address that need. So far, so good.
Okay. So, all right. Do you have any idea, Ms. Van Wark, the last time the lift for the Senate was dealt with?
I don't know, but I can phone a friend to find out.
Yeah. Yeah. I just, Ms. Riley said it's been about 20 years since the one in the House was addressed. So just thinking if the one in the Senate, Mr. Lee may have the answer.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I do not know the dates of the installation, but we're talking 20 to 30 years for both of them. Most recently, we have upgraded. We were having quite a few issues with the Senate lift, and we've had all the electronics upgraded in it, and that seems to have taken care of some of the problems. most of the problems that we're having with it. So we're not addressing that one yet. They're both custom-made with all the brass and everything on it. As far as the one for the house is concerned, it's been the most problematic. As Vanessa said, everything, people getting stuck. And for everybody's information here, electronic breakdowns, the weights of the new chairs, what we're going to do with it. And Paul Chaney, who's sitting in the back here, will be running that project out of his office. We'll be putting in new guardrails, new cabling, new wheelchair platform that will handle higher weight limits, new motor drives to move that heavier platform, and new control panels with operating stations. The stanchions that are bolted into the floor will stay, so we don't have to pull those out and then drill new holes into the floor. So hopefully we can get this taken care of. It will still meet the current codes as far as 80 decibels of ear screeching noise when it's in use,
but that's there for a reason. Okay, that's important information. So back to my fiscal hat, would there be, if the anticipation is that the Senate one will be needing to be replaced in the not too distant future, would there be any cost effectiveness to doing them at the same time?
Mr. Lee? I can't. I don't know because they both have to be redesigned. But isn't they the same thing or are they two different designs? They're definitely way two different designs.
Okay.
Yeah. The one for the House has to make a curve. Oh, that's right. The one for the Senate chambers goes straight up and down, so it makes it a lot easier.
Okay, so they're probably – yeah. We might have a mechanical answer.
Madam Chair, can I ask a question?
Oh, Ms. Van Warwick?
Sorry, I've got a tickle in my throat. But, Rick, with respect to what you've noticed in the House lift, are the weight restrictions going to be problematic in the Senate as well?
I haven heard of that before Right Mr Lee Thank you Madam Chair I haven had any issues with that It may have a stronger motor I think the one for the house because it has to do a different travel pattern requires more strain on the motor, things like that, as opposed to hydraulics going up and down.
Is the house one hydraulic?
No, it runs out of the way.
Please identify yourself and let us know.
Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Paul Cheney. I'm with Capital Complex. Pull your mic closer. It's on.
It's just far away. Okay. Can you hear me now? Do you have an answer to the cost effectiveness of doing them at the same time?
So with the Senate lift, that one, all we would propose to do is rebuild what's already there because it's already custom built for there. All the mechanics on it is in really good condition. We would just change out the electronics. We have looked at that. it is definitely plausible, and it is a lot cheaper to do it that way on the Senate one because we would keep everything there.
Okay, and while you're doing the House one, is it more cost effective to also address the Senate,
or can we leave that for another year or two? As of right now, I would think that we could possibly leave it for another year or two. It is running really well. We did have the company who originally installed it out do some changing to some of the electronics, and it has been running pretty steady since then.
Okay, I just am concerned that we don't want the Senate one to break down in the next session, and we'll kick ourselves for not having gotten it addressed simultaneously if, in fact, that could make more sense. So what I think you're telling us is that it might make more sense to do them both before the next session as opposed to waiting to see if the Senate one messes up. Is that what you're telling us, kind of?
Actually, I think the Senate one could get away for a year or two.
Okay. Then that's fine. I'm not trying to create problems. Just wanted to be sure. Ms. Van Morek?
Madam Chair, again, thank you so much for making sure that the Senate is taken care of. I agree with Paul that for now, again, knock on wood, The Senate's ADA lift seems to be working well since we've had the electronic components replaced. And thanks to Paul and Rick for making sure that that gets taken care of. And they have been great about listening to us when we call and say, there's a problem. So we're keeping a good eye on it as well.
Okay, great. Well, then I won't worry about it. Don't forget, though, when I left the building, I was a senator. Even though I had been in the House eight years, I was a senator. for three years.
We would never forget that.
I didn't think you would. You particularly, Ms. Van Moorick, I didn't think you would.
That's right.
Thank you for adding your information. We appreciate it.
Paul. Yes, ma'am.
Thank you. All right. So do we have a motion? Well, Ms. Riley, you can make the motion because you're a member of the committee.
I move that the committee recommend to the Capital Development Committee that the House wheelchair lift project be approved. Second?
Second.
Second.
Okay.
Any further discussion? any disagreement or what's the right word any objection that's the right word what an old lady brain seeing none that motion passes thank you so much thank you all all right We have been moving along well Let get to our next one the 150th anniversary Colorado tapestry Oh, this is exciting. Now, noting as you have previous presenters, whatever order you want to go in to present, please identify yourself and then give your testimony. So go ahead, whoever wants to be first. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Amanda Clapham, Legislative Council staff. I'm going to kick it off just as an introduction. I passed out to each of you a postcard of the Women's Gold Tapestry that hangs on the first floor on the sort of northeast corner of the outside of the rotunda. If you haven't seen it or aren't aware, that tapestry was created as part of our 100th anniversary as a state 50 years ago. it is a really kind of crucial part of our tour and our educational program and the folks to my right here their foundation and some of the members were really inspired by the Women's Gold and some other inspiration that they'll talk about for this project so they're going to talk about the project but that's sort of the starting point, the impetus
All right. All right. Thank you, Amanda. I'm Castle Searcy. I'm Deanne Gertner, and we're with Hayhew Arts Agency in Denver, Colorado.
And I'm Emily Sturm-Aarins, and I'm the president of the Sturm Family Foundation, also here in Denver.
And we're here to introduce and present the Colorado 150 Tapestry Project we're really excited about. So tapestry has a historical significance across time and cultures, especially for storytelling. And we hope that this piece will become a historical artifact for generations to come. So the project has two main goals, the first being celebrating 150 years of Colorado statehood, telling our collective story and history and what makes our state unique. We want to reflect on the past, the present, and the future, and especially include recent and contemporary history within that. We want this piece to be a meaningful on-ramp to Colorado history for the viewers, and with that we intend to include interpretive materials with the piece. um yeah so just building off of that uh we at the stern family foundation saw the 150th anniversary of the state as a really special moment um to bring all coloradans together to reflect on our shared history have a moment of celebration um and to you know come together as as community around something like this so from the beginning uh our goal has been to find a a recipient organization for this commissioned piece of artwork whether that be a public entity or a non-profit and so the foundation is commissioning the tapestry at its full cost would donate that in kind to whatever recipient organization and then through the allocation of grant funds would provide for the installation and framing and you know everything that would would be necessary to make it on public view in a secure way and in one that is low maintenance over the long term and so the capital is a potential recipient it's a capital collection and just a little side note seeing the artwork that's already represented in the building we're really hopeful that this commission would be a very complementary addition to the collection that is here already and we plan to present the final concept in your September meeting but we can tell you where we're
at in the process right now. Okay, so I want to be real clear. What you've passed out is what's currently hanging. Correct. You are proposing to replace it. No, you are proposing to? To add on to
it and to complement. So here's a map of the state capitol rotunda. We are hoping to add the new
Colorado 150 tapestry across from the women's gold in conversation with and to complement that piece.
Okay, so this one would stay up and a new one would go by it.
Okay.
Yes, it's right outside the rotunda, so both will be on the north entrance, so they kind of flank that entrance into the rotunda. Okay.
And then in another 50 years, we'll do another one on the corner.
Et cetera, et cetera.
By that time, maybe we'll have a woman governor. Okay. I didn't say that.
So here is the approximate scale of what the piece would be. The current women's gold tapestry is 12 feet by 9 feet framed.
So the red box shows you the outline of how big it would look in the location.
That's our max scale.
Our minimum scale would be 8 feet tall and 5 feet wide because there's so much space in the building.
We really need it to have enough presence to have impact.
Okay, I want to – the current one is how big?
Framed, it's 12 feet high and 9 feet wide.
And you're proposing that the new one should be smaller?
It would be between – like the maximum would be 12 feet by 9 feet, but it could be a little bit smaller if needed.
All right, I'm thinking for symmetry, it would be best if it were the same size. So why are you considering a smaller one?
Well, we have a bandwidth of trying to have this done this year. So depending on the artist that's chosen and the composition, what is feasible to get done in a 2026 timeframe might be different, depending on the type of textile work. Like embroidery, for example, or beadwork is highly labor intensive. So that might not be as possible to get that large scale as a different type of process. I can say we're aiming for symmetry, though. That's the ideal.
They don't, you can't, here, let's go back.
So they are angled away from each other. So you can see that there are two things on both sides, but they won't be side by side like a diptych. So it's more of in conversation in the space versus right side by side.
Yeah, okay. All right, I understand that. I just, I like the idea of symmetry, but, you know, maybe that's my own thing. But we don't know at this point how big or what the new one will look like. WE DON'T KNOW.
Our process is underway. So far we've assembled an art committee to help us define the art criteria. And then we have done a call for entry throughout the state with our art committee and reaching out to various arts organizations throughout the state. We have reviewed submissions, and we've selected the final finalists, but we are still selecting the final concept. So that's where we are.
Yeah, that's in process right now. Okay, so if we say that we like the idea that you move forward today,
or do we even have to have a decision item today, Ms. Chapman?
it's a little bit I think up to you all on what your we're we're underway we are creating this commission so um we are trying to figure out I think Amanda has yeah not miss clapham sorry uh I think that they wanted to bring the concept to you I think and I I will let Emily say the final statement on this, I think that their first choice is to donate it to the Capitol. And so the idea would be we would be asking you if that's something that the committee would like, and this is the proposed space for it, et cetera. If the committee was like, ah, I hate it, they do have other options, but this is their first choice. So they want to make sure as we're going forward that you are aware of their progress, that sort of thing.
Okay. So the point of today's presentation is to know this is moving forward, and the intent is to donate it to the Capitol when it's ready for donation. And the hope is that that's by the end of this calendar year. Is that or no?
I want to be clear. We hope that the – can you guys hear me? We hope that the commission will be completed by the end of the year. we do have aspirations that the piece would then travel a bit around the state so that it can get to the different regions, the different regions defined by tourism and the 250-150 commission, and that it would be installed in its final location after that period of time. So the installation would take place next year after a period of it touring.
Okay.
Ms. Contaguli, did you have a question?
Always. Thank you. And it's good that you do. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. First, a question. Are you sending out the request for proposals through Creative Industries?
Yes, they were one of the institutions, History Colorado, and then numerous arts organizations throughout the state.
Okay. My other comment is, having looked at the one that was done 50 years ago, there is a grammatical error. They tried to reproduce the words to America, but they put the wrong words up here. So if you have any text, I would recommend that you have it checked by the state historian and anyone else who has an interest so that it's edited and correctly done on your new one.
That a great segue because our state historian is part of our art committee which is excellent We also have members of the Sturm Foundation the state capital history Colorado and Colorado creative industries So we feel with this statewide representation and their access to these other different diverse populations, we will hopefully mitigate any of those issues.
Mr. Lee.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So assuming it goes in this location, are you planning on the same type of enclosure that it would be housed in, that the current one is in?
Ms. Clapham.
Thank you. So this is a question that when they were proposing this project, we looked at the space, and one of the problems with the Women's Gold Tapestry's current frame is that it's inaccessible. so should anything happen and we needed to make repairs it would be very costly so um they definitely as part of their process want to make sure that the the piece is accessible and that we can um that we can not only access the piece but make any repairs necessary to the frame and or the piece over the course of you know the next 50 or so years um and then in addition to that uh And that is part of their proposal. They're donating the frame as well. They would be donating the frame as well. And I think the design, if you're concerned about the design matching, that could certainly be addressed as well.
Mr. Lee?
Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess I'm not opposed to this project at all. But I do have some concerns that we're going to continue to cover up more of the architecture of the Capitol as you move around the rotunda. and you can come and look me up in my grave in 50 years, but if you're putting one again on the other side, you're going to be running into the Peter Dominick bust or the Lloyd Noss bust that has to be looking west, things like that. So I'm just concerned about covering up the architecture of the Capitol.
Good point, Ms. Clapham.
That is a great point. And since they did mention that they wanted it to travel before it ended up here, a concern that is a concern of ours as well. So the frame itself, part of its flexibility would be that it could be moved and potentially moved with the piece should it be loaned to someone else.
Mr. Lee?
Thank you. Last question is just a suggestion. I believe if you could go back to where you show the, yeah. so just west of that there's a flat wall right there where it has that one painting that I have no idea why it's in the Capitol that one of the skyline or whatever it is is that an option that it could go on that wall there
Ms. Clapple
and we move that painting I think ultimately that is part of the question to you all this was when we were walking around There was a certain symmetry to having it in conversation with the women's gold, but there are definitely other options in the building.
Ms. Chapham.
One of the things that I would also say in relation both to the location and the size and everything else, so you all have your presentation today. The committee just gives feedback, whatever. There's a process by which the donation happens where you fill out some paperwork and you'll come back with your final design, And at that point there can be a conversation based on a physical object of whether this proposed idea is going to work or whether there a better location for it So all of those things are kind of like good food for thought for you all and ultimately the committee will have an opportunity to provide input about whether that location is what they want, et cetera. So just something to keep in mind as we're talking.
That's a good point.
Mr. Prince?
Yeah, thank you, Madam Chair. I, number one, this is my favorite object in the whole Capitol. I love this tapestry. So I love that you are creating something that would be in conversation with it. And I actually think we should be thinking about this proactively, that we actually would want this to be created in a way that we're already thinking that is what we want, that we would want this to be in the Capitol in conversation with the current tapestry. And I wholeheartedly agree with what Rick is saying, that we don't want to be covering up the architecture. I'm curious, does the current one have to be hanging where it is? That's exactly what I'm going to bring up, is might we be talking about, because the comment about, well, in 50 years maybe we'll do another one, is there a place that we can do consecutive along the way? Well, and is that... The original one and then putting, so, I don't know, Ms. Clapp. Well, and is that permanently installed in some way?
The Women's Gold Tapestry is permanently there. the frame itself was built around the tapestry and the piece of glass on the front I had some colleagues at history of Colorado come out and look at it the piece of glass itself weighs about 800 pounds so it is it is permanently there if we wanted to change that it would require a whole new framing situation which potentially over time we could work on but that's a big endeavor it's a very large piece and it is literally anchored to the wall and that as a like looking forward for objects that we add to our collection that's a big concern that we make sure that we have access for restoration cleaning etc so that is something that they want to build into the the frame okay so mr. lee thank you madam chair the only other thing i would throw in there
that kind of even throws my own suggestion into disarray is future governor's portraits. First floor. So is that wall that I suggested eventually going to be for a portrait of a governor if we move into the south foyer and the north foyer or whatever? But mostly I just don't like the idea of covering up architecture.
Well, and I think that your point about bringing up the governor's portraits is it's an ongoing conversation in this committee, the president's gallery, the governor's gallery, et cetera, et cetera.
And we have grappled with how we can deal with that. And then we start getting the first floor walls pretty full, pretty fast, if we figured out ever how to get all of our governor's portraits up on those walls. So then we start, you know, wall real estate starts becoming quite difficult to access.
So thanks for remembering that that an ongoing issue that we need to continue to think about Mr Prince Yeah thank you I curious I know this is like what is the what would be the damage to the wall to remove this crazy 800 million pound
frame? Do you know, have we looked at that? Do you know that, Rick? Mr. Lee? Thank you, Madam Chair.
No, we have not looked at it, but anything could be done. It's just going to. Yeah, yeah, I mean, work and money, yes.
We have historical work going on in the capital all the time and great contractors that could take it apart. But that is potentially part of the conversation.
If the commission, the tapestry, I'm sorry, the foundation is interested in helping us figure out the more appropriate long, long, long term placement of the existing tapestry, the new tapestry, and potential future tapestries, is that something that you all would take on financially to take the one off that's there and put it in a place that we can move them all along? I don't know if it's a good idea, but it goes along with this whole discussion.
Ms. Clapham.
I was just going to suggest, this is getting quite complicated. At our next meeting, we could do a little field trip and go down and look. The current tapestry, the women's gold, is there. The frame is freestanding, but it's anchored to the wall. So there would be some damage, but it's fairly minimal as far as cosmetic. But we could go down and look, and we could look and see how we feel about different places and stuff like that. Well, the appropriate – that's the wrong word.
The logical progression of this discussion is where do these belong within the whole building most reasonably? And if we ever get around to getting the governor's portraits and they belong on the first floor, do the women's tapestries belong elsewhere or fit better elsewhere?
I just want to clarify that it's not going to be like Women's Tapestry 2.0. It will be its own tapestry with a different content and like a story it's trying to tell. So it probably will be more than just, it will be all types of people in addition to women featured in the new tapestry. Okay, but again, the current tapestry is very gender-centric. Right. You're saying the new one won't necessarily be as gender-centric. Correct. But if we are thinking, based on what you've told us, that this is something we want to see continue into the future, gender-centric or otherwise, the discussion is where do these kinds of pieces of art fit best in the Capitol long, long term.
That's not something we have to decide today, but it is a piece of the discussion about the art and architecture of the building, which is our purview. Yep. So perhaps that is something you all can think about. Maybe go with Ms. Clapham and do your own tour of the whole building and see if you think there are any other places that all of these, when I say all I'm making a belief in the future that we will have more of them so anyway that's just food for thought no decision there at all I don't know that we have a decision to make today other than to thank you for your presentation and we look forward to hearing more from you as your The process continues.
Is that where we are? We do have more to share if you want to hear it.
Oh, go right ahead. I'm sorry.
Okay.
Go ahead, Castle.
Some of it's already been addressed with your questions, but this is our timeline in detail, and we list the Colorado Day event as well. We're hoping, should you accept this donation, that we would participate in Colorado Day at the Capitol with an interactive activity with our artist, and we will have our project underway at that point, but not complete by any means. And we would plan to present it again in more completed fashion, finalized design in your September meeting. It will still be in fabrication at that point, though. But we'll probably have more details around framing specifications at that time. that we can share. And we'll also, like Emily said, hopefully do the touring exhibition and then once you're out of legislative session, if you decide to accept the donation, we would install
then. Okay. We have a few, just a few more
things. So with the artists, we're really looking for people who have a mastery in textile artwork. They can create a large scale piece. They're exceptional conceptors. someone who's able to work with historical content and communities and participate in those community engagement activities in a meaningful way, that they have that timeline we explained and then also are really great at receiving feedback. And then the artwork criteria, created by a Colorado artist, tapestry is the medium celebratory inspirational um not going to read them all but this criteria has been shared with the artists that we are talking to and it aligns with your donation criteria as well which is on the following slide so you're familiar with this we just want to highlight that we're showcasing colorado's diversity of land people places and events we're wanting this piece to be beautiful representing colorado's natural beauty but also contribute to the aesthetics be timeless uncontroversial and non-partisan and these are examples of some of the finalist past work this is just a sneak peek and it's these are not representative of the piece that we will commission this is just examples of what they've done in the past just to give you a feel of some of the aesthetics All right, and you can contact us at this email address and phone number anytime.
Any other questions?
Ms. Contagulia. Yes, thank you. Just one more question. In the criteria, you need to make sure that someone, like if it comes to the capital, that we have the rights to reproduce in some way so we don't run into legal issues.
DEAN GERTNER, WE ARE COMMISSIONING THIS AS A WORK FOR HIRE. SO ONCE WE DO THE DONATION, I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE THE STATE THAT WOULD OWN THE COPYRIGHT AND COULD DO REPRODUCTIONS. BUT THAT GOING TO BE PART OF OUR ARTIST CONTRACT SO THEY KNOW AND THEY KNOW THAT UP FRONT THAT WAS IN THE CALL FOR ENTRY LIKE THIS YES EXACTLY YEAH OKAY contract and they know that up front That was in the call for entry Like this Yes Yeah exactly Yeah Okay Anything else questions or any other comments that you like to present Well, thank you for coming today and for waiting through our whole agenda to get to give this presentation.
I'm excited to see what it's going to look like down the line.
Thank you so much. Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Thank you, ladies. All right. Look, we're doing not too badly. The last item on our agenda is for Ms. Clapham to give us a visitor services update.
Oh, my gosh. I bet you guys are sick of seeing me. Oh.
We know how much you know, so it's really good to have you here.
Sorry, I'm passing some things around for you to see. These are items from our gift desk. Sorry.
I have two really super quick things.
The first thing is, because of the 150th anniversary, Denver Museum of Nature and Science reached out to us recently and wanted to collaborate on a small exhibit. They have a model of the Nature and Science Museum. I have the exact dimensions but it's about this big and they would like to loan that to us and you may or may not know but the very first historical collection in Colorado started here at the Capitol and it started with some taxidermy it then became a museum which is what we now call LSB across the street and that's why it says museum on the front and then there was a bit of a schism which is the funnest thing ever and some of the folks there wanted to do natural history some wanted to do history of the state thus creating Denver Museum of Nature and Science and History Colorado so they would like to loan us that model with interpretation telling that story and we were hoping to put it in the south foyer near the last meeting you guys approved the donor thing for 250-150 We were hoping to put it near there so it could kind of draw people down there, make it a little bit more of an exhibit space. For the terms of it can be flexible. We were thinking between nine months and a year and to have it in place before Colorado Day. If you guys feel like that's something that you're okay with, do we need to do a decision?
We could do a very quick decision item on it if you're okay with putting that in.
So that's for that one.
I like that idea. Mr. Prince.
Thank you. I'm curious about the interpretation. Yes. Not to have my own little bias here, but would be curious to see what that interpretation says. Ms. Clapham. I am happy to
coordinate with History Colorado on that. Nature and Science is happy to produce it, but they're very much open to our edits, et cetera.
So we can work together on that. So would we, committee, would you be comfortable with giving Ms. Clapham permission to move forward, conditioned on having History Colorado comfortable with it? Is that a way the committee would be comfortable moving forward? Do I hear such a motion So moved Do I hear a second Second Ms Cotagulia Do I hear any objection? Hearing none, that motion passes. Okay, last thing really super quick.
I just wanted to brag a little bit about our gift desk. You all recently approved that we could make stickers, and I passed around the stickers that we currently have. and I just wanted to tell you last year our sales for the gift desk were $12,000 for the whole year. So far this year we've already sold over $9,000 and over $2,000 of that was just stickers. We also have a couple of ornaments and one of our staff members, Michael Lang, designed a 150 ornament that we put together. it is for sale on the gift desk and this ornament by itself we've had it for three weeks and we've already sold 45 to the tune of $1,000. So it's like flying off the shelf. So I just want to brag on the gift desk a little bit and give you some updates on that. And then we've also added those postcards and those postcards are made in house. So they're very low cost and they're bringing in quite a lot of revenue. So I just want to make you guys aware of that as an update that the gift desk we're always trying
to make as much money for that gold fund as possible. Also come down and see what we have. And that's all. I think that's wonderful. You know, people love stickers. Kids especially. Is it mostly kids
or parents buying for kids or do you know? It is everyone. Literally. Water bottle owners.
I wrote down the numbers and since we've, just this year, we've had
a 76% increase in dollar sales and 103% increase in transactions. So adding the stickers has just made it so that people are just buying stickers, if nothing else. So it's been absolutely amazing.
I think that's wonderful. Good job. So one last thing, under staff updates, Rick has a few things he wants to update you on.
Mr. Lee.
All right.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Just for everybody's education here, there's going to be a major project in the capitol starting here in July. We're going to be refurbishing all the electronics and the motors and everything for the elevators to modernize them. There's probably not any work on the inside of the cars, maybe the floors, because they're getting pretty beat up with all the work that's going on. So we're going to start that in July. So it'll be new motors, new electronics, cables. They're going to work on the doors. In order to get this stuff into the Capitol, it will require a crane and will be coming in through the roof because the motors are up in the attic. And that will be done before the next session starts. Knock on some kind of wood. The other one I want to put in front of you is I believe the LSB falls within this. So we are currently underway in replacing the front doors of the LSB building because they're just falling apart. They won't close anymore. We've got EUA architects working on it, and we've run into a couple of issues on the underneath construction. We're not even sure how the doors are staying up, but we expect that to be done. This is a fiscal year end project, so we're hoping that'll be done. If the money if we get to the end of the fiscal year we have to roll the contract and then use next year funding to complete it Yeah all things foundations start to fall apart Yeah The other thing I'd like to put in front of the committee, and we'll come back if you give me the go-ahead to do that, I have reached out to a contractor that's done lots of work in the capital. And because the capital is so hot in the summertime, we are proposing and we've already walked it. So if Mr. Brown's attic, you have the observation deck, then you have the spiral staircase that goes up to the next level. All the windows around up there, every other window opens, and the other ones do not open. We are proposing that we get a design for some screens that we could fit in the window sills. The windows would still open and close during the winter months, and we would not have to pull out the screens. this would allow us to open every other window and allow a natural ventilation to anybody that's been up on the observation deck and you stand in front of that window that's open that people go out, it's a wind tunnel right there. So we would like to work on a design to put those in permanently. You would not be able to see them from the street because they'll be below the railing that goes around there. And I suppose if you're on top of one of the downtown buildings, you might be able to see it. but they'll be painted the same color, so you probably wouldn't even notice them. So we'd like to at least come up with a cost. This would be something that Capital Complex picks up.
We're not asking the committee to pay for it, but it would help move air in the building immensely. So if we move forward with that, I'll bring back the design to Jeanette, and we can put it in front of the committee to look at.
Well, I think it makes a lot of sense. I know how hot this building can get. I know how cold it can also get. It was not designed with 21st century insulation, et cetera, et cetera. So do we need to make a motion about any of that, Mr. Lee?
We do.
Mr. Lee, would you like to make that motion?
I'd make a motion that the Capitol complex move forward with the design and implementation of screens to go in the observation deck windows upon approval of the CDAC.
Is there a second?
No, it's second.
Senator Ball seconds. Is there objection? Further discussion? Hearing none, that motion passes. Do we have any further business to attend to? Well, thank you all for your patience. We got done a little late, but still a little early compared to when I asked you to be ready to stay.
Two minutes late.
We did well. Our next meeting, as Ms. Chapham has told us, is August 20th. But in between now and then, we should get some information, particularly about the, what was the item, the first item? Mile high marker. The mile high marker and the design and all the questions that we had about it. Also a reminder that Colorado Day is between now and our next meeting. So watch your emails.
Good times.
Ahoy.
Yeah. So watch your emails because that's going to come right up. And, yes, lots of stuff happening at the Capitol and at History Colorado.
Yes.
Yep. All right. Well, thank you all again for your attention and for your dedication to the Capitol Building Advisory Committee. We'll see you next time. We're adjourned.
Thank you.