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Residents urge removal of Confederate statue and call for clear plan to reopen Fred Hayes Park
Summary
During the public comment period, residents urged removal or relocation of a Confederate statue from city property and asked for a clear timeline and safety plan to reopen Fred Hayes Park; council did not act on these requests at the meeting.
Several residents used the non-agenda public comment period on Jan. 12 to urge the City Council to address a Confederate statue and to press for a reopening plan for Fred Hayes Park.
Cindy Green proposed removing the Confederate statue from city property and suggested relocation to private land or a cemetery to preserve historical context without endorsing its message. Jessica Watts urged removal of a statue located at 266 Shipley Drive, saying it does not represent community values. Ric Watts asked the council to publicize a plan and timeline for reopening Fred Hayes Park, emphasized the park's importance to residents without reliable transportation and raised concerns that closure alone does not address underlying issues such as homelessness. Mike McGirr asked that the upcoming recruitment process for a new city manager and city attorney be transparent.
Council heard these comments during the non-agenda public comment portion of the meeting; no votes or formal actions were taken on the statute or park matters at the Jan. 12 meeting.
