January 04, 2012

Marily Mondejar, David Pilpel, Mark Schreiber, Melissa Tidwell

1. Call to Order and Roll Call (6:10 p.m. - 6:11 p.m.)
The meeting was called to order at 6:10 p.m. On the call of the roll, Member Melara was noted absent. .

2. Approval of RDTF Minutes of December 7, 2011 (6:11 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.)
Member Pilpel, seconded by Member Leigh, moved to approve the December 7, 2011 minutes with corrections. Task Force members requested that the minutes also reflect that Member was excused from the meeting.
Public Comment:
Judy Berkowitz, Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods and East Mission Improvement Association, provided additional corrections to the minutes.
Motion to approve the December 7, 2011 minutes with corrections passed without objection.

3. Mapping (6:15 p.m. - 8:55 p.m.)
The Task Force reviewed the visualization maps it had requested the consultant to prepare. The Task Force created a draft working map to be used at future meetings.
Public Comment:
Frank Cannata, Middle Polk Neighborhood Association, requested to move the Polk Street Corridor (Van Ness Avenue to Hyde Street and Union Street to Geary Street) back into District 3 as shown on visualization map #7. He stated that if the Polk Street corridor were divided it would make it more difficult to keep it a vibrant corridor.
Donna Trennert, Chair, Middle Polk Neighborhood Association, requested to move the Polk Street Corridor back into District 3 as shown on visualization map #7. She stated that Middle Polk Street has nothing in common with the Sea Cliff area.
Ron Case requested to keep lower the Polk neighborhood in District 3 as shown on visualization #7. He stated that over 50% of that area is below middle-class and has nothing in common with the area to the west.
District 3 Supervisor David Chiu supported keeping the lower and middle Polk Street area in District 3. He stated that lower Polk Street has a significant number of communities of interest and that this area is one of the densest neighborhoods in the City. The area shares a merchant quarter, an entertainment district, and transit lines and the crime and public safety issues are different from those in District 2.
Supervisor Chiu also supported comments made related to redrawing of redistricting lines, which may affect the Filipino community, the Portola, and the Western Addition areas.
Judy Berkowitz, Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods and East Mission Improvement Association, requested to set the east border of District 9 at the 101 (James Lick Freeway) and the south border of District 9 at the Southern 280 Freeway. It is currently divided and with the above changes it will give back a community of interest.
Chris Bowman, member of the 1995 Redistricting Task Force, expressed concern with the 10 visualization maps presented. He suggested that Russian Hill be in District 3 and keep the Portola intact.
Ron Kingston, San Francisco Association of Realtors, provided the Task Force with maps used by San Francisco Realtors to identify neighborhoods. He will submit proposals for suggested redistricting lines at a later date.
Joe Boss requested that Potrero Hill and the Bayview not be divided. He urged the Task Force to keep Sunnydale in District 10 and noted that most new housing units to be built in the City are in District 10. He stated that there is a need to keep the Portola district united.
Matt Chamberlain, West of Twin Peaks Central Council, stated that if the West of Twin Peaks area was divided into 3 districts it would make it difficult to work with 3 different Supervisors. This could cause a quorum problem when Supervisors attend neighborhood association meetings. He will submit maps at a later date.
Rudy Asercion, Executive Director, West Bay Center Filipino Center, stated that the Filipino community is underrepresented in San Francisco and urged the Task Force to keep this vital community of interest in District 11. He stated that the Filipino community is declining in population in San Francisco due to under representation and population shifts. He encouraged the Task Force to keep this vital community united in District 11.
Terence Faulkner stated that the Filipino community is a distinct group and with a heavy Catholic background Parish lines should be taken into consideration when drawing district lines. He requested that the Filipino community remain united in District 11.

RECESS
The Task Force recessed at 8:45 p.m. and reconvened at 8:55 p.m.

4. Task Force Budget Update (8:55 p.m. – 9:04 p.m.)
The Task Force reviewed their budget and expenditures to date. The Task Force discussed various options to obtain additional funding.
Public Comment: None

5. Community Outreach (9:09 p.m. – 9:26 p.m.)
The Task Force discussed and evaluated past outreach activities and efforts and identified opportunities for improvement. Task Force members were assigned specific districts to review public comments and suggestions submitted for the redrawing of district lines. Each member will then summarize their districts’ submittals on a template to be prepared by Task Force Member Leigh.
Member Tidwell - Districts 1 & 4
Member Schreiber - District 2
Member Mondejar - District 3
Chair McDonnell - Districts 5 & 10
Vice Chair Lam - District 6
Member Pilpel - District 7
Member Melara - District 8
Member Alonso - District 9
Member Leigh - District 11
Public Comment:
Chris Bowman requested the Task Force to use different colors to track additions and deletions to the working draft maps.
Joseph Peralta, Asian Journal, suggested having a transparent overlay to place on maps when changes are made so that the public can see the current map as it changes.

6. Task Force Member Reports (9:27 p.m. – 9:36 p.m.)
Members reported on their work assignments and discussions with members of the public or public officials regarding the future work of the Task Force.
Member Schreiber reported that the District Builder program is on hold pending the Advancement Project proposal.
Member Pilpel reported that he had been invited by David Latterman to participate in a forum on the redistricting process at UC Hastings College of Law on January 28, 2012.
He also requested copies of the new Congressional and Assembly maps for San Francisco.
Member Mondejar reported that she had prepared and distributed releases to the ethnic media. She has also been invited to make a presentation on the redistricting process at the Assembly District 17 meeting on January 22, 2012.
Vice Chair Lam reported that the Advancement Project proposal, which would allow the public to submit maps to the Task Force was moving forward. She reviewed the capabilities of the proposal.
Member Leigh reported that he made a presentation to BOMA.
Member Alonso reported that he had contacted various non-profit organizations about using space for public terminals. Many were interested but there is a problem with staffing of these terminals.
Member Schreiber reported that the criteria for submission document is ready for approval by the Task Force.
Deputy City Attorney Mollie Lee informed the Task Force that the City Attorney’s Office has prepared a memorandum addressing certain residency questions raised by the Task Force and it that will be available before the next meeting.
Public Comment: None

7. Public Comment: (9:36 p.m.)
Members of the public may address the Redistricting Task Force on matters that are within the Task Force’s jurisdiction, but not on the agenda. There was none.

8. Future Agenda Items (9:37 p.m. – 9:40 p.m.)
Chair McDonnell stated that the standing items would be on the next agenda.
Vice Chair Lam requested that a presentation of the Advancement Project be on the next agenda.
Member Schreiber requested that the criteria for submission be on the next agenda for approval by the Task Force.
Public Comment: None

9. Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned of 9:40 p.m.