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Home My WebLink AboutGerman - Recd 7/24 4pm Written Communications Item #21 Name Sheree Kansas Subject: FW: Public Comment for 7-28-20 City Council Meeting Attachments: Emails re PRC Meeting 16JAN20.pdf, GMG &GG Emails.pdf, GMG &TF Emails.pdf From: Mike German< > Sent: Friday,July 24, 2020 3:59 PM To:CityClerk<CityClerk@chulavistaca.gov> Subject: Public Comment for 7-28-20 City Council Meeting Warning: External Dear Madam Clerk, Email submit the following public comment concerning the recent removal of the Christopher Columbus statue from Discovery Park. Dear Mayor Salas and Members of the City Council: 1. For informational purposes only, I am a Member of the Parks & Recreation Commission (PRC), and have served as a Chair, Vice-Chair, and Member of the Board of Ethics, and on the Campaign Finance Subcommittee. In addition to my JD, I hold a BA in History. The following is my personal opinion, and is not made in any official capacity or on behalf of any CV body. I have not consulted with anyone on either side of this issue, except as set forth below. 2. 1 am very concerned that, and how, the Columbus statue issue was removed from consideration by the PRC only hours prior to its 1-16-20 meeting and instead transferred to the Human Relations Commission (HRC) at or about that time. This is especially so, since the HRC subsequently decided that this matter is one for consideration by both bodies, (see, HRC Minutes, 1-23-20, item 3), yet went on to decide for itself the merits of this matter on that later date. Because, in addition to HRC's decision, this matter involves a public statue in a public park, it would appear to naturally fall under PRC's jurisdiction, and Parks & Recreation Department Staff [Staff] will confirm my active interest in this matter since I first learned of it. 3. On 1-16-20, staff advised that the matter had been pulled from PRC's agenda, because they would "need more time to research both sides of the fence before proceeding." In response to that advice, I asked Staff for background information on the costs of the statue's purchase, installation, and removal, but heard nothing further from Staff in reply thereto. See Exhibit A hereto. 4. 1 was not advised by Staff, nor did I otherwise learn, that this matter had been referred to HRC until 7-9-20, when Geovanna Gonzalez advised me thereof. See Ex B hereto. 5. On 7-10-20, Staff advised me that "the decision to pull the item from the [PRC] was because we [staff] did not have enough information to bring forward to the Commission [?PRC?] at the time. It was a joint decision between our Parks and Recreation leadership as well as City Management." In response, I requested, and Staff confirmed, that this issue would be put on the agenda for PRC's next meeting, to be held on 9-17-20. See Ex. C hereto. 1 6. True and correct copies of my 1-16-20 emails between Tim Farmer and myself, and of my early July 2020 emails between Geovanna Gonzalez, Tim Farmer, and myself are attached hereto as Exs. A through C, inclusive. 7. In light of this history, and to ensure that all Chula Vista residents be given the opportunity to provide input on this matter, I ask the Council to refrain from making any decisions or take any action thereon until further input from PRC and the residents of Chula Vista is received. Thank you for considering this record and my thoughts in this matter. Sincerely, G. Michael German Attached: Ex A - 16JAN20 Emails (PDF) Ex B - GMGerman & GGonzalez emails (PDF) Ex C - GMGerman & Warmer emails (PDF) z Re: Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting - January 16th From: Mike German ( ) To: tfarmer@chulavistaca.gov Date: Thursday, January 16, 2020, 05:09 PM PST Thanks for that heads up, Tim. As part of that research, so we can make the most informed decision if and when the time comes, I'd like to know how much it cost to install the statue, who asked that it be installed, what controversy, if any accompanied its installation, who paid for its installation, who's suggesting it be removed, how much it will cost to remove, and who will, or has offered, to pay the removal costs. See you in a bit, Mike. On Thursday, January 16, 2020, 12:21:35 PM PST, Tim Farmer<tfarmer@chulavistaca.gov>wrote: Mike We are pulling the statue item for tonight's meeting. We need more time to research both sides of the fence before proceeding. Tim Farmer Begin forwarded message: From: Geovanna Gonzalez <gegonzalez@chulavistaca.gov> Date: January 13, 2020 at 3:35:40 PM PST Cc: Tim Farmer<tfarmer@chulavistaca.gov>, Shaun Ellis <SEllis@chulavistaca.gov>, Gilbert Contreras <gcontreras@chulavistaca.gov>, Tracy Lamb <tlamb@chulavistaca.gov> Subject: Parks and Recreation Commission Regular Meeting -January 16th Good afternoon Parks and Recreation Commissioners, Please find the attached agenda and packet for Thursday's Regular Meeting. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Thank you, Geovanna Gonzalez I Secretary I City of Chula Vista Parks & Recreation I Community Services 276 Fourth Avenue I Chula Vista,CA 191910 19: 619.409.5979 1 E-�]: gegonzalez@chulavistaca.gov Connect with us! Status Report : Christopher Columbus Statue From: Geovanna Gonzalez (gegonzalez@chulavistaca.gov) To: Cc: tfarmer@chulavistaca.gov Date: Thursday, July 9, 2020, 10:15 AM PDT Good morning Mr. German, The topic of the Christopher Columbus statue was moved to the Human Relations Commission. I've attached the agenda and minutes from the January 23rd meeting where they discussed recommending a resolution to council. On February 23rd (agenda attached, minutes for this meeting will be approved on July 23rd), the Human Relations Commission did adopt the reso and it will be going forward to council on July 23rd. If you have any further questions, I'm happy to help. Please feel free to call me. Below are the names and contact information for the staff on the Human Relations Commission: STAFF CONTACTS - Courtney Chase, Staff Liaison (619) 691-5096 cchase@chulavistaca.gov -Anne Steinberger, Staff Liaison (619) 691-5296 asteinberggr@chulavistaca.gov - Summer Haskins, Secretary (619) 585-5743 shaskins@chulavistaca.gov https://www.chulavistaca.gov/departments/city-clerk/boards- commissions/boards-commissions-list/h uman-relations-commission Thank you, Geo From: Mike German < > Sent: Tuesday, July 7, 2020 10:25 AM To: Geovanna Gonzalez <gegonzalez@chulavistaca.gov> Cc: Tim Farmer <TFarmer@chulavistaca.gov>; Tracy Lamb <tlamb@chulavistaca.gov>; Gilbert Contreras <gcontreras@chulavistaca.gov>; Shaun Ellis <SEllis@chulavistaca.gov> Subject: Re: Parks and Recreation Commission - July 16, 2020 -- CANCELLED Warning: External No problem, Giovanna, but I did have an agenda item: status report on Christopher Email Columbus statue and discussion thereof. No need for a meeting with this as the sole item, but I do want it placed on the next meeting's agenda. Thanks, Mike. Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android On Tue, Jul 7, 2020 at 8:20, Geovanna Gonzalez <gegonzalez@chulavistaca.gov> wrote: Good morning Parks and Recreation Commissioners, Please be advised that the Regular meeting of Parks and Recreation Commission scheduled for Thursday, July 16, 2020 at 6:30pm will be cancelled due to lack of agenda items. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Thank you, Geovanna Gonzalez I Secretary I City of Chula Vista Parks & Recreation Community Services 276 Fourth Avenue I Chula Vista, CAI 91910 1 W: 619.409.5979 1 Es:: gegonzalez@chulavistaca.gov Connect with us! RE: Status Report : Christopher Columbus Statue From: Tim Farmer(tfarmer@chulavistaca.gov) To: ;gegonzalez@chulavistaca.gov cc: tlamb@chulavistaca.gov Date: Friday,July 10, 2020, 03:20 PM PDT Good afternoon Commissioner German, The decision to pull the item from the Parks and Recreation Commission was because we did not have enough information to bring forward to the Commission at the time. It was a joint decision between our Parks and Recreation leadership as well as City Management. This item was originally planned to go to the Human Relations Commission first, since the initial request came to the Office of Communications and the Office of the City Manager requesting to go through the HRC due to the nature of the subject matter. Since this was all pre-COVID, I'm not sure when the draft resolution is planned to make it's way to City Council. Our next scheduled PRC meeting is September 17 and we will add the discussion to that meeting's agenda as you requested. Thanks and hope you have a great weekend! Tim Farmer) Parks & Recreation Administrator I Community Services 276 Fourth Avenue I Chula Vista,CA 191910 1 El: tfarmer@chulavistaca.gov Connect with us! ACT You STM s, = From: Mike German < > Sent:Thursday, July 9, 2020 10:25 AM To: Geovanna Gonzalez<gegonzalez@chulavistaca.gov> Cc:Tim Farmer<TFarmer@chulavistaca.gov> Subject: Re: Status Report: Christopher Columbus Statue Warning: External Thanks, Geo. Please advise when and who made the decision to send this item to HRC, as well as to remove it Email from Park and Rec's agenda, and if there are any minutes or other materials documenting that decision and its process. Thanks again, Mike. Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android