REDISTRICTING TASK FORCE
CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO
MINUTES
Auditorium, George Washington High School Auditorium
600 32nd Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94121
Saturday, February 11, 2012 – 2:00 PM
Special Meeting
Members: Chair Eric McDonnell, Vice Chair Jenny Lam,
Mike Alonso, Myong Leigh, Sonia Melara, Marily Mondejar,
David Pilpel, Mark Schreiber, Melissa Tidwell
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
The meeting was called to order at 2:13 p.m. On the call of the roll, the following members were absent: Vice Chair Lam and Members Alonso Mondejar, and Tidwell. Member Pilpel, seconded by Member Melara, moved to excuse Members Alonso, Mondejar and Tidwell from attending today’s meeting.
Motion passed without objection.
Vice Chair Lam noted was present at 2:27 p.m.
2. Mapping. (2:14 p.m. to 3:51 p.m.)
The Task Force received public input and did not made modifications to the February 6, 2012 working draft map.
Public Comment:
District 1 Supervisor Eric Mar complimented the Task Force for listening to the public and having meetings in the community. Supervisor Mar stated that there was some discussion about dividing Golden Gate Park into three districts. He stated that it is a challenge for one Supervisor to meet the needs of Golden Gate Park. He stated that he feels very close to the inner part of Golden Gate Park, but realized that the Task Force has to be careful when drawing the of Golden Gate Park lines. He also stated that demographics and socioeconomic interests within census blocks are critical parts in drawing lines.
Bernard Choden, San Francisco Tomorrow, stated that if the Task Force divided Golden Gate Park it would be dividing a community of interest. He thanked the Task Force for keeping Japantown united in District 5. He expressed concern that the Task Force has divided many ethnic cultures in various districts as shown on the February 6, 2012 working draft map.
Paul Kozaiaewicz, Richmond Review Newspaper, stated that Lake Street, Sea Cliff, and the area between California and Lake Streets should be in District 1. Those areas are part of the Richmond District because they use the same schools, markets, and other services.
Don Asumi, District 1 resident, stated that Lake Street, and Sea Cliff, and the area between California and Lake Streets should be in District 2 because those areas share more in common with District 2 than they share with the working families in the Richmond District. He also stated that if District 1 is to expand he requested that the Task Force include Japantown.
Paul Slaten, Richmond District resident, stated that communities of interest in the Richmond District are divided by Park Presidio Boulevard. He stated that political gerrymandering should not be the reason to draw district lines and that the reason for drawing lines should be to keep communities of interest together.
Larry Griffin, District 5 resident, Booker T. Washington Community Service Center Board member, requested that the Task Force make Booker T. Washington Community Service Center be part of District 5. He stated that this community does not have anything in common with District 2 residents. He suggested that Presidio Avenue would be a good dividing line between Districts 2 and 5. He also stated that an even better dividing line between Districts 2 and 5 would be the north side of Sutter.
Lois Scott, Western Addition and Laguna Heights resident, and Cathedral Hill Neighborhood Association, requested that the Task Force not divide Cathedral Hill.. She requested that the Task Force keep Japantown in District 5, and this would allow residents of Japantown and Cathedral Hill to address issues together related to the proposed California Pacific Medical Center project. She stated that the project would impact the entire area in terms of transportation, jobs, and the look of the neighborhood.
Eddie On, District 1 resident, requested that the Task Force move the District 1 boundaries to Broderick and Divisadero and include the Anza Vista neighborhood and Western Addition housing projects in District 1 in order to keep the communities of working class people together in District 1. He requested that the Task Force keep Sea Cliff in District 2 because the demographics of that neighborhood are very different from those of District 1.
Rose Hillson requested that the Task Force keep Jordan Park and Laurel Heights in District 2.
Dr. Justin Morgan, District 5 resident, requested that the Task Force keep the Booker T. Washington Community Service Center and Westside Courts public housing project in District 5. He stated that the residents of these communities share an interest in common with and use the same services as residents in District 5. He provided a proposed map for District 5.
Richard Rothman requested that the Task Force keep Sea Cliff in District 2 because its residents have high incomes and share little in common with the residents of District 1.
Jean Barish, requested that the Task Force keep Sea Cliff in District 1 because its residents shop and drive on Geary. She also stated that she is opposed to having Golden Gate Park in more than one district and that Golden Gate Park needs to remain whole and intact.
Hiroshi Fukuda, Japantown Better Neighborhoods Planning Committee, requested that the Task Force keep Japantown in District 5. He supported having Booker T. Washington Community Service Center, Westside Courts public housing project, the Western Addition Library, and Hamilton Recreation Center in District 5. The African American community has been historically and culturally connected to the Asian American community in Japantown since World War II.
Wayne Todda supported keeping Japantown in District 5 along with Booker T. Washington Community Service Center, Westside Courts public housing project, Western Addition Library, and the Hamilton Recreation Center.
Pat Scott, President, Booker T. Washington Community Service Center, stated that the community of Booker T. Washington Community Service Center has more in common with the residents of District 5 than those of District 2. She stated that currently in District 5 there is an out flux of middle class African Americans, leaving many elderly in District 5. The Japanese American and African American communities work together to provide services to the elderly. There are also many children who are from low-income families and use services in both communities. She also stated that she has worked with both district Supervisors and was able to resolve issues with the District 5 Supervisor because of the communities of interest which he served in District 5.
Rich Worner, Jordan Park Improvement Association, requested that the Task Force keep Jordan Park in District 2 along with the Presidio Heights, Pacific Heights and Laurel Heights. He also stated that Sea Cliff is not part of Jordan Park's community.
Wendy Aragon, Richmond District Democratic Club, requested that the Task Force keep Sea Cliff in District 2. She stated that the Richmond District is more of a working class neighborhood and can relate to each other and maintain a strong voting power.
Chris Bowman, 1995 Redistricting Task Force member, requested that the Task Force keep Sea Cliff united in one district.
Barry Lee, Richmond District resident, requested that the Task Force move Sea Cliff back to District 1.
Otto Duffy, North of Market resident, suggested proposed areas to move district lines for District 6.
Former District 1 Supervisor Jake McGoldrick, Richmond District Democratic Club, stated that the February 6, 2012 working draft map seemed to keep communities of interest together. He stated that the Richmond District is made up of two-thirds tenants who are not in the top 1%. He stated that moving the boundaries eastward towards Broderick and Divisadero is the right way to go. He also stated that keeping Golden Gate Park unified is a good idea.
Dan Dodt, District 10 resident, thanked the Task Force for uniting Potrero Hill and Bay View Hunters Point in District 10, as shown on the February 6, 2012 working draft map. He expressed concern with the central waterfront area being in District 6 and stated that there is a proposed recycling project for the central waterfront area. He stated that all studies which have been made have included this area in District 10. He requested that the Task Force keep the central waterfront in District 10.
Katherine Howard, Golden Gate Preservation Alliance, requested that the Task Force keep Golden Gate Park whole in District 1.
Walter Caplan, Forest Knolls Neighborhood Association, thanked the Task Force for keeping Forest Knolls and West of Twin Peaks in District 7 as shown on the February 6, 2012 working draft map. He provided the Task Force with information related to open space and trail projects proposed for West of Twin Peaks and stated that connections to parks, bike paths, and other open spaces keep the area residents connected. He also stated that Golden Gate Park should remain intact in one District.
Kristine Zaback, President, Forest Knolls Associations thanked the Task Force for keeping Forest Knolls in District 7 as shown on the February 6, 2012 current working draft map. She discussed some of the environmental projects in the Westside of the City.
Tess Welborn, Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council, requested that the Task Force move Booker T. Washington Community Service Center, Hamilton Recreation Center, Westside Courts public housing project, and the Western Addition Library to District 5 and keep these communities of interest united. She also requested that 55 Laguna be in District 5. She stated that the Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council had worked for over 10 years to address issues related to traffic, redesign of the Market Octavia plan, and the development of the 55 Laguna site. She stated that the LGBT Center could remain in District 8 but requested that 55 Laguna be in District 5.
Richard Correia, District 1 resident, requested that the Task Force make the City sacred in redistricting. He requested that the Task Force preserve the connections of the neighborhoods through schools, shops, transportation, recreation, fire, and other services shared by neighborhoods.
David Heller, President, Geary Boulevard Merchants and Property Owners Association, requested that the Task Force move Sea Cliff to District 1 because Sea Cliff residents shop on Geary.
3. Task Force Budget. (3:51 p.m. to 3:52 p.m.)
The Task Force did not discuss its current budget and expenses.
Public Comment: None
4. Community Outreach. (3:52 p.m. to 3:54 p.m.) Vice Chair Lam informed the Task Force that she and Member Melara have been in discussion with a vendor for outreach services. These services would include telephone outreach and automatic-dial calling and would be targeted to those individuals hardest to reach in specific communities. She is hopeful to have a proposal for the February 17, 2012 Task Force meeting. Chair McDonnell informed the Task Force that Member Mondejar is also reviewing vendors for ethnic media services, and may have some information for the February 17, 2012 Task Force meeting.
Public Comment:
A female speaker requested that future Redistricting Task Force meeting agendas have only one address listed.
5. Approval of Redistricting Task Force Minutes. (3:56 p.m. to 3:58 p.m.)
Member Schreiber, seconded by Member Pilpel, moved to continue the approval of the minutes for the January 26, 2012 meeting to the February 17, 2012 meeting
Motion passed without objection.
6. Task Force Member Reports. (3:58 p.m. to 3:59 p.m.)
Member Schreiber informed the Task Force that he made a presentation to the Human Rights Commission on redistricting at their February 9, 2012 meeting.
7. Public Comment. (3:59 p.m.)
None
8. Future Agenda Items. (3:59 p.m. to 4:01 p.m.)
Chair McDonnell requested that the Mapping, Task Force Budget, Community Outreach, and Minutes, along with the regular items be on the next agenda.
Public Comment: None
9. Adjournment.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:01 p.m.
