AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
ISSUE:
Ad Hoc Culture and Education Committee, lead by Councilmember Marcia Rafanan and Councilmember Jason Godeke, has been focusing on education and visibility opportunities with regard to the history, culture, and contemporary lives of local tribal members. It is proposed that the City Council approve using space in the Fort Building as a hub for tribal educational and cultural visibility activities.
ANALYSIS:
Mayor Norvell established the Ad Hoc Culture and Education Committee in January 2023, appointing Councilmembers Marcia Rafanan and Jason Godeke to shepherd this issue forward. Since its creation, the Ad Hoc Committee has focused on a variety of activities, including video recordings of local Pomo Native American history, updated Pomo signage, and exploring the use of the former Fort building for educational purposes.
The Fort Building’s proximity to the center of town, where regular City-sponsored events are held, and to the Farmer’s Market, makes it an ideal site for educational and cultural activities. The building is also easily accessible by school groups.
Our committee has been focusing on education and visibility opportunities with regard to the history, culture, and contemporary lives of local tribal members. We propose using space in the Fort Building as a hub for tribal educational and cultural visibility activities. We think the building offers a unique opportunity to acknowledge and educate about the history of the Mendocino Reservation, while it also serves as a space for tribal members to meet, host public demonstrations, performances, and share ongoing exhibitions of artifacts, oral histories, and contemporary native art.
To begin funding these activities, the City’s Grant Coordinator is currently identifying various grant opportunities the City could apply. Additionally, the Ad Hoc Culture and Education Committee requests that the City Council approve up to $8,000 from the Council Professional Services budget ($25,000 total available, Account # 110-4110-0319) to create a digitized version of the Pomo signs design.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve Fort Building to be dedicated as a hub for tribal educational and cultural visibility activities; and Approve up to $8,000 from the City Council Professional Services budget (Account # 110-4110-0319).
FISCAL IMPACT:
Up to $8,000 from the City Council Professional Services budget (Account # 110-4110-0319).
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Direct Staff to provide additional analysis for funding cultural and educational activities.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
NOTIFICATION:
None.
AGENCY: City Council
MEETING DATE: September 25, 2023
DEPARTMENT: City Council
PRESENTED BY: Councilmembers Godeke, Rafanan
TITLE:
Receive Report from Ad Hoc Culture and Education Committee Regarding the Fort Building and Approve Use for the Development of a Tribal Learning and Resource Center and Approve up to $8,000 from the Council Professional Services budget (Account # 110-4110-0319) to Create a Digitized Version of the Pomo Signs Design.
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