HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-01-23 HRC MinutesMINUTES 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