PANEL TO STUDY BOWERS EXPANSION

A city-appointed interim study commission has been formed to make recommendations on program and structural expansions for Santa Ana’s Bowers Museum.

In announcing the 10-member citizens group, the Santa Ana City Council on Monday night formally delayed any major moves for Bowers--including a fund-raising drive--until the new group completes a yearlong study.

The council also delayed for a year the appointment of a permanent governing board for the Charles W. Bowers Museum Foundation, the city-created organization that now runs the museum. The council will continue to act as the museum board.

Seven people were named Monday to the interim commission, which includes non-Santa Ana residents. These are Judy Fluor-Runels, Hector Godinez Jr., Harriet Harris, Parker Kennedy, Fernando Niebla, Ruth Siegel and Michael Silvas.

The remaining three members are to be appointed in the next month. The council approved $20,000 as a planning fund for the commission.

The commission will center its study on a reorganizational and expansion report by William Baer & Associates of San Francisco, the city consultant. Baer said a major structural expansion of Bowers might cost up to $20 million, but that a fund drive at this time would face too much competition from other arts drives.

The council also approved hiring a $41,000-a-year assistant museum director to be top deputy to Director William Lee. Also approved was $25,000 for a new Bowers marketing plan.