The public is invited to join the Ventura City Council for a virtual community discussion regarding the next steps for the Father Junipero Serra statue on Wednesday, July 15, 2020, at 6 p.m. This special public meeting will include the City Council and City leadership.
Please share your input with us using the link below or attend the upcoming meeting to help determine the next steps for the Father Serra statue.
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 the next steps for the Father Serra statue in a variety of ways.
- View the agenda for the the City Council Special Meeting on Wednesday, July 15, 2020, at 6:00 p.m.
- Share written responses online by visiting www.CityofVentura.ca.gov/PublicInput. All written responses will be shared with the City Council. Please select “Public Input: Father Serra Statue” for the topic.
- The Ventura Historic Preservation Committee determined on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, at a special meeting that the bronze statue of Father Junipero Serra standing in front of City Hall is not a historic landmark because it’s a replacement of the original. To view the HPC meeting, watch it here under available archive videos.
- Watch and participate in the virtual community discussion with the Ventura City Council on Wednesday, July 15, 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/FatherSerraMeeting or by calling 1(408) 418-9388 and using access code: 126 815 2445
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.
Read the news release and joint letter, “A peaceful resolution on Father Junipero Serra statue.” - En Español