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April 20, 2021 Cypress Fire Station Correspondence 2021-2017 12 -- Report did not mention historical significance of the property to the surrounding community. Nothing in the report talks about the economic impact destroying this property would have on the built environment, property values and cultural life of the surrounding neighborhood. TIMELINE OF ADVOCACY -- As soon as the former tenant, a local non-profit had its lease end at the location in the mid-2000’s, several local neighbors inquired about the property. Pacific Park/Eastside Neighborhood Leader Selica Diaz has gone on record as being the earliest advocate for this property. -- Former City Manager and head of Parks & Recreation, Gerardo Mouet had “promised” the property to several groups from the mid-2000’s until he left in 2017. Some of these commitments included full presentations within formal Commission (Art Commission) and Community (Neighborhood Alliance, Eastside Neighborhood, Friends of the Cypress Street Fire Station) Meetings. -- After Mr Mouet ‘s agency (Parks & Rec) stopped administering the Arts Commission, some Art Commissioners asked staff about the property and Mouet’s presentation of it as a Community Gallery. Staff (Ron Ono) responded that the property was to be used as storage for Parks & Rec equipment and that he would notify Art Commissioners if anything changed. -- While Mr Mouet was City Manager, he proposed the property be used to house the Santa Ana Library History Room and a community effort was organized around this, the Friends of the Cypress Street Fires Station. A series of local dinners prepared by local Chef Richard Espinachio among others were to cook a series of benefits to raise funds for the Fire Station’s restoration. -- As soon as Mr Mouet left the City in 2017, all efforts to advocate for the property were discouraged by City Staff. Emails were sent to Staff by neighborhood leaders Chris Schmidt, Selica Diaz, Ginelle Hardey, Irma Jaregui and Sandra “Pocha” Pena Sarmiento among others, local residents, historians, etc. Many of these appeals were for increased security and physical barriers to be installed to protect the Fire House. Some of these requests were for permission to do a series of community cleanups, and for community groups (Art Commissioners, Neighborhood Association, Historical Groups, After-School Study Groups) to make use of the site. -- After City Staff ignored most of the early calls for service, the property started getting broken into by homeless. These squatters started setting fire to the property.