Note: As authorized by California Government Code Section 54953(e) and the Mayor’s 45th Supplement to her February 25, 2020 emergency proclamation, this meeting will be held remotely without providing a physical location. Members of the Immigrant Rights Commission will participate and vote by video. Members of the public may observe the meeting and provide public comment online. View instructions for providing public comment.

1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Chair Kennelly called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m.
Present: Chair Kennelly, Vice Chair Paz, Commissioners Ricarte, Souza.
Not present: Commissioner Khojasteh.
OCEIA staff present: Acting Director Whipple, Commission Clerk Shore, Operations and Grants Administrator Chan, Policy and Civic Engagement Officer Noonan.

2. Ramaytush Ohlone Land Acknowledgment
This item is to allow the Commission Chair to acknowledge that the Commission is on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula.

Chair Kennelly read the land acknowledgement statement.

3. Public Comment
This item is to allow members of the public to address the Commission on matters that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Commission and that do not appear on today’s agenda.

There was no public comment.

4. Action Item: Resolution to Allow Teleconferenced Meetings
(Discussion/Action)
a. Adoption of resolution making findings to allow teleconferenced meetings under California Government Code Section 54953(e)
Discussion and possible action to approve a resolution making findings to allow for continued remote meetings due to the COVID-19 emergency. Explanatory Document: Findings Resolution

Vice Chair Paz motioned to adopt the resolution, seconded by Commissioner Souza. Chair Kennelly called for public comment and there was no public comment on this item. The motion was adopted unanimously by the four Commissioners present.

5. Action Item: Approval of previous minutes
(Discussion/Action)
a. Approval of June 22, 2022 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes
Discussion and possible action to approve the minutes of the Immigrant Rights Commission’s Executive Committee meeting of June 22, 2022. Explanatory Document: June 22, 2022 Minutes

Commissioner Souza motioned to approve the minutes of the June 22, 2022 Executive Committee meeting, seconded by Vice Chair Paz. Chair Kennelly called for public comment and there was no public comment on this item. The motion was adopted unanimously by the four Commissioners present.

6. Discussion/Action Items
(Discussion/Action)
a. IRC Summer Schedule
Discussion and possible action by Chair Kennelly to decide whether to schedule the Full Commission meeting for August 8, 2022.

In response to a question from Chair Kennelly, Commission Clerk Shore provided an update on Commissioners’ availability for the Full Commission meeting scheduled for August 8, 2022. Chair Kennelly deferred the item until after the Executive Committee had discussed Item 6. Vice Chair Paz proposed that Chair Kennelly cancel the Full Commission meeting scheduled for August 8, 2022, and Commissioner Ricarte suggested that Commissioners be invited to join the Executive Committee meeting to help plan the special hearing. Chair Kennelly canceled the August 8, 2022 Full Commission meeting, rescheduled the Executive Committee meeting to August 17, 2022, and asked OCEIA staff to invite Commissioners to attend the Executive Committee meeting.

b. IRC Report
Discussion and possible action to approve the 2022 IRC Report, summarizing the Immigrant Rights Commission’s accomplishments throughout its history, its activities over the past year, and its recommendations to the City on how to improve the well-being of immigrants in San Francisco.

Chair Kennelly thanked OCEIA staff for writing and designing the IRC annual report. Acting Director Whipple noted that OCEIA staff had shared the report with the Executive Committee and had incorporated their feedback. Vice Chair Paz motioned to adopt the report as written, seconded by Commissioner Souza. Chair Kennelly called for public comment and there was no public comment on this item. The report was adopted unanimously by the four Commissioners present.

c. Proposed Letter to City College of San Francisco
Discussion and possible action on revised draft letter to City College of San Francisco in support of ESL, Cantonese and other language courses that serve immigrant students. This is a continuation of an item proposed by Commissioner Wang to write a letter in support of City College’s Cantonese program. The Executive Committee voted to approve the letter, and asked OCEIA to revise the letter to include broader language.

Acting Director Whipple provided an update on the Commission’s letter to City College. OCEIA staff revised the letter to include broader language as requested by the Executive Committee. Commissioner Ricarte motioned to approve the letter, seconded by Commissioner Souza. Chair Kennelly called for public comment and there was no public comment on this item. The motion was adopted unanimously by the four Commissioners present. Chair Kennelly directed OCEIA staff to send the letter on behalf of the Commission and to inform Commissioner Wang.

d. Proposed Statement/Letter on Resources for Newcomer Students
Discussion and possible action on proposed statement/letter on resources for newcomer students. This is a continuation of an item proposed by Commissioner Souza in response to reports of attacks at Everett Middle School. The Executive Committee voted to move forward with drafting a statement or letter around the provisioning of additional resources for newcomer students promoting the general safety of students within SFUSD.

Commissioner Souza provided an update on the proposed letter and asked that the item be added to the agenda of the next Executive Committee meeting.

e. Planning for IRC Hearing on Housing Discussion and possible action to plan the Commission’s hearing on housing scheduled for September 2022. This is a continuation of an item proposed by Commissioner Souza to hold a special hearing on the inclusion of immigrants in San Francisco’s plans for housing.

Chair Kennelly invited Commissioner Souza to provide an overview of the outline for the hearing. Commissioner Souza discussed the objectives of the hearing and potential invited speakers. Commissioners suggested additional speakers, and questions to include in the invitation. Commissioner Ricarte suggested that the Commission ask speakers to provide data in advance of the hearing, and Chair Kennelly said the Commission would ask speakers to submit their presentations in writing following the hearing. Chair Kennelly asked OCEIA staff to create the flyer.

7. Staff Reports
(Information/Discussion)
a. Director’s Updates
Report on OCEIA and IRC activities and announcements.

Acting Director Whipple provided updates on the ninth cohort of OCEIA’s DreamSF fellowship program, the recent San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative workshop at City College’s Chinatown/North Beach center, and OCEIA’s upcoming training for language access liaisons.

b. Reappointment Hearings
Report on Commissioners whose seats are up for reappointment and vacant seats.

Acting Director Whipple provided an update on Commission vacancies and four Board-appointed Commissioners whose seats are up for renewal.

8. Old Business
(Information/Discussion)
This item is to allow Commissioners to provide updates on items the Commission has previously discussed.

There was no old business.

9. New Business
(Information/Discussion)
This item is to allow Commissioners to introduce new agenda items for future consideration by the Commission.

Chair Kennelly asked about upcoming activities related to Citizenship Day. Acting Director Whipple noted that the San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship Initiative is planning a workshop on September 24, and OCEIA will plan a press release or possible press event. Chair Kennelly suggested that the Commission participate and be acknowledged for its support. She volunteered to connect with the Mayor’s Office, Speaker Pelosi’s Office and USCIS, and asked Commissioners for their ideas on messaging related to Citizenship Day.

10. Adjournment
Chair Kennelly adjourned the meeting at 6:49 p.m.