Karen Pinkos, El Cerrito's Assistant City Manager, was on hand at the meeting to bring the Society up to date on several items. Karen restated the city's understanding that the Historical Society's room at City Hall was to be used for storage of the Society's archival materials, for research, and for display of a small number of artifacts. The Council has set aside up to $20,000 for furniture approved by our Board and the city has received a bid of $16,000 to supply the furniture. Once the furniture is ordered it should be received in about a month.

Karen also commented on the San Pablo Avenue project and the work that Melanie Mintz has done with the Society in researching how our history could be reflected in the upgraded San Pablo Avenue. This part of the project could be going out to bid within the next month. Karen stated that it is the City's intention to continue working with the Society on the theme and text for the individual locations. On a related subject, Karen commented that the Planning Department is working on an RFP for a Historic Resources Survey.

Rich Bartke noted that the Society is working on submissions to the County regarding the earliest female councilpersons and elected officials in El Cerrito. This would include our first elected woman, City Clerk Grace Castner (1917), the first woman Councilmember, Laura McNeil (1941), and the first woman mayor, Doris Hormel.

The walnut tree on Albemarle Street was discussed. Tom Panas reported that he has been told that there is documentation stating that the tree is from a cutting of a like tree that was at William Rust's blacksmith shop. Former Mayors Jane Bartke and Mae Ritz recalled that this matter had come up before the Parks and Recreation Commission in the late 1980s and that no documentation could be found. Tom has been told he will be receiving a copy of the promised documentation in a few weeks.

Tom Panas also reported that the Contra Costa Historical Society is updating its list of historic sites in the county. Tom solicited help in winnowing down the Society's draft list of about 500 locations in El Cerrito that are at least 50 years old and which appear to have retained some of their historic integrity.

It being the annual meeting, Rich Bartke began the elections by opening the floor to nominations for the office of president. His name was the only name placed in nomination for this office and he was elected by a voice vote. The same process followed for the other four positions. The results of the elections were: President: Rich Bartke; Vice President: Grace MacNeill; Treasurer: Ruth Kibby; Secretary: Lucille Irish; and Director at Large: David Weinstein.