HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-09-29 CC MINUTESWednesday, September 29, 2021
Minutes of the Special Joint Meeting of the City Council and
Human Rights Commission of the City of Palm Springs
Pursuant to Assembly Bill 361 this meeting was conducted by teleconference
and there was no in-person public access to the meeting location.
CALL TO ORDER:
A Regular Meeting of the Palm Springs City Council was called to order by Mayor Holstege
on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, at 5:30 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Pro Tem Middleton led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Councilmembers Grace Elena Garner, Geoff Kors, Dennis Woods; Mayor Pro Tem
Lisa Middleton; and Mayor Christy Holstege
Present: Commissioners Hugo Loyola, Kalina Robles, Edwin Ramoran, David Vignolo,
Oliver Cleary, Terrie Andrade, Glenn Flood; Vice Chair Donna Shepherd; and
Chair Ron deHarte
Absent: None.
City Staff
Present: Justin Clifton, City Manager; Jeffrey Ballinger, City Attorney; and Anthony J. Mejia,
City Clerk, were present at Roll Call. Other staff members presented reports or
responded to questions as indicated in the minutes.
1. NEW BUSINESS ITEMS:
A. CONSIDERATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION DRAFT RESOLUTION
APOLOGIZING FOR CITY’S ROLE IN THE ACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH
SECTION 14 AND CONSIDERATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
RESOLUTION HRC 21-001 RECOMMENDING REMOVAL OF THE FRANK
BOGERT MONUMENT FROM THE FRONT OF PALM SPRINGS CITY HALL,
AND POSSIBLE DIRECTION TO CITY STAFF
Director of Community and Economic Director Virata presented the staff report and
Human Rights Chair deHarte summarized the Human Rights Commission
recommendation related to the apology for the City’s role in the actions associated with
Section 14 and removal of the Frank Bogert monument and responded to City Council
inquiries.
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Stephen Moses, suggested that the City Council order a review and correct any factual error
in the Human Rights Commission’s report related to Frank Bogert.
Ron Oden, spoke on his relationship with Frank Bogert and urged the City Council to
carefully listen to the public’s testimony.
The following individuals spoke in support of removing the Frank Bogert monument
and/or issuing an apology for the City’s actions related to Section 14:
• Ben Patrick Johnson
• Steve Gire
• Evernal Black
• David Weiner
• Ubaldo Boido
• Ruth Debra
• Jarvis Crawford
• Benita Lynn Crawford
• Eatmon
• Randolph Faveau
• Leo Imperial
• Janel Hunt
• Deiter Crawford
• Shatawah
• Reshae Crawford
• Oron
• Pete Carroll
• Jody Diaz
• Shawnda Faveau
• Toya Thigpen
• Ginny Foat
• Margorie Holland
• Wayne Gilcrest
• Ameenah Fuller
• Juanita Garner
• Lauren Wolfer
• Mara Gladstone
• Lex Ortega
• Jenny Gil
• Cynthia Sessions
• Kathy Weremuik
• David Jax Kelly
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The following individuals spoke in opposition to the removal of the Frank Bogert
monument:
• Carla Harrower
• Dawn Mills
• Tristan Milanovich
• Unnamed Person
• Doug Evans
• Stacy
• Sue Lefevre
• Stephen Dixon
• Mark Temple
• Barbara Beaty
• Renee Brown
• Dottie
• Tom Kieley
• Mark Bragg
• Carrie Allan
• Amado C. Salinas II
• Rick S.
• Kim McNulty
• Sharon Apfelbaum
• Tracy Conrad
• Robin Moore
• Kay Fitzgerald
• Patricia Saleh-Swaim
• Bernadine Naggs
• Robin Rodriguez
• David Christian
• Karen Evans
• Gary Gray
• Susan Smith
• Brittany Rauch
• Alexander Sine
• Brian Johnson
• Manuel Gonzales
• Frank Tyson
• Bobby Gray
• Susan Jacoy
• Jade Nelson
In response to City Council inquiries, City Attorney Ballinger summarized the process for
removal of the Frank Bogert monument; clarified that the City Council has complied with
the Brown Act and noticing requirements for tonight’s meeting; confirmed that the City
Council is not being asked to adopt or accept the Human Rights Commission Report related
to Frank Bogert.
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Following discussion, MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER KORS, SECONDED BY
COUNCILMEMBER GARNER, CARRIED 5-0, to:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 24957 entitled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, APOLOGIZING FOR ITS
ROLE IN THE DESTRUCTION OF SECTION 14,” as amended.
2.Commence the legal process for the removal of the Frank Bogert monument statue
from City Hall.
3.Direct staff to develop economic investment proposals related to Section 14 reparations
and return to City Council within two months.
Mayor Pro Tem Middleton requested that staff and a broad coalition of individuals in our
community develop a respectful process and select a location for the Frank Bogert
monument statue.
City Attorney Ballinger clarified that the legal process at a minimum includes staff
analyzing the historical significance of the Frank Bogert monument statue in relation to the
Palm Springs City Hall, which is a designated historical site, to be considered by the
Historic Site Preservation Board for a determination on the Certificate of Appropriateness
and possibly requesting City’s Public Arts Commission for a recommendation as they are
charged with resolving issues related to public art removal.
CITY COUNCILMEMBER AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:
None.
ADJOURNMENT:
The City Council adjourned at 10:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Anthony J. Mejia, MMC
City Clerk
APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL: 03/24/2022