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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019/06/04 Item 9 - Written Communications Written Communications Item # Name 1 Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council, This letter is to request that you reconsider the elimination of the positions of Cultural Arts Mangager and Senior Council Aide with the office of Council Member Galvez. While I understand that this action is to improve public safety, this seems like the wrong way of achieving that goal. Everyone who I've talked to notes that these staffing suggestions just don't make sense. Chula Vista has a$387M budget. If you think about it, the potential savings with these two staff positions would amount to a rounding error in scale. I'm not even sure if the money saved will even be used for the purpose that is being suggested. That is why this move feels like it is largely symbolic and that is not the way government should be managed. It's been obvious for the last decade that the city has a revenue problem. Even though the country has been experiencing a"bull" economy for the last ten years and the city has been growing exponentially, the city continues to struggle with adequately funding its staff and resources. This is due to the fact that the balance of growth doesn't generate sufficient revenue. If it did, we wouldn't be playing this zero-sum game. If you are serious about adding additional staff for police and fire, I would suggest that you take a hard look at how revenue is generated in the city. It goes without saying that council aides do a great deal to help your constituents. As mayor and council members, you know that you can't be at all places at all times. A council aide can act as a representative for the office at public events and internal city meetings. The council aide can help constituents when they have an issue that needs to be resolved. The council aide can assist the council member with research on complicated issues. Council aides are critical in a well-run city council office. Please reconsider making these staffing changes. Sincerely, William Richter _TfPm 9 dvvei-� � _ . �� Sheree Kansas Subject: FW: Cultural Arts Department From: Benito Bautista < > Sent: Monday,June 3, 2019 6:59 PM To:Jill Galvez<iml;alvez@chulavistaca.gov>; Mary Salas<MSalas@chulavistaca.gov>; Mike Diaz <mdiaz@chulavistaca.gov>;John McCann <imccann@chulavistaca.gov>; Steve C. Padilla <spadilla@chulavistaca.gov>; Kerry Bigelow<KBigelow@chulavistaca.gov> Cc: Emma Francisco< Subject: Cultural Arts Department Warning: External Dear Mayor Salas and Councilmembers, Email I hope my letter finds you well. I am Benito Bautista, a Chula Vista resident, and Executive Director and Co-founder of San Diego Filipino Cinema; I am also a practicing independent filmmaker whose films have been shown on PBS and other cable networks nationwide and internationally, and celebrated in both domestic and international film festivals. I am writing all of you because I came to know that the Cultural Arts Department of Chula Vista will be voted to be abolished and that Lynnette Tessitore's role in bringing to light the diverse representation, narratives, and voices of artists like me will be also be abolished. I have been a resident of Chula Vista for about six years now and no one in our local government except Lynnette Tessitore has reached out to us and invested time to understand our work as a non- profit and as practicing artists and filmmakers. Lynnette's work, leadership, and sense of community and a keen appreciation for culture and the arts are very important for Chula Vista. Our City of Chula Vista will soon become one of the major tourist attractions and vacationing destinations if we continue to invest in people like Lynnette who believes in the power of culture and the arts to promote the color of our community and its people. Now,who would not want our City of Chula Vista to be one of most instagrammable cities in California or the world. I say let us celebrate people like Lynnette Tessitore who understands and believes that to make our city of Chula Vista more visible, more viable,and more colorful is to invest in the arts, artists and culture of this beautiful little city. I hope for your fair and sincere consideration of my respectful and honest argument. Thank you. Regards, Benito Benito Bautista Executive Director and Co-founder San Diego Filipino Cinema Filmmaker I Wanderlustproiect Films 1 DATE: June 4, 2019 TO: Honorable Mayor Casillas Salas and City Council Members FROM: Kimberly Vander Bie,Associate Planner City of Chula Vista I will be unable to attend the City Council meeting this evening; therefore, I am submitting my comments via this memo. I have been an associate planner with the city of Chula Vista for nearly 21 years and have had the privilege of working side-by-side with Lynnette Tessitore for many of those years. I know,first-hand, that Lynnette is a bright, hard-working, compassionate woman who loves this community and has improved the quality of life for Chula Vista citizens through her dedication and multiple talents and skills as a Chula Vista employee. I have seen her work from the ground up to weave beauty and unity throughout our city and beyond. Lynnette is not a statistic or a response time; she is a human being Who makes our city a better place for the citizens who reside here and our city would experience a devastating loss without her contributions. Please do not eliminate Lynnette's position as the city's Cultural Arts Manager. Thank you. Sincerely, Kimberly Vander Bie Sheree Kansas Subject: FW: (SUSPICIOUS MESSAGE] Support for the Cultural Arts Manager position from the Chair of the CA Commission From: Karen Ann Daniels<> Sent:Tuesday,June 4, 2019 2:26 PM To:Jill Galvez<imgalvez@chulavistaca.gov> Cc: Mary Salas<MSalas@chulavistaca.gov>; Kerry Bigelow<KBigelow@chulavistaca.gov>;John McCann <imccann@chulavistaca.gov>; Steve C. Padilla <spadilla@chulavistaca.gov>; Mike Diaz<mdiaz@chulavistaca.gov> Subject: (SUSPICIOUS MESSAGE] Support for the Cultural Arts Manager position from the Chair of the CA Commission Warning: External Dear Council Member Galvez, Email I write to you to express on behalf of the Cultural Arts Commission of the City of Chula Vista our extreme disappointment in your recent actions towards the removing the Cultural Arts Manager position. As the current chair of the CAC and member of the commission for the last four years, as well as a proud long-time resident of Chula Vista, I have been honored to serve in a city that has (thus far) clearly prioritized the Cultural Arts as an essential and healthy part of it's ecosystem. The City's website states"The City of Chula Vista encourages,supports, and serves our creative community as a catalyst to establish a creative industry in Chula Vista."When the city hired a staff member to serve as the Cultural Arts Manager, it did not take long to believe that the commission and the city, together, would and could make that aspirational statement a real possibility.And much work has and continues to be done through the CAM. Since Ms.Tessitore has filled this position—the commission has been transformed. For over a year, Ms.Tessitore, community members from all over Chula Vista, and the Cultural Arts commission worked together to create a Cultural Arts Master Plan for our beloved city. This plan is the road map for many of the events, activities and partnerships that are important to the city today.The community asked for it, participated in it, and the city council approved it. As part of this Master Plan, we are a qualified professional commission—with criteria, interview processes, and a majority representation of arts professionals not limited to but inclusive of business owners, educators, young artists and retired professionals-all residents of Chula Vista. The Cultural Arts Manager also manages the public art program, established Canvases of Creativity,which includes Pop- ups, Mural exhibitions, events like Lit on 3`d included paying as many as 20 artists to create original works adapted from literature in partnership with local businesses and more.Through the Performing and Visual Arts grant program there are more and more arts organizations from across the county of San Diego, bringing their artistic and financial resources to Chula Vista. The CA Manager creates partnerships with local businesses—showcasing the Chula Vista of today—a place that is lucrative for businesses and residents through the creation of a marketing video, investing in local artists and arts- oriented businesses. This role represents Chula Vista as a leader in civic arts programs across the state and country. That's right,other cities are watching to learn from us! 1 The CA Manager was recently assigned Music in the Park.Together with the CAC, she has led the way to a reimagining of this family-friendly event that will build connectivity between residents, showcasing artists, and where artisans and local businesses can sell their merchandise. With a new brand identity, new partnerships and an expanded experience,this year's Music in the Park is soon to become a tradition for all of the South Bay and beyond. Over the years, I have seen an increase in individuals and organizations attending the commission to introduce themselves and wanting to establish their businesses and organizations in CV.The Cultural Arts Manager is the first person they meet, a single point of contact acting as a resource for all who want to engage with the arts in Chula Vista. The current manager is an ethical, loyal, positive representation of the city of CV. She is beloved by all in the arts community in Chula Vista and across San Diego. It is her time, energy, dedication and unique skills that together make her and this position an essential asset to the community-at-large. It seems popular these days to make the arts the fall guy in the budgeting complexities of the civic landscape. It's true the arts won't go away, but what will go away is the ability to elevate, amplify and leverage those cultural assets to benefit us all.We'll have to start over from scratch someday. Let's put our heads and hearts together to find solutions,through deep listening and collaboration. 1 urge you to leave the Cultural Arts Manager position where it is, successfully serving and connecting community through the arts. Sincerely, Karen Ann Daniels Chair Cultural Arts Commission, City of Chula Vista 2 i Written'Communications Item # Name Moh Gr i i i June 4,2019 i a Honorable Mayor Salas and Council: As a resident of District 2 and Commissioner for the International Friendship Commission in j the City of Chula Vista, I would like to express my support for Ms. Lynnette Tessitore. Ms. Tessitore has been an instrumental part of ensuring the success of our commission as well as many of the cultural arts programs in our city. It is because of Ms. Tessitore's experience j and work ethic that I am committed to the work I do as a commissioner. I am saddened and flabbergasted at the idea that anyone would think her position at the City is dispensable. Ms. Tessitore has been instrumental in the onboarding of commissioners as well as have helped us navigate through the city systems to accomplish the work that as volunteers we are set to do. As a resident, I ask the Council to represent the needs of its constituents and continue to fund the Cultural Arts Manager position. I highly encourage and urge this council to recognize the value of Ms. Tessitore for her outstanding service to our community and allow her to do the job that she has been hired to do. r Sincere) , Ve bs Molina I Resident and Commissioner i i I WrittenC mmunior V\,O '-� https://www.pdneeton.edu/-artspoltworkpap/WP20%20-%2OGuetzkow.pdttem # Name 1 Table 1: Mechanisms of Arts Impact* Individual Community Material/ Cognitive / Interpersonal Economic Cultural Social Health Psych. Builds inter- Increases sense of Builds individual Wages to paid Increases sense Builds social personal ties and individual efficacy social networks employees of collective capital by getting r, promotes and self-esteem identity and people involved, volunteering, Enhances ability efficacy by connecting which improves Improves to work with organizations to > health individuals' sense others and each other and by 0 of belonging or communicate giving participants s= Increases attachment to a ideas experience in opportunities for community organizing and self-expression working with local A and enjoyment Improves human government and capital: skills and nonprofits. Reduces creative abilities delinquency in high-risk youth Increases Increases cultural Increases tolerance People(esp. Builds People come opportunities for capital of others tourists/visitors) community together who enjoyment spend money on identity and pride might not s: Enhances visuo- attending the arts Leads to positive otherwise come Relieves Stress spatial reasoning and on local commuunity into contact with (Mozart effect) businesses. Further, norms,such as each other a local spending by diversity, y Improves school these arts venues tolerance and = performance and patronized free expression. businesses has indirect multiplier Q effects = Increases Increases prop- Improves Promotes o individual ensity of comm.- community neighborhood opportunity and unity members to image and status cultural diversity N propensity to be participate in the involved in the arts Reduces arts neighborhood Increases attract- crime and itiveness of area to delinquency Q tourists,businesses, "a people(esp. high- skill workers)and investments L Q Fosters a"creative '�- milieu"that spurs 0 y economic growth in U = creative industries. U y sU- Greater likelihood a of revitalization * This grid further develops a typology proposed by Kevin McCarthy(2002). 3 https://www.princeton.edu/—artspoI/workpap/WP20%20-%2OGuetzkow.pdf Working Paper Series, 20 a How the Arts Impact Communities: An introduction to the literature on arts impact studies Prepared by Joshua Guetzkow for the Taking the Measure of Culture Conference Princeton University June 7-8, 2002 The author thanks Paul DiMaggio and Steve Tepper for their guidance and suggestions,and Jesse Mintz-Roth for his fine research assistance. Also, thanks are due to the Rockefeller Foundation for its generous support of this project. Please do not cite without permission. Direct any comments for the author to joshg@princeton.edu. Written Communications Ttem # Name Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council, I'm here tonight to submit this letter in regards to Jill Galvez embarrassing termination of Robert Moreno Jill Galvez used his contacts and knowledge of the city and how it works and his impeccable reputation as she stated at several council meetings. And in the same breath Mrs. Galvez publicly fired him to make shameful political statement to embarrass the rest of the council and Mayor to do the same with their aide's. The council has said they respect Jill's choice but will not do the same. -Ms. Galvez now has divided city's constituents and once again to make a point. Now we have a recall on the books and a possible drawn-out battle for a city that is already broken, a divided city council, law suites, possible special election which will cost the city far more money than Roberts $ 53K a year paycheck and the loss of a full time employee that got things done. I had high hope for Jill but to cut your nose of despite your face to make a moot point and saying she is doing it for public safety is just wrong. We all know that the City of Chula Vista is behind the eight ball and will have a budget deficit that will last for years to come. We have a strong economy now but the cycle is coming and RIDA will walk,the Bayfront will stay the same and the citizens of Chula Vista will be the only ones that will be hurt. Robert I'm truly sorry that Jill threw you in front of that moving train. Be well my friend, Richard Roy Written Communications - Item 9 Kerry Bigelow From: Carole McAlpine < > Sent: Tuesday, June 4, 2019 7:34 PM To: Kerry Bigelow Subject: Budget cuts Warning: External Email This email is to say how much my husband and I support the position of Lynette Tessitore and her position as Cultural Arts Manager in Chula Vista. We have been members of Sobarts art group for just over a year and we see and experience the benefits of the arts in this area. Lynette has accomplished a lot in her position, all of which have benefited the area. There are so many reasons why we need arts in our community,yet it seems that when it's necessary to cut monies its the arts that go first. Please allow Lynette to keep her position and allow the community to enjoy all the benefits we see from the great work she does. Sincerely Carole and Roger McAlpine Sent from my iPhone 1 Written Communications - Item Kerry Bigelow From: Michelle Mercado Sent: Tuesday,June 4, 2019 8:42 PM To: Kerry Bigelow Subject: Cutting the Arts...please no. Warning: External Email Madame, As a member of the Chula Art Guild, I received an email regarding your thoughts of cutting the artist programs city wide. Unfortunately,your decision is not probably a well thought one. As an original inhabitant of Redlands, California which is a sister city of Chula Vista, I have noticed a huge jump in the economy and visitors as this city has embraced public art in the community. It has embraced it's original historical natural beauty, but combined contemporary public art spaces with a flourishing artist community including galleries and its own art association downtown. I completely believe you could make a positive impact with our city if you modeled this community with a mirrored ideology. Of course Chula Vista is already in the infancy stage, it just needs your support to allow this concept to flourish to its fullest potential. I shall forward a couple of pictures of downtown Redlands. You will see how much our original Chula Vista downtown and State Street, Redlands, share a common uniqueness. I would love to further share my ideas with you. In short,we don't need more shops that make us look like every typical city. We need Chula Vista a unique Mecca of art and music united with what already can be found on 3rd Avenue. Continue making Chula Vista a special retreat within San Diego. Keep the Arts! Best, Michelle T de Mercado Sent from my iPhone 1 Written Communications - Item 9 Kerry Bigelow From: Michelle Mercado Sent: Tuesday, June 4, 2019 8:43 PM To: Kerry Bigelow Subject: Why We Love--And Need--Public Art Warning: External Email https://www.forbes.com/2009/05/05/state-of-the-city-opinions-george-rickey-public-art.html Sent from my iPhone 1 Written Communications - Item'9 Kerry Bigelow From: Michelle Mercado Sent: Tuesday, June 4, 2019 8:55 PM To: Kerry Bigelow Subject: Art in our community please Attachments: IMG_1064.JPG;ATT00001.txt; IMG_1063.PNG; ATT00002.txt; IMG_1062.JPG;ATT00003.txt Warning: External Email We need art in Chula Vista to flourish. We need Lynette Tesitore to support us with her continued work in supporting our passion. She has such an impact and an understanding of what our community needs. Please let her continue on. We need more ART. 1 4 ice. � f - �. _ v 4 io IT AL v oil At } Ar t now or �1 9 � � f _ _ g jjjj yew uk t(�, a� r 3� 5 F 4 € rt x€ Sheree Kansas Subject: FW:Art and Culture From:Gene & Gilda Clement< > Sent: Wednesday,lune 5, 2019 9:38 AM To: Kerry Bigelow<KBigelow@chulavistaca.gov> Subject:Art and Culture Warning: External Email I was lucky enough to study art through all of my school years. After high school I became an electronic technician, an engineer and an engineering manager. Throughout my working life, the creativity I learned in art, was invaluable. After I had helped raise my family and retired, I got back into art. I feel the cities support of Arts and Culture can help the children, that are growing up now, follow that same road. Please do not close down the valuable position of Arts Manager. Robert E. Clement, 30 year resident of Chula Vista, Vice President of the Chula Vista Art Guild 1