Resolution 2019-04RESOLUTION NO.2019-04
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF GILROY ESTABLISHING A POSITION
DESCRIPTION FOR THE CITY HISTORIAN
WHEREAS, the role of the City Historian is to increase public awareness of the history
of the City and community of Gilroy. The City Historian provides interpretation of Gilroy's past
by gathering and evaluating evidence, making thoughtful and appropriate generalizations, and
writing well -organized narratives; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Gilroy wishes to memorialize the duties of
the volunteer City Historian and establish a term limit for the appointed seat; and
WHEREAS, a City Historian position description has been prepared to distinguish these
particular roles and responsibilities and the essential skills and abilities of the position.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City Council has approved the
position of City Historian attached hereto as Exhibit "A".
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 4th day of March, 2019 by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: BLANKLEY, BRACCO, LEROE-
MUNOZ, MARQUES, TOVAR, TUCKER and VELASCO
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: NONE
APPR VED.
Roland Velasco, Mayor
RESOLUTION NO.2019-04
CITY OF GILROY
CITY HISTORIAN
VOLUNTEER POSITION DESCRIPTION
ROLE OF THE CITY HISTORIAN: The role of the City Historian is to increase public
awareness of the history of the City and community of Gilroy. The City Historian
provides interpretation of Gilroy's past by gathering and evaluating evidence, making
thoughtful and appropriate generalizations, and writing well -organized narratives. Duties
may include:
1. Providing presentations to organizations and social groups
2. Developing an education program for school tours including history walks
3. Preparing and teaching adult educators in local and regional history
4. Providing articles on local history topics for local print, online and social media
5. Assisting in providing resource to the City's Historic Heritage Committee
6. Support for the endeavors of the Gilroy Historic Society
7. Development and continuation of Heritage Tourism activities
Appointed Term of Office
The person appointed by the City Council to this volunteer position will serve for a four
(4) year term, with no term limits.
RESPONSILIBITIES: Responsibility to:
1. Acquire, prepare, record and reporting facts about historically significant Gilroy
related events and people.
2. Collaborate with the Gilroy Historic Society on discovery of Gilroy History
3. Collaborate with inter -city agencies, groups and other persons on historical
issues
4. Respond to inquiries on Gilroy history
5. Organize and direct commemoration of historical anniversaries and participate in
other civic or patriotic observations.
6. Coordinate historical research and subsequent presentation activities among City
agencies
7. Advocate for historic preservation and serve as a resource to the City on
questions relating to history and historic preservation.
8. Support the preparation of the cultural resources survey, identification of historic
structures and prepare nominations to the State and National register of Historic
Places.
9. Report to the City Council annual and as required on history -related issues
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KNOWLEDGE: Knowledge of:
1. Strong knowledge of Gilroy history
2. Sources for Gilroy history, including but not limited to people, collections, and
other data sources
3. Tools and techniques for historical research and writing
SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Ability to:
1. Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
2. Understand, interpret and catalog historical facts
3. Excellent interpersonal skills
4. Ability to analyze and interpret information
5. Working knowledge of computers and proficiency using computer databases,
supporting website development, and using computer file sharing services
FUNCTIONS
Research and Writinci. The first and primary responsibly of the City Historian is
interpretation of the past. This involves research and writing on aspects of the
City for publication in books, magazines and newspapers.
2. Teaching and Public Presentations. As Historian, you may serve as a resource to
teachers in the fourth and seventh grade local history curriculum, as a content
consultant to speak and lecture to community groups, and you may participate in
radio and TV talk shows to disseminate local history.
3. Historic Preservation. Historians are advocates for historic preservation and a
resource to the Historic Heritage Committee and City Council on questions
relating to history and preservation. The Historian may be asked to support the
preparation of a cultural resources survey to identify historic structures and
prepare nominations to the State and National Register of Historic Places, and
historic marker programs.
4. Organization, Advocacv and Tourism Promotion. Historians are asked to
organize and direct the commemoration of historical anniversaries and to
participate in other civic or patriotic observations, and may participate in local
Heritage tourism activities.
WHAT A HISTORIAN IS NOT
1. The Historian is not an antiquarian. While the Historian may support the Gilroy
Historical Society or other agencies in these activities, the Historian does not
assemble or maintain collections or components of collections.
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2. The Historian is not an archivist. The Historian's function is to support research
and make use of archival resources.
3. The Historian is not an event coordinator. The Historian has no formal
responsibility for activities such as parades and commemorations.
4. The Historian is not a genealogist. The use of genealogical information may be
used by the Historian but it is not part of the role to conduct genealogical
research on demand.
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I, SHAWNA FREELS, City Clerk of the City of Gilroy, do hereby certify that the
attached Resolution No. 2019-04 is an original resolution, or true and correct copy of a city
Resolution, duly adopted by the Council of the City of Gilroy at a regular meeting of said held on
the 4 h day of March, 2019, at which meeting a quorum was present.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Official Seal of
th 'ty of Gilroy this 5t` day of March, 2019.
a ,
Shawna Freels, MM_C
City Clerk of the City of Gilroy
(Seal)