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COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Members Present Staff Present
President Angela Williams Executive Director Emily Murase, Ph.D.
Vice President Katherine Munter Grants Administrator Richard Eijima
Commissioner Dorka Keehn Justice & Courage Analyst Colleen Montoya
Commissioner Jing Xu Lee Policy Analyst Carol Sacco
Commissioner Carolene Marks Commission Secretary Cynthia Vasquez
Commissioner Katherine Munter Department Intern Miwa Hashimoto
I. CALL TO ORDER/AGENDA CHANGES
President Williams called the meeting to order at 5:03 pm.
Action: Approved agenda. m/s/c/ (Shorter/Lee/Unanimous). No public comment.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Action: Approved draft minutes from September 27, 2006. m/s/c/ (Williams/Munter/Unanimous).
No public comment.
III. PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President Williams reported that, on October 3, the Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women in partnership with the San Francisco 49ers, held a successful community event where team members of the 49ers served dinner at the Gum Moon Women's Residence in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. President Williams also reported that, on October 12, the Sweatfree Procurement Advisory Group met to discuss the MUNI uniform contract. Per the authorizing legislation, the Advisory Group must approve the contract. This would then make MUNI uniforms in San Francisco free of sweatshop labor.
President Williams announced that she will assist the Mayor's Office of Community Development's Women's Micro-Enterprise initiative.
On October 20, President Williams and Vice President Katherine Munter, met with the DOSW funded agencies to get acquainted with the agencies, get a brief background on services, and hear from agencies about key issues. The Commissioners encouraged collaborations between agencies and committed to continuing a dialogue on key issues that their clients face.
IV. EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS REPORT
A. Executive Director
Executive Director Murase referred Commissioners to her written report, but highlighted the 2006 Combined Charities Campaign which raises money for numerous non-profit organizations in our community. Dr. Murase was pleased to report that 100% staff participation and she urged full participation from Commissioners
Dr. Murase was also pleased to propose a 20% overall increase to FY05-06 grant allocations, subject to approval at this evening's meeting.
Dr. Murase wished to acknowledge Department staff members Richard Eijima and Carol Sacco who were nominees for the 2006 Public Managerial Excellence Award, given annually to honor outstanding City employees who demonstrate exceptional leadership.
V. CONSENT AGENDA
All matters listed hereunder constitute a Consent Agenda and are considered to be routine by the Commission on the Status of Women. They will be acted upon by a single roll call vote of the Commission. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the Commission so requests, in which event the matter shall be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered as a separate item. Members of the public may speak on each item listed on the Consent Agenda.
Action: Approved Consent Agenda. m/s/c (Marks/Munter/Unanimous)
- Res. 2006-049: Resolution Recognizing October as Latino Heritage Month
- Res. 2006-050: Resolution Recognizing November 2006 as National American Indian Alaska Native Heritage Month
- Res. 2006-051: Resolution Recognizing the Inaugural San Francisco "Walk to Cure Lupus" Event on
November 4
- Res. 2006-052: Resolution Marking the 16th Anniversary of the 16Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign
- Res. 2006-053: Resolution Recognizing the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce's National Congress on the Economic Advancement of Women
- Res. 2006-054: Resolution Recognizing Rina Bar-Tal and Tali Sachar with the Israel Women's Network
- Res. 2006-055: Resolution Recognizing the 10th Anniversary of the California Coalition for Women Prisoners' Newsletter "The Fire Inside"
- Violence Against Women Prevention and Intervention Grants Allocations for FY06-07
President Williams presented Juana Flores with the resolution acknowledging her exceptional work with the Latino community and with Mujeres Unidas y Activas on the occasion of Latino Heritage Month
VI. NEW BUSINESS
A. Bank of San Francisco Program
Leigh Phillips with the Office of the Treasurer and Tax Collector presented the Bank on San Francisco Program, initiated by the City Treasurer and Tax Collectors Office. This program is the first of its kind and was launched in September 2006. Bank on San Francisco is a program that is collaboratively working with a variety of well known banking institutions to allow San Franciscans the opportunity to open bank accounts rather than using check cashing stores that charge exhorbitant fees and interest rates. Participating banks have agreed to develop a checkless low-cost bank account with a commitment to accept alternate forms of identification to open accounts such as the Mexican Matricula Consular Card and other foreign identification. This program will also allow people who have mismanaged accounts in the past to open new accounts. The Treasurer's office is marketing in targeted, low-income neighborhoods to increase the visibility the program in San Francisco and develop new strategies to reach unbanked customers in low-income neighborhoods. Materials are available in English, Spanish and Chinese. Other languages will be available soon.
Commissioners were pleased to hear of the outreach to low-income residents. They expected this program to be of particular assistance to low-income single mothers. President Williams suggested promoting the program to community-based organizations, including the Department's Partner Agencies, to make sure that their clients are aware of the Bank on San Francisco Program.
B. One-Stop Employment Consortium
Edwin Florentino, Marketing Manager with the San Francisco One-Stop Employment Consortium reviewed the partners of the Consortium which include the San Francisco Human Services Agency, City College of San Francisco, and the California Employment Development Department, among others. There are 3 operating One-Stop Centers: Mission Center at 3120 Mission Street, South East Center at 1800 Oakdale, and the Civic Center at 801 Turk Street. The One-Stop Centers provide an easy and simple process to connect employers and job seekers which include: business services, employment services, access to training programs, and access to computers, faxes, and copiers. There are also a variety of other programs collocated at the One Stop Centers such as: Cal-Works Services, Food Stamps Program, Child & Family Support Services, and direct access to community programs, services, and organizations.
C. Local Business Ordinance
Maria Cordero, Contract Compliance Officer with the Human Rights Commission (HRC), reviewed the new Local Business Ordinance. Due to the invalidation of San Francisco's preferences for minority-owned and women-owned businesses by the courts, the Board of Supervisors passed a new ordinance, signed by the Mayor, for the HRC to certify locally-owned businesses that would qualify for preferences. While the HRC continues to gather data on minority-owned and women-owned businesses, Ms. Cordero reported that, due to federal regulations, businesses cannot identify as both minority-owned and women-owned businesses. Commissioners expressed grave concern over this inability to collect valuable data. Executive Director Murase offered to follow up with Aileen Hernandez who was instrumental in the development of the new ordinance.
D. Small Business Commission
Agnes Briones Ubalde, Director of the Office of Small Business & Small Business Commission reported that the agency's mission is to foster, promote, and retain small businesses in San Francisco. Currently the Small Business Commission assists with outreach and education to merchants by providing information and referrals to local, state and federal government assistance programs, managing and providing free online-listings of available property for commercial spaces through SFProspector, and reviewing and initiating local policy initiatives. Currently, the Office of Small Business has 2 full-time staff members; however, the office works in collaboration and coordination with other city departments such as the Mayor's Office of Community Development, and the Treasurer/Tax Collector.
The Small Business Commission meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of every month at City Hall in Room 400.
Commissioners requested information on how many small business are women owned in San Francisco. However, the Small Business Commission is unable to provide that data as it is voluntary information provided when applying for a business license. Commissioners feel that data should be compiled to reflect how many small businesses are women- owned and run.
Ms. Ubalde-Briones also reported that she would be assisting the Mayor's Office of Community Development's initiative on women's micro-enterprise.
Commissioner Marks who is a member of the San Francisco Health Access Program (SFHAP) Advisory Committee hopes to work closely with the Small Business Commission to determine how the Mayor's initiative to provide health care to all San Franciscan's would affect small business owners.
E. 49ers Diversity Initiatives
Lisa Lang, Vice President of Communications for the 49ers, reviewed the Community Outreach Campaign for the 2006 Respect Campaign. The 49ers have a 15-member Community Advisory Panel to ensure that the 49ers community outreach activities are successful and have a positive impact on their fan base. The 49ers are advocating the value of respect in 3 important areas of their lives: families, schools, and communities. This season, the 49ers have had a variety of game day activities, halftime shows, and community outreach projects which include: Latino Heritage Day, Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Day, LGBT Community Outreach, and Founding Fathers Day as part of family violence prevention.
Ms. Lang also reported success with the limited time sales of the RESPECT Rim hats that are being sold at each game. All proceeds will go to the 49ers Foundation in support of the San Francisco Domestic Violence Consortium and Partners Ending Domestic Abuse. She expressed hope to possibly begin selling the RESPECT hat as regular merchandise throughout the year.
F. Department of Elections
Linda Tulett, Deputy Director of the Department of Elections reviewed the different deadlines for election purposes.
· October 31 Deadline for Absentee Ballots
· November 7 Election Day (Polls open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm)
Ms. Tulett reported that there is a 5 member outreach team which focuses on non-English speaking communities. The language background of these team members are 1 Spanish, 2 Chinese, 1 Russian, and 2 English. Voting materials are available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Russian.
Ms. Tulett also reported that the "Safe at Home" project is available to domestic violence victims. This program is sponsored by the Secretary of State and enables individuals who wish to remain anonymous to request that ballots be sent to a private post office box.
VII. PUBLIC COMMENT
Victoria Powell with the Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP) hopes to work in collaboration with the Commission on upcoming events they are sponsoring.
Daisy Anarchy with Sex Workers Organized for Labor, Human and Civil Rights expressed her grievances with SWOP and concern for the Commission's support for any SWOP activities.
VIII. REPORTS
A. Health
Commissioner Marks has been appointed to the San Francisco Health Access Program (SFHAP) Advisory Committee. The Committee is currently looking at for a connection to the Small Business community to further discuss the impact of Health Care Access for All. Department Intern Miwa Hashimoto is still gathering information and surveys on the Cancer Detection Program: Every Woman Counts and hopes to be able to report back to the Commission at a future meeting.
B. Justice & Courage
Policy Analyst Colleen Montoya reported that the Safety and Accountability Audit concluded, after over 60 interviews and observation of different departments. She is now working on analyzing the data and meeting with the different department heads to review the results.
Ms. Montoya also reported that Department Intern Laura Marshall is working on the Domestic Violence Response Cross-Training Institute Evaluator Request for Proposal which will be released on Monday, November 6.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 pm.
Action: Adjourn meeting. m/s/c (Marks/Lee/Unanimous)
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.
Explanatory documents: For copies of explanatory documents listed in this agenda, and other related materials received by COSW, please contact the Department on the Status of Women at 25 Van Ness Ave, 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.sfgov.org/cosw.
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Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Requirements
Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign & Governmental Conduct Code § 2.100] to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the San Francisco Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102; telephone 415-581-2300; fax 415-581-2317; web site: sfgov.org/ethics.
