Council: Oil Museum likely to receive a gusher of support under foundation
May 27, 2016
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
The California Oil Museum will likely be breaking away from the city, a move that a nonprofit foundation hopes will bring a gusher of financial support.
The City Council heard of the plan at the May 16 meeting where Jeanne Orcutt, the former director of the museum, told of the foundation and its future plans.
The California Oil Museum, located on the corner of 10th and Main streets, was the home of Union Oil, which was incorporated on its second floor in 1890.
According to the staff report by Elisabeth Paniagua, assistant to the city manager, handing over the operation to the foundation will be a savings to the General Fund for related “indirect” support including administrative support from the human resources and finance departments as well as building insurance and all utilities.
The foundation made a presentation to the council on February 1 and requested the permanent transfer of museum operations, a move that would enable the nonprofit foundation to seek private grants to “ensure its long term financial stability…”
Presently, the city managed museum funds a full-time administrator and two part-time grant funded contractors as well as a large group of volunteers.
Prior to 2004, the museum’s $150,000 annual budget was funded by Redevelopment Agency funds; by 2010 and at the continuing direction of the council the museum’s RDA funding had been reduced to about $41,000 and in 2011 the elimination of RDA funding “further forced the Oil Museum to more financial independence.”
According to Paniagua’s report, “Today, the Oil Museum’s budget of $165,000 is funded by revenues generated from grant awards, fundraising and private donations, membership fees, admission/tour fees, and store revenues.”
Under Orcutt’s prior leadership services and special programs were expanded by obtaining private grant funding and implementing creative ways to attract visitors to the Oil Museum. These have included maintaining quality exhibits to increase private and educational school attendance while also working with local community organizations to promote the museum and Santa Paula’s tourist attractions.
The Foundation, formed in 2011, has been in “close communication with Chevron,” which now owns the museum — it leases it to the city for $1 a year — and reported Paniagua, “Chevron has expressed its support of such a transfer and is willing to enter into a new lease agreement directly with the Foundation.”
The council was asked for permission to continue negotiations with the foundation and to consider the donation of computers and other office equipment currently in use at the museum.
Orcutt, now vice president of the foundation, addressed the council regarding transferring museum operations as did Richard Poole, vice president of Western States Petroleum Association.
Councilwoman Ginger Gherardi asked that more information on the fate of present museum employees be brought back to the council.
“I don’t see any benefit that the city brings to it,” Councilman John Procter said of the museum. “I’m very much in favor of a complete transfer…”
Vice Mayor Jenny Crosswhite asked about the parking lot east of the museum and Orcutt said the property is under lease to the city from Chevron.
Paniagua noted use of the lot has been “a continuing battle with businesses,” that offer car repair services and use the lot for overflow parking.
“It’s not really super-utilized,” said Orcutt although is beneficial for school buses and overflow parking for special events.
“We would love to expand the museum for educational purposes, we have a huge educational program,” she added.
The California Oil Museum was started in 1950 by Union Oil Company on the first floor of the Queen Anne building. For its 1990 centennial the then Unocal renovated the museum and added a building complex to house authentic vintage pumping equipment; displays were expanded with high quality exhibits and the second floor offices were completely restored to its Victorian glory of 1890.
In 2011 Mary Alice Orcutt Henderson and Jeanne Orcutt started a foundation to help ensure continued operations. The board now has nine members, mostly from the petroleum industry, that Paniagua reported, “Is committed to promoting and fundraising for the museum.”
By moving the operations under the California Oil Museum Foundation, a non-profit, charitable organization, it is strongly believed that the fundraising efforts will be greatly improved.
