San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission
Full Commission Meeting Minutes

1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Vice Chair Paz called the meeting to order at 5:38 p.m.
Present: Vice Chair Paz, Commissioners Fujii, Gaime (5:42), Kong (late), Rahimi (late), Ricarte, Wang, Wong.
Not present: Chair Kennelly (excused), Commissioners Enssani (excused), Gurvits (excused), Khojasteh (excused), Radwan (excused), Roy.
Staff present: Director Pon, Commission Clerk Shore, Office Manager Chan, Communications Specialist Richardson.

2. Public Comment
Paul Monge, a former San Francisco Youth Commissioner, introduced himself and expressed interest in joining the Immigrant Rights Commission. Monge works with Compass Family Services, a non-profit organization that supports homeless families in San Francisco. The organization submitted a comment on the proposed changes to public charge. He stated that he was excited to support the work of the Commission.

Vice Chair Paz thanked him for his interest in the Commission.

3.  Action Item: Approval of previous minutes
(Information/Discussion/Action)
a. Approval of October 1, 2018 Full Commission Meeting Minutes
Vice Chair Paz deferred this item due to lack of quorum.

4. Commissioner Report-Backs
(Information/Discussion)
a. Visit to U.S.-Mexico Border (Vice Chair Paz)
Vice Chair Paz stated that he was unable to visit the U.S.-Mexico border in December, but Commissioner Khojasteh can provide an update of his experience at a future meeting.

b. Digital Equity Summit (Commissioner Radwan)
Vice Chair Paz deferred this item until a future meeting when Commissioner Radwan is present.

5. Staff Reports
(Information/Discussion/Action)
a. Director’s Updates
Director Pon provided an update on upcoming San Francisco Pathways to Citizenship workshops. She will provide an update on the 2020 Census at the next Commission meeting. San Francisco Fellow Robert Clinton will be joining the OCEIA staff in January as its civic engagement project manager.

Communications specialist Jamie Richardson is designing the Commission’s annual report and outreach materials.

Director Pon invited Commission Clerk Shore to review the new 2019 meetings calendar. Commission Clerk Shore highlighted upcoming meetings in January and February.

Director Pon provided an update on Commissioners’ re-appointment hearings, which hopefully will be calendared with the Rules Committee in January or February. Following the re-appointment hearings, the Commission will hold its annual retreat. Commission Clerk Shore will poll Commissioners on their availability. The retreat will include an update on immigration issues, including public charge.

Director Pon provided a brief overview of immigration policy issues. OCEIA staff has analyzed several proposed policy changes, including changes to the Flores settlement agreement and the USCIS fee waiver criteria. In December 2018, the City of San Francisco submitted a public comment regarding proposed changes to public charge.

6. Old Business
(Information/Discussion/Action)
a. Re-authorizing Executive Committee to Release Statements on Behalf of Commission
Director Pon clarified that the Chair and Vice Chair are currently authorized to issue statements on behalf of the Commission on issues consistent with positions the Commission has previously taken. This vote would reauthorize the officers to do so. Staff will restate this item and place it on the next agenda.

Commissioner Ricarte asked if this item would be impacted by the Commission’s previous discussion of issuing statements that are consistent with those of the Mayor’s Office. At the request of Vice Chair Paz, Director Pon invited the IRC’s Deputy City Attorney to meet with the full Commission in November regarding actions the Commission can take, however there has not yet been a response. Director Pon suggested that this training take place during the Commission’s annual retreat.

7. New Business
Commissioner Ricarte asked how Commissioners could begin planning for the Immigrant Leadership Awards. Director Pon stated that Vice Chair Paz could appoint the Immigrant Leadership Awards Committee during the next Executive Committee meeting. Staff will add the item to the agenda for the next meeting.

8. Adjournment
Vice Chair Paz adjourned the meeting at 5:54 pm.