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Immigrant Rights Commission

Meeting Information



Full Commission

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IMMIGRANT RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING

CITY HALL – ROOM 421

APRIL 16, 2007

MINUTES

 

 

The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Sonia Melara, Chair, at 5:05 p.m.

 

I.       ROLL CALL:

         Members Present: Sonia Melara (Chair), Gilberto Alexander, Elahe Enssani, Deborah Escobedo, Vera Haile, Solomon Jones, Diana Lau, Felix Levy, Angus McCarthy, Samira McCoy, Toye Moses, and Sam Ng.

         Members Absent (Excused):  Jamal Dajani, and Phu Nguyen.

        Staff Present:  Dang Pham (Executive Director)

 

II.     APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Commissioner Vera Haile moved; seconded by Commissioner Toye Moses to approve the draft minutes of February 12th and March 12th meetings.

Commissioner Deborah Escobedo stated that the February meeting minutes should not record Commissioner Ivy Lee in the excused absence category as she resigned from her position in January 2007.  Commissioner Escobedo requested staff to double check on this matter.

Commissioner Vera Haile highlighted some of the typos in the draft of March minutes.

With no further corrections, the minutes of February 12, 2007 and the minutes of March 12, 2007 were approved as amended.

 

III.    OUTREACH COMMUNITY CONCERNS:

 

Commissioner Melara mentioned that some of the ethnic groups indicated that they did not receive any notice or information about the last Commission’s hearing on Immigration Reform.  She also indicated that the Commission needs to do a better job to reach out to different groups in order that they know of the Commission’s existence. Staff indicated that we e-mailed out to different groups on the main contact list of the Commission.

Commissioner Levy suggested that the Commission should work with the City Administrator’s Office to allocate some funding to pay for the broadcasting of the TV live coverage of the Commission’s meetings on the City cable network.  The Commission needs to have at least one live coverage meeting every three months.

IV.  USE OF CITY ATTORNEY’S TIME:

 

Commissioner Moses suggested that the Commission should invite the City Attorney to make the presentation about the Sunshine Ordinance and its impacts to the newly appointed Commissioners.

 

Commissioner Escobedo indicated that the City Attorney should not attend all the monthly meeting of the Commission. However, the City Attorney should be able to clarify to the Commission on e-mails and when someone can represent or speak on behalf of the Commission.

 

Commissioner Melara indicated that if Commissioners have issues or concerns that need to consult with the City Attorney then the Commission can invite the City Attorney to attend its meeting to address those issues or concerns.

 

Commissioner Levy requested for better clarification on the role and responsibilities of the Executive Committee according to the Sunshine.  It seems like the Executive Committee took over a number of tasks and responsibilities of other Committees.

 

Commissioner Haile made the motion that the Commisison should invite the City Attorney to attend the next meeting to address to the full Commission about the issues related to Sunshine, Committee structures and By-Laws.

 

Commissioner Alexander seconded the motion made by Commissioner Haile to invite the City Attorney to the next month meeting of the Commission.

 

Commissioner Melara recommended that Commissioners should send an e-mail with specific issues or concerns to the staff so the City Attorney can answer them all.

 

The Commission voted on the motion with 8 yes and 3 no.  The motion passed.

 

V.     COMMISSION ATTENDANCE RECORDS:

         Commissioner Melara stated that the Commission should follow its current By-Laws regarding the attendance policy. 

 

Commissioner Enssani stated that the attendance record presented to the Commission is not corrected.  She pointed out that she attended the Commisison meeting in September 2006 but the attendance report showed that she was not there.  She requested that this error be corrected as soon as possible.

 

Commissioner Melara suggested that if Commissioner Enssani and other Commissioners have any questions or inquiries on the attendance report, they should e-mail them to the staff.  Again, Commissioner Melara suggested that the Commission’s By-Laws are for all Comissioners to comply with.

 

VI.    2007 SUMMITT PLANNING COMMITTEE (SPC):

Commissioner Melara reported that the Summit Planning Committee (SPC) members spent a good amount of time to decide on the main theme of the 2007 Summit on Immigrant Rights.  The theme for this year's Summit is “ Unity, Dignity and Opportunity for All Immigrant Communities in Post 911 America.”

Commissioner Melara, the Co-Chair of the SPC also informed the Commissioners of the logistic details related to the Summit. The Summit will be scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 8, 2007 from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM.  The Committee entertains the idea of a round table discussion among three Bay Area Mayors related to the immigration issues at the Summit. 

The Committee also plans for a VIP reception on Friday, September 7th in the City Hall at 5:30 PM.  The SPC plans to invite all the foreign consulate general offices, immigrant community leaders, corporate sponsors, etc. to this reception.

Commissioner Levy suggested that we need to solicit for financial supports from the major companies with strong connection to the immigrant community in the Bay area.  They should be allocated time to speak at the summit.

Commissioner Escobedo raised the concerns with the perception that ‘big corporations” will be highlighted at the Summit for Immigrant Rights.  Meanwhile poor immigrant workers are exploited by these big corporations for cheap labor.

Commissioner McCarthy indicated that the Summit is the forum for the immigrant communities to raise their concerns and issues not for the big corporations to address their own agendas.

Commissioner Melara stated that the Summit is the place to have specific issues such as the comprehensive immigration reform.  The Commission should speak for the groups who might not be able to speak up.

Commissioner Moses suggested that the Commission should discuss the ways to have many participants from different communities to attend the Summit.  The SPC should also focus on how it can organize a successful summit.

Commissioner Melara stated that we need both the immigrant communities and the American Corporations to make the Summit successful.  She indicated that at this time, the Summit Planning Committee is focusing on the “framework” and then the process.

 

VIII. BY-LAWS REVISION:

The Commissioners were provided with the draft of the revised By-Laws prepared by Commissioner Escobedo. 

The Commissioners voted to approve the proposed amendment to the current By-Laws.

 

IX.    PARKING PRIVILEGE ISSUES:

Commissioner Melara suggested that the Commission draft a letter to the Mayor to request for continuity of the current policy of providing free parking to the Commissioners at the Civic Center Parking Garage to attend the Commission meetings in City Hall.  Since the Immigrant Rights Commissioners did not receive any compensation or reimbursements, free parking is the only compensation its members receive.  The letter should be finalized at the next meeting of the Executive Committee.

 

X.     COMMISSION VACANCY:

Staff distributed to the Commissioners a copy of the vacancy notice. This appointment will serve the unexpired portion of two-year term ending June 6, 2008.

 

XI.    COMMITTEES REPORT:

 

  1. Executive Committee:

The next meeting of the Executive Committee will take place on Wednesday, April 19, 2007 at 5:30 PM in City Hall – Room 370.

    2.   Program & Access Committee:

The Committee will meet on April 25, 2007 at 5:30 PM in City Hall – Room 370.  At this meeting, the Committee will review the first draft of the 2007 EAS Compliance Reports submitted by the City departments.

    3.    Outreach Ad Hoc Committee:

The Committee will set a meeting date so its members can discuss issues related to the planning for the next neighborhood meeting.

    4.    Immigration Reform Ad Hoc Committee:

The Committee will set a meeting date so the Committee can begin to dicuss the next steps for the lobby efforts for a comprehensive immigration reform.

 

XII.  ADJOURNMENT:

 

With no further discussion, Commissioner Levy moved and seconded by Commissioner Alexander to adjourn the meeting.  The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 pm.