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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.27.2020 HRC Agenda and AttachmentsREGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION February 27, 2020 Executive Conference Room 103A 6:00 p.m. City Hall, Building A 276 Fourth Avenue Chula Vista, CA 91910 CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL: Commissioners Branch, Felix, Godinez, Gutierrez, Kean-Ayub, Lake, Medina, Ratner, Zadah, Vice-Chair Gonzalez, Chair Martinez-Montes CONSENT CALENDAR (Items 1-2) The Commission will enact the Consent Calendar staff recommendations by one motion, without  discussion, unless a Commissioner, a member of the public, or staff requests that an item be removed  for discussion. Items pulled from the Consent Calendar will be discussed immediately following the  Consent Calendar.  1.APPROVAL OF REQUEST FOR EXCUSED ABSENCE FROM COMMISSIONER GODINEZ FOR THE JANUARY 23, 2020 REGULAR HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING 2.APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR JANUARY 23, 2020 REGULAR HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING PUBLIC COMMENTS Persons speaking during Public Comments may address the Board/Commission on any subject matter  within the Board/Commission’s jurisdiction that is not listed as an item on the agenda. State law  generally prohibits the Board/Commission from discussing or taking action on any issue not included  on the agenda, but, if appropriate, the Board/Commission may schedule the topic for future discussion  or refer the matter to staff. Comments are limited to three (3) minutes.  City of Chula Vista Boards & Commissions  Human Relations Commission ACTION ITEMS The Item(s) listed in this section of the agenda will be considered individually by the Board/Commission  and are expected to elicit discussion and deliberation. If you wish to speak on any item, please fill out  a “Request to Speak” form and submit it to the Secretary prior to the meeting. Comments are limited  to five (5) minutes.  3.CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POTENTIAL ACTION ON RESOLUTION OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION RECOMMENDING (“HRC”) TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF CHULA VISTA THAT (1) THE STATUE OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS (LOCATED AT DISCOVERY PARK) BE REMOVED; (2) THAT SAID STATUE BE REPLACED WITH A STATUE THAT REFLECTS CHULA VISTA’S DIVERSITY, INCLUDING ITS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, (3) THAT DISCOVERY PARK BE RENAMED; AND (4) THAT COLUMBUS DAY BE RENAMED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S DAY AND, IF THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED, SELECTION OF HRC MEMBER(S) TO PRESENT AND DISCUSS THE RESOLUTION AT CITY COUNCIL MEETING 4.PRESENTATION FROM STAFF ON DONATION ACCEPTANCE BY COMMISSIONS 5.CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POTENTIAL ACTION ON COMMISSION ACTIVITIES IN FISCAL YEAR 2020/2021 AND REQUESTING FUNDS FOR SAID ACTIVITIES 6.CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POTENTIAL ACTION REQUESTING CITY COUNCIL ADD AN EX-OFFICIO SEAT TO THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION FOR YOUTH 7.DISCUSSION AND ACTION, INCLUDING UPDATES FROM, AND/OR FORMATION OF, AD HOC COMMITTEES, ON EVENTS/ACTIVITIES FOR HRC PARTICIPATION EVENT DATE/DETAILS AD HOC Know Your Rights - Police TBD Branch, Felix, Kean-Ayub South Bay Earth Day April 4, 2020 National Night Out August 4, 2020 Chula Vista Harbor Fest August 22, 2020 Chula Vista Pride Day Est. September 19, 2020 Chula Vista Starlight Parade December 5, 2020 Know Your Rights - Immigration TBD TBD OTHER BUSINESS 8.CHAIR’S COMMENTS 9.COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS 10.STAFF COMMENTS •Preferred Pronouns – (HRC Application, Website and Name Tents) •Future Meeting Items (Meeting Requested): •Information on the naming of Discovery Elementary (1/20) •Land Acknowledgement (1/20) •Presentation from South Bay Community Services - Youth Services (1/20) •Welcoming City Update -March, June, September, December ADJOURNMENT to the Regular Human Relations Commission on Thursday, March 26, 2020 at 6:00 p.m., in Executive Conference Room 103A, located at 276 Fourth Avenue, Building A, Chula Vista, California. Materials provided to the Human Relation Commission related to any open-session item on this agenda are available for public review in Human Resources Department at City Hall, Building C, Human Resources Department 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista during normal business hours. In compliance with the AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT The City of Chula Vista requests individuals who require special accommodations to access, attend, and/or participate in a City meeting, activity, or service, contact the Human Resources Department(619) 691-5041. California Relay Service is available for the hearing impaired by dialing 711. MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA January 23, 2020 6:00 p.m. The regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission of the City of Chula was called to order at 6:07 p.m. in the Council Chambers, located in the City Hall Building A, at 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, California. The meeting was moved from its regular location of Executive Conference Room 103A to Council Chambers at the same address due to number of public present. ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Commissioners Branch, Felix, Gutierrez, Kean-Ayub (6:11 pm), Lake, Medina, Ratner, Vice-Chair Gonzalez (6:15 pm) and Chair Martinez-Montes at (6:11 pm) ABSENT: Commissioners Godinez and Zadah OHERS PRESENT: Courtney Chase, Anne Steinberger and Simon Silva CONSENT CALENDAR (Items 1-2) 1. CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR EXCUSED ABSENCE Request for excused absence from Commissioners Godinez, Kean-Ayub, Zadah and Vice-Chair Gonzalez for the October 10, 2019 Special Human Relations Commission meeting. Staff recommendation: Commission excuses the absences. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR OCTOBER 10, 2019 SPECIAL JOINT M EETING AND SPECIAL HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING Staff recommendation: Commission approves minutes. ACTION: Commissioner Branch moved to approve Staff’s recommendations and offered Consent Items 1 and 2 (headings read, and text waived). Commissioner Gutierrez seconded the motion, and it carried by the following vote: YES: 6- Branch, Felix, Gutierrez, Lake, Medina, Ratner NO: 0 ABSTAIN: 0 PUBLIC COMMENTS  There were none ACTION ITEMS 3. DISCUSS CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED REGARDING CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUE AT DISCOVERY PARK Staff recommendation: Discuss and take action as appropriate. PUBLIC COMMENTS o Benjamin Prado o Adriana Jasso o Armando Abundis o Alex Medina o Teyana Viscarra o Pedro Rios o Veronica Santos o Jordan Baaso Hamut o Edson Aparicio o Lucas Cruz o Dee Dee Ybarra o Grace Sesma o Kenneth Cohen o Sherrie Tamayo o Beatrice Zamora o Julian Rodriguez Jr. o Carlos Pelayo o Erica Pinto All public comments were in support of removing the statue of Cristopher Columbus at Discovery Park. Comments and recommendations from the public also included, but were not limited to: o Renaming Discovery Park o Welcome community input, including local indigenous groups, in renaming Discovery Park o City should no longer recognize Columbus Day and recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day o Not idolizing a person who committed genocide against Indigenous People. o Columbus never visited Chula Vista and started the slave trade in North America. ACTION: Commissioner Medina made a motion to create a resolution that will be brought back to the next meeting that will recommend City Council remove the Christopher Columbus Statue at Discovery Park, create a taskforce of local group representatives and Human Relations Commission and Park and Recreation Commissioners to rename Discovery Park and replace the statue at Discovery Park. Commissioner Branch seconded the motion and it carried by the following vote: YES: 9- Branch, Felix, Gutierrez, Lake, Medina, Ratner, Kean-Ayub, Gonzalez, Martinez-Montes NO: 0 ABSTAIN: 0 4. UPDATE ON REFERRAL TO CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION REGARDING QUALIFIED ELECTOR REQUIREMENT TO SERVE ON COMMISSIONS Staff recommendation: Chair provide update and Commission take action as appropriate. ACTION: There was none. Chair Martinez-Montes provided an update. Staff will make the Commission aware if this item is placed on a future Charter Review Commission agenda. 5. REVIEW DRAFT SPECIAL AND COMMUNITY EVENT PUBLIC NOTIFICATION POLICY Staff recommendation: Discuss draft policy and provide feedback. ACTION: There was none. Commissioners offered feedback regarding the notification policy. Deputy City Attorney Silva and Steinberger will update the policy and bring to Council for consideration. 6. UPDATE ON DRAFT DIGITAL EQUITY AND INCLUSION PLAN Staff recommendation: Hear report. ACTION: There was none. 7. DISCUSSION AND ACTION, INCLUDING UPDATES FROM, AND/OR FORMATION OF, AD HOC COMMITTEES, ON EVENTS/ACTIVITIES FOR HRC PARTICIPATION Staff recommendation: Discuss participation in community events. Events/activities for HRC support and participation include: EVENT DATE/DETAILS AD HOC Know Your Rights - Police TBD Branch, Felix, Kean- Ayub South Bay Earth Day April 4, 2020 National Night Out August 4, 2020 Chula Vista Harbor Fest August 22, 2020 Chula Vista Pride Day Est. September 19, 2020 Chula Vista Starlight Parade December 5, 2020 Know Your Rights - Immigration TBD TBD   ACTION: There were none. Commission will discuss upcoming events two to three months prior to the event and vote to form ad hoc committees, with a lead commissioner, when needed. OTHER BUSINESS 1.CHAIR COMMENTS As a certified Welcoming City Chair would like to address the funding for program. 2.COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS Commissioner Medina: o Agendize Indigenous Peoples’ Day in future o Agendize discussion of land acknowledgment to be placed on the agenda/acknowledged at Human Relations Commission meetings. o Has received a lot of calls regarding problems youth are facing in our community. Would like a presentation from South Bay Community Services on what is currently offered in the community. Commissioner Kean-Ayub would like to discuss the possibility of renaming the Discovery Elementary School. Commissioner Felix: o Requested pronouns on the commission name tents and HRC website. o Would like to get updates on the Welcoming City program. Commissioner Gonzalez would like to remind people of March 3 primary election. Commissioner Montes-Martinez discussed the possibility of adding a seat for a member of the youth council. 3.STAFF COMMENTS Deputy City Attorney Silva is looking forward to working with the commission this year. Courtney acknowledged LGBTQ+ 101 meeting held on January 13, 2020 and Holocaust Exhibit currently in Civic Center Library. Reviewed future agenda items: Land Acknowledgement, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Mural Update/Fundraising, Commission Funding, additional information on the naming of Discovery Elementary, Welcoming City Program Update- Quarterly, Adding a seat for youth, Presentation from South Bay Community Services about youth services. Courtney will email commissioners to ask preferred pronouns. ADJOURNMENT At 8:26 p.m. Chair Martinez-Montes adjourned the meeting to the regular meeting on Thursday, February 27, 2020 at 6:00 p.m., in the Executive Conference Room 103, Bldg. A, at City Hall 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, California. _______________________________________ Summer Haskins, Secretary to the Commission RESOLUTION OF THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COUNCIL OF CHULA VISTA THAT (1) THE STATUE OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS (LOCATED AT DISCOVERY PARK) BE REMOVED; (2) THAT SAID STATUE BE REPLACED WITH A STATUE THAT REFLECTS CHULA VISTA’S DIVERSITY, INCLUDING ITS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, (3) THAT DISCOVERY PARK BE RENAMED; AND (4) THAT COLUMBUS DAY BE RENAMED INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S DAY WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista values the diversity of its population and to that end sought and obtained a “Welcoming Cities” certification; and WHEREAS, it was Indigenous Peoples, including the Indigenous People of the Kumeyaay Nation, that have occupied, for thousands of years, the lands that would become known as the Americas; and WHEREAS, Christopher Columbus landed on an island (subsequently named Hispaniola) that was occupied by the indigenous Taino people on October 12, 1492. To recognize that event, statues of Christopher Columbus were erected, and Columbus Day was established; and WHEREAS, statues of Christopher Columbus and the attendant Christopher Columbus holiday have been associated with the colonization of the Americas and the subjugation of Indigenous Peoples; accordingly, they are seen by many Indigenous Peoples and others as symbols of oppression; and WHEREAS, as a result, several cities have sought to remove such statues and rename Christopher Columbus Day, including the cities of Los Angeles and San Jose in California and other cities in various states; and WHEREAS, at the January 16, 2020 Human Relations Commission meeting, representatives of the Kumeyaay Nation requested the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue (including presenting a letter to memorialize said request) and many speakers were present in support of said removal; and WHEREAS, the removal of said statue and additional actions such as replacing the statue with another work of art, renaming Discovery Park, and renaming of Christopher Columbus Day would serve to recognize Chula Vista’s diverse community, including its Indigenous People. NOW THEREFORE, the Human Relations Commission hereby resolves to recommend to the City Council of the City of Chula Vista that it: 1. Cause the removal of the Statue of Christopher Columbus located at Discovery Park; and 2. Replace the statue with another statue or work of art that values the diversity of our community, including its Indigenous People; and 3. Rename Discovery Park to also reflect the diversity of our community, including its Indigenous People; and 4. Rename Christopher Columbus Day with “Indigenous People’s Day” within the City of Chula Vista. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this be placed on the City Council agenda for City Council’s consideration and action within 90 days of this resolution being approved by the Human Relations Commission. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it is also recommended that City Council establish a task force to include community members and Indigenous People to provide recommendations as to how to implement the above recommendations.