Edward-Dean Museum of Decorative Arts

The current staffing does not constitute a Museum Board as per the conditions in the 1964 Agreement. When EDA acquired operations in 1999, the Board of Supervisors (BOS) assigned the Museum Board responsibilities to the Community Services Division of EDA. This includes a Senior Development Specialist who manages the day-to-day functions of the museum and facilities, a three-quarter time curator, and three assistant positions, one of which is vacant. The Principal Development Specialist oversees the museum and all of the County libraries. Condition #2 of the 1964 Agreement states, in part: A Museum Board shall be created by said Board of Supervisors to advise the Board of Supervisors on policies relating to the operation of the Center, to consist of qualified people, and to meet at least quarterly... A competent and qualified curator shall be employed and shall, under the County's usual governmental administrative procedures, be in charge of the Center at all times... Note: The term, Center, refers to the name defined in Condition #1 of the 1964 Agreement which states, in part: Said property shall be known as the Riverside County Art and Cultural Center, including as a part thereof improved grounds, buildings and museum personal property which shall continue to be known as the Edward-Dean Museum of Decorative Arts, herein- after respectively called "Center" and "Museum"... Pavilion Kitchen/Restrooms

The kitchen, adjacent to the Pavilion, has been condemned for over 10 years due to the presence of asbestos and mold. The kitchen is locked and unusable. However, restrooms attached to the building are still in use. The Riverside County 2008-006 Audit report recognized the need to renovate the Pavilion kitchen, and EDA's reply stated that corrective action was estimated to begin in July of 2011 and end June of 2012. As of the date of this report, no renovation has been initiated. Pavilion

The Pavilion area needs cleaning and repair. The roof is dirty and the entire area needs paint and stucco work. There are cracks in the sidewalk which present serious trip hazards (see attached photos). The 1964 Agreement Condition #9 states: The County of Riverside shall at its own expense provide for the maintenance and operation of the property, all repairs and all refurbishing. Real Property

The property includes approximately 10 acres of unused land which currently has a few trees, some of which are dead (see Attachment #1). There is an area utilized for the accumulation of trash, miscellaneous debris, dead vegetation, and a dumpster. The 1964 Agreement Condition #12 states, in part: The County of Riverside shall have the right to use the portions of the real property not now improved with the Museum or its grounds for park and recreational purposes and related uses, or for agricultural purposes, either by its own activities or through appropriate leases to third persons or agencies... Rental Price Structure

The Riverside County Auditor's report 2008-006 states that the rental rate of $2,500 for a Saturday event was found to be competitive. Since then, the fee has increased to $4,200 which is no longer competitive. The rental rate for day use of the facility includes the dining/reception hall or pavilion, as well as the gazebo, the pond or Legacy Garden. In addition, other services must be added, such as catering. Other venues include the use of the facility with the catering fee. There is no price structure for use of the reception hall only, nor is there flexibility in the system to allow for partial days or multiple events on the same day. Lack of Adequate Marketing

The EDMDA has been inadequately marketed. In the past two years, the 18-20 rental events per year have proven inadequate to make the Center financially self-sufficient. There are very few EDMDA events that would attract residents from the Coachella Valley who live less than an hour away. Other western Riverside County communities are 30 to 45 minutes away, within easy driving time, but are not adequately targeted in its present marketing. Appraisals

Obtaining appraisals is the financial obligation of EDA. Appraisals are not conducted on a regular basis. They were completed in 1980, 2008, and

There are cameras inside the museum with a DVR, but no outside cameras on the grounds to provide early detection of intruders or monitor activity that would be used as evidence. This will assist the County in refuting liability claims and protecting against loss of property. Museum Inventory

Inventory of the museum is being tracked by Past Perfect Museum Software which depends on accurate entry and upkeep of information, pictures, and other data. There is no cross-check system in place to verify the Past Perfect data. Backup Records

No backup records are stored off-premises. As of January 2015 the only current inventory record is maintained on the museum property. Venue Management

Crestmore Manor is another wedding venue located in Riverside County and owned by the County. This venue, which has a full schedule with more competitive rates, is operated by the Parks Department. Accreditation

Museum Accreditation was withdrawn in 1997 by American Association of Museums. In their letter to EDMDA dated August 4, 1997, the following deficiencies and areas of concern are noted:

EDMDA has a projected expense budget for fiscal year 2014-2015 of $338,000 and a projected income of only $262,000 (with $104,651 of that coming from EDA to subsidize the operation). EDMDA revenue is derived from museum admissions, facility rentals, special grants, a few special events that provide income from parking and admission fees, commissions from gift shop consignment sales, and support from Friends of the Museum. The result is a $76,000 deficit. Strategic Plan

EDMDA does not have a current strategic plan in place. The Grand Jury has been advised by EDMDA that "they are working on a plan." A Strategic Plan consists of a mission statement, an assessment of current state of business, a competitive landscape analysis, a plan of allocating time and financial resources, a plan on how the business will go about achieving goals, and a strategy for attracting customers. A strategic plan has a five-year timeline with yearly updates and goals.