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Update Sept. 27, 2019 -- Estela de Los Rios, a community leader who plans to run for El Cajon City Council, sent these comments objecting to the demise of the commissions. "I believe it our right as citizens of El Cajon to have these board commissions and have them open until we seek people to serve on them. There has to be a better way to recruit. This is a prime example of the city council's actions that need to change for the best interest of our city. It makes no sense to have a Magnolia Performing Center but no Arts Commission?"
By Miriam Raftery
September 23, 2019 (El Cajon) – The agenda for tomorrow’s El Cajon City Council meeting includes second reading and adoption of a code amendment to eliminate three city entities The Veterans’ Commission, the Commission on Arts and Culture, and the Human Relations Commission, which advises the council on diversity issues.
ECM sent e-mails to Mayor Bill Wells and Vice Mayor Steve Goble asking why the city is eliminating these commissions. Wells did not respond. Goble replied with background on the veterans’ commission.
The Veterans’ Commission was established by the City Council on May 28, 2013. Since then, it’s hosted an annual “Honoring Our Veterans” event each year on Veterans Day and also presented an El Cajon Veterans of the Year award.
But Goble says, “Over time it has been difficult to fill vacancies on the commission. One vacancy has been open for more than two years. The last two appointments have only had one application for each of those seats. After many discussions with the 501(c)19 organizations at the Veterans Hall located on North Chambers Street, the Chair of the Veterans' Commission agreed with staff liaison that the current set-up needs to change in order to welcome new members, limit the appointment times, and allow for greater numbers to participate.”
He recalls, “A similar situation happened in the mid-2000s with the Youth Advisory Commission that was dissolved because of comparable constraints and was changed to the thriving Teen Coalition. The creation of a Veterans' Coalition with members appointed by the City Manager, or the City Manager's designee, allows it to function with fewer restrictions, including the elimination of the need for the group to follow the strict meeting constraints.”
After changing from a City commission to a City Manager-appointed coalition, he says, “The Teen Coalition has been successful in increasing interest in participation where membership is limited to one-year appointments. This would be the same recommendation for participation in a newly created Veterans' Coalition – a one-year commitment starting every new calendar year with honorably discharged veterans, either residents of El Cajon or members of 501(c)19 organizations based in El Cajon." Goble concludes, “With the agreement of Chair of the Commission, a Coalition makes better sense to attract interested parties. The Teen Coalition is an example to follow.
It is unclear whether the Human Relations and the Commission on Arts and Culture faced similar volunteer shortages. However with the grand opening of Magnolia Center bringing a performing arts center back to the city’s heart, eliminating a civic group promoting the arts seems odd timing.
The primary duties of the commission on arts and culture set to be eliminated have included the following:
A. Act in an advisory capacity to the city council in matters pertaining to the artistic and aesthetic aspects of the city;
B. Provide leadership and promotion in the area of the arts;
C. Function as a forum for discussion of various art-related issues;
D. Work cooperatively with city boards and commissions, the Cajon Valley Union School district, Grossmont Union High School district, and Grossmont/Cuyamaca Community College district in promoting art in the city;
E. Encourage public and private partnerships to encourage art and artists in the city;
F. Review and make recommendations directly to the city council for all proposals for art works for public buildings and public spaces;
G. Encourage the flow of art into the city and stimulate art activities among residents of the city;
H. Implement art programs and activities as they may be delegated to it from time to time by the city council including the selection of artists for art programs and projects and the award of contracts for art projects and programs; and
I. Provide written reports of activities to the city council on a yearly basis and at such other times as requested by the city council.
The Human Relations Commission has been an advisory commission to the Council and City Manager on “on matters pertaining to issues, programs, and projects that promote diversity awareness and improve human relations within the city,” according to the city’s website.
The City Council meeting will be held on September 24 at 3 p.m. at 200 Civic Center Way, El Cajon.
View the agenda: 09-24-19 agenda - 3PM
View agenda with full attachments: 09-24-19 agenda_full - 3PM
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