From: CArolyn Johnson
To: City Clerk;City Council;Jorge Garcia; Ed Waaae; Mary Ann Reiss; Marcia Guthrie;Stacy Inman;Scott Newton Cc: CArolyn Johnson
Subject: Public comment regarding Chapman Estate for 02.18.2025 closed session Council meeting Date: Sunday,February 16,2025 3:00:27 PM
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February 16, 2025
Mayor Ed Waage
Councilmember Reiss
Councilmember Guthrie
Councilmember Newton
Councilmember Inman
City Manager Jorge Garcia
Regarding: Chapman Estate decision before the Council
Dear Councilmembers and Mr. Garcia,
My name is Carolyn Johnson. I have been fortunate to have visited the Chapman Estate many times for personal enjoyment with my family. Professionally, I worked for the City on the administrative end of the Chapman Estate's bequest to the City many years ago. I have reviewed the August 2024 Council staff report on the property and communicated with Chapman Foundation members and Mr. Larry Schmidt.
Mr. Chapman and the former City Council believed the property could provide for resident and visitor enjoyment while generating funds to financially sustain needed property maintenance and improvements.To date, under the current arrangement between the City and the Chapman foundation, expenses and challenges of the property have exceeded financial resources. It's clear that property maintenance, future expenses, and recoup of city funds expended on the property are concerns resulting in Council consideration of the Chapman Estate's disposal.
Chapman Foundation efforts have been ongoing to raise funds for the property, including but not limited to donations and collaboration with hoteliers to fund the Estate maintenance in improvements. The Foundation has proposed ownership of the Estate with plans to continue and stand ready to substantially further boost their fund-raising efforts.
Should the Foundation offer be declined, its suggested Council consider City retention of the Chapman Estate and expansion of the Foundation's role to take over the Estate's operations and responsibilities in a broader fashion. This type of arrangement could include but not be limited to Foundation engagement with
other non-profit or for-profit entities for property maintenance, oversight of compliance with the Conditional Use Permit and continued fund raising.
Finally, if the Council elects to dispose of the Estate, consider retaining some portion of this very special property for a small memorial park honoring Mr. Chapman and the history behind the Chapman Estate.
Most sincerely,
Carolyn Johnson