HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA www.palmspringsca.gov AGENDA Wednesday 5:30 p.m. May 5, 2021 Special Meeting Mission Statement Palm Springs is an inclusive world-class city dedicated to providing excellent and responsive public services to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations. Pursuant to Executive Order N-29-20, this meeting will be conducted by teleconference and there will be no in-person public access to the meeting location. ● To view/listen/participate in the meeting live, please use the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84836732045?pwd=cHcwTjhnNjFkcHJvamUyaXpyaUxsdz09 or call (669) 900-6833 Zoom Meeting ID 848 3673 2045, Passcode: 565057 ● Written public comment may also be submitted to [email protected]. Transmittal prior to the meeting is required. Any correspondence received during or after the meeting will be distributed to the Board/Commission as soon as practicable and retained for the official record. ● The meeting will be recorded and the audio file will be available from the Office of the City Clerk and will be posted on the City’s YouTube channel, as soon as practicable. 1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Ron deHarte 2. ROLL CALL: Board Members Terrie Andrade, Glenn Flood, Edwin Ramoran, Donna Shepherd, Vice Chair Denise Chappell, and Chair Ron deHarte Student Representatives: Ella Cash and Lilly Hanner 3. MISSION STATEMENT & GOALS: "The Mission of the Palm Springs Human Rights Commission is to promote and protect the diversity of our community and to improve human relations through education and community awareness." Special Meeting Agenda Human Rights Commission May 5, 2021 Human Rights Commission Goals: ● To develop community education programs; ● To investigate and mediate instances of discrimination of groups or individuals; ● To bring persons and groups together in common support of human rights issues; ● To acquire the fiscal and human resources necessary to support and accomplish the work of the Commission; ● To provide management and coordination for the Commission; ● To promote diversity through the appointment of candidates to all city boards and commissions to proportionately reflect the diversity of the population of the City of Palm Springs; ● The Commission and each Committee shall develop goals and objectives annually, for adoption by the commission; ● The Commission shall work closely with the Mayor, City Council, and City Cabinet and with all other City Commissions and Boards in joint endeavors that support the Commission's mission statement and City's goals and objectives. 4. QUORUM: 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS: This time has been set aside for members of the public to address the Human Rights Commission on agenda items; and items of general interest within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Commission. Three (3) minutes is allowed for each speaker. Although the Commission values your comments, pursuant to the Brown Act, it generally cannot take any action on items not listed on the posted agenda. Commissioners will not enter into discussion with speakers, but during Commission Comments, may refer the matter to staff for report and recommendation at a future Commission meeting. 6. CHAIR COMMENTS: 7. ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/ACTION: A. Close the Bogert Monument Report review period for Commissioners, accept Commissioner's edits, receive the final Bogert Monument Report dated April 28, 2021, and forward to the Palm Springs City Council. B. Ratify “Resolution Entitled “RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION RECOMMENDING THE REMOVAL OF THE FRANK BOGERT MONUMENT FROM THE FRONT OF PALM SPRINGS CITY HALL.” 8. ADJOURNMENT: The Commission will adjourn to a special joint meeting with the Palm Springs City Council Thursday May 20, 2021 PUBLIC NOTICES Pursuant to G.C. Section 54957.5(b)(2) the designated office for inspection of records in connection with the meeting is the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way. It is the intention of the City of Palm Springs to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in all respects. If, as an attendee or a participant at this meeting, or in meetings on a regular basis, you will need special assistance beyond what is Special Meeting Agenda Human Rights Commission May 5, 2021 normally provided, the City will attempt to accommodate you in every reasonable manner. Please contact the Office of the City Clerk, (760) 323-8204, at least 48 hours prior to the meeting to inform us of your particular needs and to determine if accommodation is feasible. AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING I, Jay Virata, Director of Community & Economic Development, of the City of Palm Springs, California, hereby certify this Agenda was posted at City Hall before 6:00 p.m., April 30, 2021, and posted on the City’s website as required by established policies and procedures. /S/ Jay Virata Jay Virata Community & Economic Development Disclaimer – Some of the terms used in this research describing the Black community are direct quotes from historic newspaper articles and are not intended to offend today’s sentiments on accepted terms for racial identity. Palm Springs City Hall Monument Report Human Rights Commission - Pending Acceptance City of Palm Springs Final DRAFT April 28, 2021 Frank Bogert: Palm Springs’ Civic Leadership, Institutionalized Segregation, and Racial Bias 1958-1966 001 Table of Contents Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians 4 Tribal Chairman Richard Milanovich - Speaks Truth to Power 4 In His Own Words - Tribal Chairman Richard Milanovich 4 The City Beautiful 5 “Beautiful for the white people” 5 Introduction 6 1958-1966 - The City’s Darkest Time 6 Bogert’s First Term as Mayor 10 Protecting a Tourist-friendly Resort Image, Segregation or Both? 13 Bogert Resigns from Elected Office 16 “Bogert was the most important figure in the establishment of Palm Springs as a major tourist destination” 16 99-year Leases and Direct Control Over Policy Making 18 An Eye Toward Development 19 City’s Scheme to Skirt Legal Responsibility and Lawsuits: Highly Effective 21 City Leaders Quick To Demolish Homes: 23 City Leaders Undeniable Role in Razing Section 14 26 Low-Cost Housing Eludes Bogert 30 Civic Leaders Under Investigation 32 Generations of Pain 36 The Raymundo Kobo Equestrian Sculpture: 38 The People Are The City - 39 “Frank was many things but Frank was not a racist.” 42 Where was his stewardship? 44 Bogert’s Positive Traits and Attributes Did Not Surface to Aid Those Being Evicted. 44 Summary: Speaking Our Truth 45 Desert Sun Editor’s Recollections: 1987-1995 46 The Conclusion 48 APPENDIX A 49 Brothers of the Desert: Resolution Regarding Frank Bogert Monument 49 APPENDIX B 50 Section 14 - Summary 50 002 APPENDIX C 51 Select Community Statements 51 APPENDIX D 90 Public Comment 90 Public Arts Commission - Public Comment 90 Human Rights Commission - Public Comment 96 Palm Springs City Council Meetings - Public Comment 97 Definition of Terms used in This Report and Core Concepts 99-105 Timeline 103-113 References 114-118 APPENDIX E 119-459 Attachments A. The Desert Sun, March 19, 2012, In His Own Words, Q&A with tribal leader reveals 120-121 much about Agua Caliente history B. The Desert Sun, November 15, 1984, Frank Bogert: Palm Springs 'Citizen of the 122 Year.’ C. Hearing before the Subcommittee on Indian Affairs of the Committee on Interior and 123-384 Insular Affairs, House of Representatives, Ninetieth Congress, second session on H.R. 17273. Hearing held in Palm Springs, California, May 31, 1968. D. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Los Angeles Attorney General, May 31, 385-397 1968, Palm Springs, Section 14 Demolition. E. Unofficial Transcript, Palm Springs City Council Meeting, Listening Session, July 18, 398-444 2020, 11:00 A.M. F. Human Rights Commission Resolution City of Palm Springs Apology For its Role in 445 the Destruction of Section 14, March 8, 2021. G. Human Rights Commission Resolution Recommending The City of Palm Springs 446-449 Remove The Monument Located in Front of Palm Springs City Hall, April 28, 2021. H. Unofficial Transcript, Human Rights Commission Meeting, April 12, 2021, 5:30 P.M. 450-459 003 Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Tribal Chairman Richard Milanovich - Speaks Truth to Power In under 200 words, Richard Milanovich, the 28-year chairman of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians outlines what occurred in the 1960s after the Equalization Act was passed in 1959 which ordered reservation land to be divided equally among individual tribal members. The Indian Leasing Act, signed into law on the same day, permitted tribal members to lease their land in ninety-nine year increments. Together the Equalization Act and the Indian Leasing Act greatly enhanced the commercial value of the Indian lands, particularly Section 14, making these properties attractive to real estate interests.1 Milanovich shared his truth in an interview eight months prior to his death on March 11, 2012. In His Own Words - Tribal Chairman Richard Milanovich “Then came the ‘60s Judge (Hilton) McCabe, together with some individuals in Palm Springs, felt they hit a gold mine by coming up with the scheme to, how do I put it, separate the property from the members. So they formed the conservatorship program - they deemed all the tribal members incapable of managing their own affairs. So they named individuals and entities to serve for their benefit (and manage) their estates. They appointed individuals: (The late Palm Springs Mayor) Frank Bogert was a conservator. James Holloway was an attorney. Bank of America was my conservator. Maybe two or three didn’t have conservators. Everyone else more or less did…. They would do work for the member, but when they submitted their invoice….. The member didn’t (always) have the resources to pay. So what did they do? They applied to the court, Judge McCabe’s court, and said I did this work, and I’m not getting paid, so the judge ordered that a portion of the allotments be sold off to pay for the services that had been done.