For Immediate Release
June 26, 2020
Media Contact: Public Information Office, pio@cityofventura.ca.gov
Community invited to share input about Father Serra Statue
and attend virtual community discussions
Ventura, Calif. —
The public is invited to join the Ventura City Council for a virtual community discussion on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. about the Father Junipero Serra statue. The special public meeting will include the Ventura Mayor, City Council, and City leadership.
“In recent weeks, the City of Ventura has received a groundswell of feedback from the public on the Father Junipero Serra statue. We want the community to know that we are receptive to their concerns and seek to provide a peaceful environment where all voices are heard and respected,” stated Ventura City Manager Alex D. McIntyre. “This is an historic decision and must involve the voices of the Chumash tribe, the Mission San Buenaventura, residents of Ventura, and the City Council.”
Community members are invited to engage with the City to help determine next steps for the Father Serra statue in a variety of ways.
- Watch and participate in the Historic Preservation Committee (HPC) public meeting on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. This meeting will review the landmark status of the 1989 Father Serra Statue located in front of City Hall. The HPC will not discuss if the statue should be retained or removed from its present location. To read the HPC agenda or watch the meeting, visit the Public Meetings section on the City’s website.
- Watch and participate in the virtual community discussion with the Ventura City Council on Tuesday, July 7, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. This meeting will cover if the statue should be retained or removed from its present location. Join the virtual meeting by visiting https://bit.ly/2NvYlRX or by phone. Call 1(408) 418-9388 and use access code: 126 228 9208.
On June 18, 2020, the City released a joint statement from the Mayor of the City of Ventura, the Barbareño/ Ventureño Band of Mission Indians (Chumash), and the Mission San Buenaventura that conversations were underway regarding how to address expressed concerns about the Father Junipero Serra statue, which is currently located near City Hall on Poli Street.
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