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16-0523_BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CAPISTRANO VALLEY_C1_Correspondence_Porter Lorie and deHaan, RhondaMatisse Reischl Subject: FW: Correspondence for Today's City Council Budget Workshop From: Rhonda deHaan Sent: Monday, May 23, 2016 10:20 AM To: Maria Morris Subject: Correspondence for Today's City Council Budget Workshop Importance: High Please forward to City Council Members for today's meeting. Thank you. Dear Honorable Mayor Patterson and City Council Members, 5/23/2016 C1 Thank you for your support with the Proclamation for Historic Preservation Week here in San Juan Capistrano. In celebration, we put together an event highlighting the Los Rios Historic District. With the cooperation of a number of property owners, dedicated docents, and the generosity of the Mission, we were able to provide the public with some insight, stories, and a rare views of some of our treasured historic properties. We are happy to say that everything came together wonderfully... the weather was lovely, and we received a lot of enthusiastic feedback. It was a treat to listen as visitors expressed how much they were enjoying themselves learning about the area's history. Many inquired as to how often we have such events and when the next one was going to be. It was also great seeing city council and commission representatives amongst the crowd (but, of course, we would like to have seen more!). We are very pleased with the outcome... given the challenges of limited support from the city. And, while we would like to continue a tradition of an annual National Preservation Week event next year, without funds it would be impossible. Which brings us to the second reason for this letter. Given today's budget workshop, we would like to stress how important it is that funding be allocated for the preservation of our city's heritage. In order to properly protect the historic resources of our community, not only is the commitment of our City Council imperative but also the ability of our city staff to support that commitment. Currently, our city has no funding, no dedicated staff, and no continuing education efforts by any staff specific to historic preservation. Per the city's own claim: The City of San Juan Capistrano is committed to preserving its unique cultural heritage. In 1996, the City adopted the motto "Preserving the Past, to Enhance the Future." Unfortunately, it seems that what was once a priority for San Juan Capistrano is now only rhetoric. We, therefore, request that your discussions at the budget workshop include the restoration of funding for historic preservation in San Juan Capistrano. Respectfully, Lorie Porter and Rhonda deHaan