San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission
Full Commission Hearing

 

1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Vice Chair Paz called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. and asked for a moment of silence in honor of late Mayor Edwin M. Lee.

Present: Chair Kennelly (5:40), Vice Chair Paz, Commissioners Fujii, Kong, Radwan, Ricarte, Roy (5:45), Wang (5:48), Wong.

Not present: Commissioners Enssani (excused), Gaime (excused), Gurvits (excused), Khojasteh (excused), Rahimi.

Staff present: Executive Director Pon, Commission Clerk Shore, Senior Communications Specialist Richardson.

 

2. Public Comment
There was no public comment.

Chair Kennelly presided for the remainder of the meeting.

 

3. Action Item: Approval of previous minutes and ad-hoc committee guidelines
This item was heard out of order.

a. Approval of November 13, 2017 Full Commission Meeting Minutes
Chair Kennelly invited the Commission to review the minutes from November 13, 2017. Vice Chair Paz made a motion to approve the minutes. Commissioner Roy seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.

b. Approval of Ad-Hoc Committee Guidelines
Chair Kennelly invited the Commission to review and discuss the ad-hoc committee guidelines and templates prepared by Staff. Commissioner Roy made a motion to approve the guidelines. Commissioner Kong seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.

 

4. Ad-Hoc Committee Report Back
(Information/Discussion/Action)

a. Safety Net
Commissioner Radwan stated that the meeting would be rescheduled.

b. Comprehensive Immigration Reform (Clean DREAM Act)
There was no update.

c. Unaccompanied Minors
There was no update.

d.   Muslim Ban
There was no update.

 

5. Policy & Legislative Updates
Director Pon provided an update on the cancelation of Temporary Protected Status for immigrants from El Salvador.

Director Pon led a brief discussion on strategies that the Commission could take in response to policy and administrative changes, for example making a bold statement in the annual report rather than reacting each time to a multitude of changes. She stated that staff would provide Commissioners with information on immigration policies to discuss at the Retreat. Director Pon noted that the annual report committee needs to move forward in its planning and execution.

Chair Kennelly stated that she would take time to review the policy changes and would discuss issuing a larger statement at the Executive Committee meeting before bringing it to the Full Commission for their approval.

 

6. Old Business
Chair Kennelly thanked Director Pon and OCEIA staff for hosting a successful Consular Corps Holiday Reception.

a. Staff Report
Director Pon provided an update on the challenges in planning for the 2020 Census. Chair Kennelly stated that the Commission would be happy to help.

Director Pon thanked the Commissioners who had completed the mandatory harassment prevention training and asked those who had not yet completed the training to speak with the Clerk.

b. IRC Retreat & Elections Update
Director Pon announced that the Annual Planning Retreat and Officer Elections are scheduled to occur on February 12, 2018, from 1:00 to 6:00 pm. Director Pon stated that she would provide Commissioners with information on the elections process prior to the meeting. Director Pon encouraged Commissioners to RSVP for the retreat and fill out the pre-retreat survey by January 12 to share what they would like to cover during the retreat.

c. Calendar Reminders
Director Pon invited Clerk Shore to highlight important dates on the calendar. Clerk Shore noted the special meetings in February and June, and the rescheduled October meeting. Director Pon noted that rescheduling is suggested for the November meeting.

d. Annual Immigrant Leadership Awards
Director Pon stated that Chair Kennelly would appoint an annual event committee to plan the upcoming Immigrant Leadership Awards in June. Chair Kennelly invited any Commissioners interested in planning the Immigrant Leadership Awards event to submit their names to be appointed to the committee.

 

7. New Business
There was no new business.

 

8. Adjournment
Chair Kennelly adjourned the meeting at 6:15 p.m.