REDISTRICTING TASK FORCE
CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO
MINUTES
Hall of Flowers
9th Avenue and Lincoln Way.
San Francisco, CA 94102-4689
November 15, 2011– 6:00 P.M.
Special Meeting
Members: Eric McDonnell, Chair, Jenny Lam, Vice Chair, Member Alonso, Member Leigh, Member Melara, Member Mondejar. Member Schreiber, Member Tidwell
1. Call to Order and Roll Call (6:09 p.m. to 6:10 p.m.)
The meeting was called to order at 6:09 p.m. On the call of the roll, Members Leigh and Tidwell were noted absent. Member Tidwell was noted present at 6:13 p.m.
Member Pilpel, seconded by Member Mondejar, moved to excuse Member Leigh.
Motion passed without objection.
2. Introduction to Redistricting (6:11 p.m. to 7:08 p.m.)
Karin MacDonald, Project Manager and Senior Redistricting Consultant for Q2 Data & Research presented a slide presentation on the redistricting process. Chair McDonnell asked the public for questions relating to clarification of the redistricting process.
Public Comment:
Mike Sullivan, Parnassus Heights/Cole Valley, requested to keep Parnassus neighborhood together. This area was split in the last redistricting process between District 5 and District 7. He stated that one block of Edgewood Avenue is currently in District 7, even though it is part of a District 5 neighborhood and separated by Mt. Sutro from the rest of District 7. He also requested that Sea Cliff area be in District 1 rather than in District 2 because of its geographic proximity.
Linda Post, asked questions relating to the communication outreach process being used for notifying the public of the Task Force meetings and information relating to the process.
May Wong, Excelsior District Improvement Association, informed Task Force members that many members of the public do not have internet access to receive communications and notices electronically. She requested that hard copies be made available to the public.
Karen Mauney-Brodek, President Hayes/Valley Neighborhood Association, informed the Task Force members of the major changes in Hayes Valley and Western Addition neighborhoods. She indicated that she would submit her proposals in writing to the Task Force.
Thea Selby, Lower Haight Merchant & Neighborhood Association, requested that the Lower Haight area remain whole. This area was split between District 5 and District 8. She asked that the neighborhood be kept together, either in District 5 or District 8, when the Task Force draws new district boundaries.
Marge Hom-Brown, Planning Association for the Richmond District, stated that in her experience working in the community, residents of Lake Street consider themselves (and are considered by their neighbors) part of the Richmond District community. She submitted a letter with proposals to reunite the Richmond District.
Jonathan Lyons, advocate for disability community, requested that Sea Cliff area be in District 1 rather than in District 2 because the natural physical boundaries of the Richmond neighborhood are the Presidio and Golden Gate Park.
Chair McDonnell requested that members of the public submit, in writing, to the Task Force their proposals for redistricting of their neighborhoods.
3. Presentation by former RDTF Member and current District 1 Supervisor Eric Mar (7:09 p.m. to 7:23 p.m.)
Supervisor Eric Mar shared with Task Force members his experiences as a past member of the Redistricting Task Force (Elections Task Force). He encouraged members to be open and democratic in resolving issues which might arise during the redistricting process and provide broad community outreach.
Task Force members asked Supervisor Mar questions relating to his experience on the task force which would assist them to make this redistricting process a smooth and effective process.
Supervisor Mar explained that Sea Cliff residents have close ties to District 2 based on wealth and social circles.
Public Comment:
Chris Bowman, informed the Task Force members of the redistricting decisions made by the 1995 Task Force members relating to Districts 1, 2, 5, 7, and 8. He also stated that residents of Sea Cliff are twice as likely to be registered Republicans than residents of District 1.
4. Data Sources and Criteria for District Boundaries (7:24 p.m. to 7:39 p.m.)
The Task Force discussed and reviewed the required criteria, optional additional criteria, and data sources with Karin MacDonald, Project Manager and Senior Redistricting Consultant for Q2 Data & Research. Member Melara raised the question whether or not it was a criterion that an incumbent member of the Board of Supervisors must remain in his/her current district. Deputy City Attorney Jon Givner indicated that the Task Force is not required to consider the residency of current Supervisors.
Public Comment:
May Wong, Excelsior District Improvement Association, inquired as to what are the criteria used for setting boundaries or drawing lines in open-space and parks and referred to McClaren Park. Karin MacDonald, Consultant, reviewed the criteria used to determine the drawing of lines for open space and parks.
Glen Van Lehn, District 5, inquired as to what is the size of a census block in San Francisco.
Karin MacDonald, Consultant, gave an approximate size of the census block and indicated she would need to research the exact size of a census block in San Francisco.
Richard Magary, Buena Vista Neighborhood Association (BVNA), requested that all parks should remain in the same District and not be split.
5. Community Outreach. (7:39 p.m. to 7:55 p.m.)
The Task Force discussed community meetings and other outreach activities, including but not limited to a proposal to cancel the regularly scheduled meeting of December 7, 2011 and hold a Special Off-Site meeting on December 7, 2011 at 6 p.m. at Horace Mann Middle School Auditorium.
Member Pilpel, seconded by Member Melara, moved to cancel the Regular Meeting on December 7, 2011, and schedule a Special Off-Site Meeting on December 7, 2011 at Horace Mann Middle School. at 6: 00 p.m.
Motion passed without objection.
Members provided the following as resources for outreach: SFGovTV, Channel 26 KTSF, ethnic media, outreach newspapers, social media, the Board of Supervisors neighborhood contacts, Department of Elections outreach agencies, youth organizations and the Youth Commission.
Chair McDonnell made the following Task Force member assignments:
Member Mondejar was assigned to be in charge of communications, specifically, outreach to the ethnic media.
Member Tidwell was assigned to provide a schedule of meetings for future off-site meetings for the Task Force.
Public Comment:
Chris Wright, stated that neighborhood blogs are also a form of social media that the Task Force should consider using in its outreach efforts.
Joaquin Torres, Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, stated that reaching out to friends and associates through social networking sites (Facebook, linkedIn, etc) would be helpful to inform the public.
Glen Van-Lehn, District 5, stated that City College and State College newsletters and newspapers are a good resource for outreach.
RECESS
The Task Force recessed at the hour of 7:55 p.m., and reconvened at the hour of
8:05 p.m.
6. Approval of RDTF Minutes of October 21, 2011 (8:05 p.m. to 8:08 p.m.)
Member Pilpel provided corrections to the Clerk.
Member Melara, seconded by Member Tidwell, moved to approve the minutes of
October 21, 2011 as corrected.
Motion passed without objection.
Public Comment: None
7. Task Force Member Reports (8:09 p.m. to 8:11 p.m.)
Members reported on discussions with the public or public officials concerning the Task Force's future work.
Member Pilpel reported he had spoken at the Diamond Heights Association on
October 13, 2011 and also to West of Twin Peaks Central Council on October 28, 2011.
Member Melara reported that she had sent hundreds of emails to interested parties informing them of the November 2, 2011 meeting followed by the cancelling of the November 2, 2011 meeting and confirming the December 7, 2011 meeting at Horace Mann Middle School.
Chair McDonnell informed the Task Force Members that he had spoken with members of the Board of Supervisors, and had requested their assistance in promoting the community outreach meetings. Supervisor Carmen Chu indicated neighborhood associations in her district would be interesting in having a presentation relating to the redistricting process.
Public Comment: None
8. Public Comment: (8:10 p.m. to 8:11 p.m.)
Public Comment: None
9. Future Agenda Items (8:10 p.m. to 8:14 p.m
Member Melara requested that an item relating to the scheduling of future meetings be on the November 30, 2011 agenda.
Member Pilpel inquired if they were any outstanding matters the Task Force had requested which were still pending.
Public Comment: None
10. Adjournment
The Meeting adjourned at the hour of 8:15 p.m.
