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COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
City and County of San Francisco
MINUTES
Special Meeting
Wednesday, October 24, 2001
Department on The Status of Women Office
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 130 at 4:30 p.m.
San Francisco, CA 94102
(Draft)

American Sign Language interpreters and a Sound Amplification System provided upon request with 48-hour advance notice to 415-252-2570. Limited accessible street parking available. Accessible MUNI Lines are the 15, 44, 23 and 24 lines. Accessible seating for persons with disabilities (including those using wheelchairs) will be available. Meeting proceedings available in alternative formats. In order to assist the City’s efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illness, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products. Please help the City to accommodate these individuals. To make arrangements or for accessibility information, contact Susan Murphy at 415-252-2570 (Voice) or 415-252-2550 (TDD).

MEMBERS PRESENT
President Carolene Marks
Vice President Dorka Keehn
Commissioner Julie Burton
Commissioner Juanita Miles
Commissioner Emily Murase
Commissioner Andrea Shorter
Commissioner Valerie Tulier

1.          CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
          President Carolene Marks called the meeting to order at 4:35 p.m.
          Vice President Keehn arrived at 4:35 p.m.
          Commissioner Miles arrived at 4:40 p.m.

2.          PUBLIC COMMENT: (on all matters pertaining to the closed session)
Helennya Brooke, for identification purposes only, not speaking on behalf of any of these groups, is with Women Leadership Alliance, National Women’s Political Caucus, and is Executive Director of the Mental Health Board. She stated that she is very distressed that the Mayor did not appoint Rosario Navarrette as Executive Director of the Department. To her understanding according to the Charter, the Mayor is supposed to select one of the applicants that the Commission recommends to the Mayor. Ms. Brooke, as an individual, as well as other women organizations she has spoken with are distressed with the circumstance. She urged the Commissioners to stand firm on what the Charter allows them to do and assert whom women in San Francisco want as Executive Director. Many organizations have worked with Rosario in many capacities and find her work excellent.
President Marks responded by stating that the Charter states, "Unless otherwise specifically provided, submit to the Mayor at least three qualified applicants, and if rejected, to make additional nominations in the same manner, for the position of department head, subject to the appointment by the Mayor."
Adine Varah, Deputy City Attorney, clarified by stating that the Commission makes nominations to the Mayor, the Mayor has the final selection power and he has the authority to accept one of the nominations or reject all of them. If the Mayor had someone else in mind he could bring the name to the Commission and inquire if they would wish to nominate that person.
Commissioner Tulier asked for clarification. "The Mayor cannot just appoint someone outside? It actually has to come through here? We have to go through the process again. Is that what your saying? Can we continue to submit the same names?"
Adine Varah responded by stating "technically yes". The Commission can submit the same names. The Mayor can make a suggestion for a candidate to be nominated.
Rebecca Rolfe, staff person on behalf of staff members Elaine Hung, Susan Murphy and Carol Sacco. The staff decided to come forward because there seemed to be a question about whether or not the staff supported Rosario Navarrette in a position of leadership. Ms. Rolfe stated that as staff, we will honor any decision made by Mayor and the Commissioners. She also expressed that staff also felt that Rosario has the leadership, vision, skills, and experience to do this job and do it well. We would consider it an honor to work with her as Executive Director.
Commissioner Shorter stated that it is not a question of rumors and appreciates the staff coming forward; however, the staff has been involved in the process as it pertains to the Executive Director, in the hiring process in either a peripheral or direct way. Those considerations based on fact and not on rumor, the commentary that has come before the Commission before, perhaps in not such a public fashion has been taken into consideration and we appreciate any level of participation that is appropriate to come forward with in a process such as this.
Commissioner Tulier, for the record, she hadn’t heard any commentary, other than this, in the past at all. Maybe individual Commissioners had, but she definitely appreciates hearing from the staff, because it is very important.

3.          PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT/HIRING: Executive Director of the Department on the Status of Women

          Closed Session: Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957 and
San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.10(b) discussion for appointment of Executive Director.

          m/s/c (Shorter/Keehn/Unanimous) Moved to go into close session.
          President Marks called the closed session at 4:50 p.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT

President Carolene Marks
Vice President Dorka Keehn
Commissioner Julie Burton
Commissioner Juanita Miles
Commissioner Emily Murase
Commissioner Andrea Shorter
Commissioner Valerie Tulier

          President Carolene Marks reconvened the open session at 5:20 p.m.

Open Session: Reconvene in open session and, pursuant to San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.12(b)(4): Motion and vote to report any action or roll call vote taken concerning appointment of Executive Director. Motion and vote to elect whether to disclose any or all of the discussions held in closed session pursuant to San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.12(a).

Motion and voted to elect whether to disclose any or all of the discussion held in closed session pursuant to San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.12(a)

m/s/c (Murase/Burton/Majority) Motioned not to disclose any of the discussions held in closed session.

m/s/c (Murase/Miles/Unanimous) Motioned to re-open the Executive Director search and explore the possibility of working with Eunice Azzani of Korn/Ferry as part of the process effective immediately.

President Marks questioned how the communications, e-mails, etc… should be addressed regarding the Executive Director position.
Commissioner Miles requested a statement (message talking points) for the Commissioners.
Commissioner Shorter commented that we should just state that the process is an extended one, and that no commentary can be made about any of the applicants.
Commissioner Tulier suggested that a letter responding with we are in receipt of your letter, thank you for your concerns should be sent to acknowledge any communications.

4.          PUBLIC COMMENT
None

5.          ANNOUNCEMENTS
None

6.          ADJOURNMENT (requires motion and public comment)
          m/s/c (Burton/Shorter/Unanimous) Motioned to adjourn the meeting.
President Marks called for the meeting to adjourn at 5:25 p.m.

*Public comment will be taken before or during COSW’s consideration of each agenda item.

**Explanatory documents: For copies of explanatory documents listed in this agenda, and other related materials received by COSW, please contact Susan Murphy at 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 130, San Francisco, CA 94102, phone: (415) 252-2570, fax: (415) 252-2575. Also, to the extent possible, documents will be available on the COSW website at http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/cosw/.

Know Your Rights under the Sunshine Ordinance

(Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code)
Government’s duty is to serve the public, reaching its decision in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people’s business. This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people’s review. For more information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance, or to report a violation of the Ordinance, contact the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force at 415-554-7724. To obtain a free copy of the Sunshine Ordinance contact the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, Donna Hall, Clerk, City Hall, Room 409, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102-4683, phone: 415-554-7724, fax: 415-554-7854, email: Donna_Hall@ci.sf.ca.us. Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance can also be obtained from the San Francisco Public Library and on the City’s website at www.ci.sf.ca.us.

The Board of Supervisors has amended the Sunshine Ordinance by adding provision 67A.1. The provision is effective as of January 21, 2001.

The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers, and similar sound producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager or other similar sound-producing electronic devices.

To review or obtain documents referred to on agenda, contact Susan Murphy at 25 Van Ness Ave, Room 130, San Francisco, CA 94102; phone: 415-252-2570, fax: 415-252-2575.

Attention: Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance (SF Admin Code 16.520 - 16.534) to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the Ethics Commission at 1390 Market Street #701, San Francisco, CA 94102, telephone 415-554-9510, fax 415-703-0121 and web site http://www.ci.sf.ca.us/ethics/.

Meeting Information