ANNOUNCEMENTS  (Item No. 4)

Executive Officer Michael Brown made five (5) announcements: 1) On the Regular Agenda, Item #9 (Review of Request for Approval of Proposed Personal Services Contract Number 4151-09/10 from the Department of Public Health (DPH)) and Item #10 (Review of Request for Approval of Proposed Personal Services Contract Number 4160-09/10 from the Department of Public Health) were postponed to the next Commission meeting of December 7 at the request of the DPH and SEIU, Local 1021 to allow more time for discussion;  2) On Item #12 (Appeal by Susan Owyeong of the Rejection of her Application for the Class 1202 Personnel Clerk) and Item #13 (Appeal by Susan Owyeong of the Rejection of her Application for the Class 1204 Senior Personnel Clerk), the appellant requested that both of her appeals be heard without her presence since she will be out of the country;  3) On Item #14 (Appeal by Nicol P. Juratovac of the Rejection of her Application for the H-50 Assistant Chief Examination), the appellant withdrew her appeal;  4) Civil Service Commission amendment to Rule 311 was adopted November 13, 2015; and 5) Read on record a letter from Norm Caba’s, Asian Firefighters.  The letter states that in their point of view, “…all promotional processes should be completely transparent throughout the entire process.”

HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR’S REPORT  (Item No. 5)

Human Resources Director Micki Callahan announced the second day of implicit bias training for City Managers was in progress.  The City will be moving forward to “train the trainer” with anticipation of rolling this training out to all City employees.  Some thought will go into the specific training need for the targeted audience and may be rolled out similar to our harassment training.  The difference being harassment training is legally mandated and implicit bias training would be required as a policy decision.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT  (Item No. 6)

Executive Officer Michael Brown has conducted introductory meetings with the following (5) five City Departments – Department of Public Health, Human Services Agency, Municipal Transportation Agency, San Francisco International Airport, and Public Utilities Commission.  Mr. Brown will be reporting on some of the issues raised during those discussions at the next meeting of December 7, 2015.

RATIFICATION AGENDA

0357-15-8

Review of Request for Approval of Proposed Personal Services Contracts.

(Item No. 7)

PSC#

Department

Amount

Type of Service

Type of Approval

Duration

31773-15/16

Economic and Workforce Development

$375,000

The Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) requires professional financial analysis related to real estate development in San Francisco. Consultants, selected from a pre-qualified list of economic consultants, will assist OEWD in development of public policy applied to real estate development and finance through a series of as-needed services, including (1) analyzing opportunities for public participation in development projects; (2) identifying development opportunity sites and analyzing their feasibility; and (3) evaluating tools to support greater mixed-income housing development.

Regular

6/30/2017

40631-15/16

Public Utilities Commission

$8,500,000

Hetch Hetchy Water & Power’s (HHWP) Renewal and Replacement Program (R&R) was developed to manage aging infrastructure, i.e., asset life extension of existing capital assets. This ongoing program includes understanding failure mechanisms, detection through comprehensive inspection and assessment, protection/correction. As part of this program, the SFPUC requires technical support for performing pipeline inspection services for steel pipe using HHWP’s inline magnetic flux leakage tool, minor repair/replacement design projects, and developing various components of its R&R program for the San Joaquin Pipelines.

Regular

12/1/2020

41832-15/16

Public Utilities Commission

$15,000,000

The San Francisco Public Utilities (SFPUC) requires design support for mitigating transmission clearance deficiencies that do not meet state and federal safety clearance standards. The Hetch Hetchy Water & Power (HHWP) Power Transmission Line Clearance Mitigation will consist of mitigating all spans of subject circuits that have been identified as being noncompliant with California Public Utilities Commission’s General Order 95 and National Electrical Safety Code clearances as identified in the HHWP Transmission Line Mitigation Transmission Plan condition assessment report. The scope of mitigating these identified spans will be in compliance with applicable codes and design standards and may require structure raises, facility or equipment modifications and/or replacements.

Regular

12/1/2025

40214-15/16

Department of Public Health

$1,500,000

The Department requires specialized, as-needed auditing services for various Department of Health (DPH) specialty programs, including a comprehensive program review by an independent program auditor of all aspects of the San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH) and DPH community/ambulatory care clinics using the 340B Drug Pricing Program, a federal program which requires drug manufacturers to provide outpatient drugs to eligible health care organizations/covered entities at significantly reduced prices, enabling covered entities such as SFGH to stretch scarce Federal resources, reach more eligible patients and provide more comprehensive services. Audit services for the 340B program will include all child sites and contract pharmacies, in order to ensure comprehensive program compliance. Services will include evaluation and validation of patient eligibility; procurement, distribution, dispensing, and billing of 340B medications; compliance with GPO prohibitions; proper 340B database registration with Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA); accurate 340B inventory and record keeping; drug diversion, and duplicate discount compliance. In additional DPH will also need specialized Information technology service auditors for IT security systems focusing on protected health information, compliance with reimbursement programs, and meaningful use.

Regular

12/31/2019

PSC#

Department

Amount

Type of Service

Type of Approval

Duration

42016-15/16

Municipal Transportation Agency

$9,800,000

Selected contractors will provide specialized, as-needed services in the areas of: 1) Environmental analysis and documentation services (CEQA and NEPA); 2) Transportation analysis and engineering services; 3) Transportation data collection and analytics; and 4) Sustainability data analysis for transportation projects. Work includes analysis of environmental strategy, procedures and level of required review, and preparing/ publishing findings when required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); before and after studies for project implementation, including various modal movement counts; analysis and identification of travel markets, ridership patterns, modal demographics and mode choice, and expertise in applying geospatial analysis techniques to data sets; and drafting design standards and providing design recommendations.

Regular

12/31/2021

45945-13/14

Airport Commission

Current Approved Amount

$17,000,000

Increase Amount Requested

$20,000,000

New Total Amount Requested

$37,000,000

Project Management Support Services (PMSS) and Design Build (DB) services to manage the design and construction of the Revenue Enhancement And Customer Hospitality Program (REACH) Boarding Area C (B/A C) and International Terminal Building (ITB) Improvements Project. Work will include project planning, project controls, reporting, scheduling, budgeting, document control, coordination, design management, contracts management, and constructability design review for the following projects: 1) Boarding Area C (B/A C) Improvements, 2) ITB Pre-Schematic, and 3) ITB Improvements.

Modi-fication

7/30/2019

4127-10/11

Airport Commission

Current Approved Amount

$8,250,000

Increase Amount Requested

$6,500,000

New Total Amount Requested

$14,750,000

Construction Management (CM) team with design-build experience and Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) experience to manage the design, construction and activation of a new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ATCT at SFO and a three story shared use building at its base. The CM will be required to provide dedicated electrical and special systems Resident Engineers with direct FAA ATCT experience. The CM team will also be required to have high-rise structural and blast protection engineering and construction experience. The CM must be fully familiar with the FAA standards and requirements, and will enforce and document compliance. The CM will oversee the integration of FAA ATCT equipment, and will manage the critical activation and commissioning of the new ATCT and cutover from the old tower with no interruption to operations.

Modi-fication

12/31/2020

49599-14/15

General Services Agency

Current Approved Amount

$150,000

Increase Amount Requested

$250,000

New Total Amount Requested

$400,000

Phase 1: Provide peer review for architectural and engineering designs related to the construction of a new Fleet Maintenance Facility
Phase 2: Provide oversight for construction management tasks during the construction of the Facility.

Modi-fication

12/31/2017

4151-09/10

Moved to the Regular Agenda due to SEIU, Local 1021’s appeal.

Public Health

Current Approved Amount

$150,074,786

Increase Amount Requested

$117,951,000

New Total Amount Requested

$268,025,786

Contract will provide: mental health outpatient; substance abuse outpatient services; and intensive case management/full-service partnership level-of-care to transitional age youth, adults and older adults. The contract will provide flexible, integrated and seamless services based on the level and type of needs of the client, and responding as clients change over time.

Modi-fication

12/31/2017

PSC#

Department

Amount

Type of Service

Type of Approval

Duration

4160-09/10

Moved to the Regular Agenda due to SEIU, Local 1021’s appeal.

Public Health

Current Approved Amount

$32,497,542

Increase Amount Requested

$26,840,000

New Total Amount Requested

$59,337,542

The PEl project will provide prevention and early intervention programs designed to prevent the initial onset or worsening of mental illness among children, youth, their families, transitional age youth, adults and older adults who exhibit varying levels of risk of developing mental illness. The project will assist those at risk and train providers to better identify clients early and refer them to services. Programs include School Based Youth Centered Wellness; Screening, Planning and Supportive Services for Incarcerated Youth; Holistic Wellness Prevention in a Community Setting; Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation; Mental Health Consultation for Providers working with Youth at RISK or Involved with the Juvenile Justice System; Older Adult Behavioral Health Screening and Response; Early Intervention and Recovery for Young People with Early Psychosis; Transition Aged Youth Multi Service Center and Peer Outreach and Training.

Modi-fication

12/31/2017

49607-15/16

Public Health

Current Approved Amount

$2,000,000

Increase Amount Requested

$5,000,000

New Total Amount Requested

$7,000,000

Contractor(s) will be professional consultants who may provide services requiring broad and deep expertise in specialized areas, providing assistance to the Department as needed in areas such as assessment, evaluation, planning, grant writing, media development, and/or technical assistance services to support the planning, evaluation, promotion, and grant development needs of Department Primary Care and Prevention programs, including assistance in compliance with federal, State and local requirements. Contractor(s) will evaluate findings, assess and evaluate findings, provide technical reports, develop media promotion projects, develop grants, and provide expert technical assistance as required. Training services may include providing specialized courses or modules related to racial and cultural humility.

Modi-fication

6/30/2020

Speakers:

Alaric Degrafinried, Public Utilities Commission

Recommendation:

1) Conditionally approved PSC #41832-15/16 with the proviso that the department reports back in four (4) years to the Commission on the status of finding City Personnel to replace the Personal Services Contract.  (Vote of 4 to 0)

2) Approved the request for all remaining PSCs (PSC numbers 31773-15/16, 40631-15/16, 40214-15/16, 42016-15/16, 45945-13/14, 4127-10/11, 49599-14/15 and 49607-45/16).  Adopted the report; notified the Office of the Controller and the Office of Contract Administration.  (Vote of 4 to 0)

CONSENT AGENDA

0359-15-2

Municipal Transportation Agency’s Annual Review of Exempt and Non-Exempt Classifications.  (Item No. 8)

Speakers:

None.

Action:

Adopted the report.  (Vote of 4 to 0)

REGULAR AGENDA

0353-15-8

Review of Request for Approval of Proposed Personal Services Contract Number 4151-09/10 from the Department of Public Health.  (Item No. 9)

PSC#

Department

Amount

Type of Service

Type of Approval

Duration

4151-09/10

Public Health

Current Approved Amount

$150,074,786

Increase Amount Requested

$117,951,000

New Total Amount Requested

$268,025,786

Contract will provide: mental health outpatient; substance abuse outpatient services; and intensive case management/full-service partnership level-of-care to transitional age youth, adults and older adults. The contract will provide flexible, integrated and seamless services based on the level and type of needs of the client, and responding as clients change over time.

Modi-fication

12/31/2017

Speakers:

None.

Action:

Postponed Personal Services Contract Number 4151-09/10 at the request of Department of Public Health and SEIU, Local 1021 to the next meeting of December 7, 2015.  (Vote of 4 to 0)

0354-15-8

Review of Request for Approval of Proposed Personal Services Contract Number 4160-09/10 from the Department of Public Health.  (Item No. 10)

PSC#

Department

Amount

Type of Service

Type of Approval

Duration

4160-09/10

Public Health

Current Approved Amount

$32,497,542

Increase Amount Requested

$26,840,000

New Total Amount Requested

$59,337,542

The PEl project will provide prevention and early intervention programs designed to prevent the initial onset or worsening of mental illness among children, youth, their families, transitional age youth, adults and older adults who exhibit varying levels of risk of developing mental illness. The project will assist those at risk and train providers to better identify clients early and refer them to services. Programs include School Based Youth Centered Wellness; Screening, Planning and Supportive Services for Incarcerated Youth; Holistic Wellness Prevention in a Community Setting; Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation; Mental Health Consultation for Providers working with Youth at RISK or Involved with the Juvenile Justice System; Older Adult Behavioral Health Screening and Response; Early Intervention and Recovery for Young People with Early Psychosis; Transition Aged Youth Multi Service Center and Peer Outreach and Training.

Modi-fication

12/31/2017

Speakers:

None.

Action:

Postponed Personal Services Contract Number 4160-09/10 at the request of Department of Public Health and SEIU, Local 1021 to the next meeting of December 7, 2015.  (Vote of 4 to 0)

0294-15-4

Appeal by John Gee on the Rejection of his Application for the Class 7430 Assistant Electronic Maintenance Examination.  (Item No. 11)

November 2, 2015:

Postponed John Gee’s appeal to the next meeting of November 16, 2015 so that the Municipal Transportation Agency can explain the relationship between the job analysis and education requirement and specifically address why work experience is not considered as a possible substitution for the two (2) years of education requirement.  John Gee failed to appear.  (Vote for 3 to 1; Commissioner Heldfond dissented)

Speakers:

None.

Action:

Denied the appeal of John Gee and upheld the Municipal Transportation Director’s decision.  (Vote of 4 to 0)  Mr. John Gee failed to appear.

0313-15-4

Appeal by Susan Owyeong of the Rejection of her Application for the Class 1202 Personnel Clerk.  (Item No. 12)

Speakers:

Stephanie Lim, Department of Human Resources

Anna Biasbas, Department of Human Resources

Action:

Adopted the report and denied the appeal of Susan Owyeong.

(Vote of 4 to 0)  Ms. Susan Owyeong requested the Commission to proceed with her appeal although she was unable to be present.

0312-15-4

Appeal by Susan Owyeong of the Rejection of her Application for the Class 1204 Senior Personnel Clerk.  (Item No. 13)

Speakers:

Stephanie Lim, Department of Human Resources

Anna Biasbas, Department of Human Resources

Action:

Adopted the report and denied the appeal of Susan Owyeong.

(Vote of 4 to 0)  Ms. Susan Owyeong requested the Commission to proceed with her appeal although she was unable to be present.

0332-15-4

Appeal by Nicol P. Juratovac of the Rejection of her Application for the H-50 Assistant Chief Examination.  (Item No. 14)

Speakers:

Dave Johnson, Department of Human Resources

Brian Rubinstein, San Francisco Fire Chief Association

Action:

The Commission voted to remove Item #14 off the Agenda since Nicol Juratovac withdrew her appeal.  (Vote of 4 to 0)

0339-15-5

Department of Human Resources’ Report on the Release of the H-50 Exam and Scoring Key.  (Item No. 15)

November 2, 2015:

Postponed this item to the next meeting of November 16, 2015.

(Vote of 4 to 0)

Speakers:

Dave Johnson, Department of Human Resources

Brian Rubinstein, San Francisco Fire Chief Association

Action:

Adopted the report and approved the Release of the 2010 H-50 examination and scoring key subsequent to the Rule 311 amendment adopted on November 13, 2015.  (Vote of 4 to 0)

SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS – 5 p.m.

0360-15-1

Appeal by Sin Yee Poon, SEIU, Local 1021 for the Executive Officer’s Decision to Deny her Appeal of the Post-Referral Selection Process for the Class 9703 Human Services Agency Employment & Training Specialist II.  (Item No. 16)

Speakers:

Michael Brown, Executive Officer, Civil Service Commission

Sin Yee Poon, SEIU Local 1021

Patrick Monette-Shaw - Retired 1446 with the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) - “I’m informing this Commission how widespread backdoor hiring practices in this City are.  DEM is a prime example.  DEM’s then-incumbent 9914 Public Service Aide-Admin was selected for an 8602 Emergency Services Coordinator II position, assigned a working title of “Emergency Services Assistant.”  DEM’s incumbent 8603 Emergency Services Coordinator III was selected for a 0922 Manager I position with a working title of “Government Affairs Manager.”  DEM’s then –incumbent “Intern” not on the City’s payroll, was selected for an 8600, Emergency Services Assistant position, with a working title of “External Affairs Associate” over another Department employee already an 8600 who had 11-1/2 months of experience as an 8600 at the time he applied.  DEM’s incumbent Human Resources Manager, a 0931 Manager III, was selected for a new Assistant Deputy Director position as a 0932 Manager IV, despite not having experience in department-level City budget preparation.  Corrupt Citywide hiring “irregularities” must end!”

Sylvia Alvarez-Lynch – 1450 Executive Secretary with the Municipal Transportation Agency - “At the SFMTA there are plans afoot to replace the 1400 clerical series with 1800 series also covered by 1021 as temporary and permanent exempt positions.  To my knowledge no union communication or meeting has taken place with the clerical or the secretaries involved nor the union…  The system is broken.  Permanent and temporary exempt positions are corrupting the hiring process in Civil Service.  It must be fixed. They must be deleted.  An audit needs to be taken by the Civil Service Commission.  And DHR should give the Civil Service a monthly reporting… these positions are only to be held for 3 years.  That is not happening.  We have a transit manager at MTA 5, who has no transit experience no bus driver position experience yet heads up the operations unit.  Her own daughter without any transit experience has been hired as a contractor…  We are asking for your help…”

Debbie Marcal - 2905 Eligibility Worker with the Human Services Agency (HSA) - “In 1992 I was awarded the Us Attorney General Award by William Bar…I ended working nationally with the criminal taskforce.  In August of 2013, I applied for a job as a Foster Care Program Analyst.  The qualifications and education was a Master’s degree and two years of experience, which I had.  After I applied … I found out that they had … degraded down the educational requirements … a bachelor degree, if you had one year of experience as a supervisor that would count as 30 units of education.  So … 10 years of experience … qualified …for the position… We never got a letter and a selection had been made… didn’t have the time appeal any decision…people that are hiring in this positions …know they got the job the wrong way… I really believe this is your job to help us…”

Irvin Lazo – 2913 Program Specialist with HSA - “…The merit system established, and as defined, is a positive and fair process to become an employee of the City & Co of SF and promote within the ranks;… at SFHSA it has turned into a Spoils System, which only service purposes that are good for those on certain managerial positions and their favorites (chosen ones) not necessarily for the people that we serve.  You will hear how they hire/promote only their favorites and how they abuse the “loopholes” to the merit system, mainly the Temp-Exempt hiring…I urge you to mind the gap between Rules and the Department’s Practices on hiring temp-exempt…I witness how a Section Manager in CW-WTW was helping her best friend, a supervisor, complete a Questionnaire for the 2917 position in this supervisor’s cubicle.  Such questionnaire at that period was, at best, the substitute of the test, or will supplement your overall score to the ranking list…”

Sara Bagwell – 1404 Clerk with HSA - “…I was asked of a lot of things which were outside the scope of my class including working on this exam the 9703...I put up with a lot of harassment and hostile work environment (in) hopes that I could test into a higher level and get out… I scored number 3 on the 1820 Junior Analyst list, but I was passed over for a position in my division for a temporary person who places number 5 on another list.  My boss is taking great glee … telling (me) I should test again and nothing is being done about it.  My…second supervisor… told me I need to put a smile on my face and not question the process.  I have told Lori Juengert about this.  She told me … my second supervisor tried to have me internally reassigned.  They are assigning my work …to analyst and investigators and another clerk…”

Anna Branzuela – 2806 Disease Control Investigator with the Department of Public Health (DPH) - “Since 1995 in San Francisco, there has been a 75% decrease in Disease Control Investigators.  In 2015 in the most serious disease control times in our history- there are only 7 trained and experienced Disease Control Investigators in San Francisco…SFDPH management unfair hiring practices has resulted in a depletion of trained and prepared staff.  SFDPH has hired temporary (lower classification) or contract workers to perform the exact duties of the Disease Control Investigator yet 30% less pay and no employee rights… By failing to maintain a team of disease control investigator pool of experienced and prepared staff, we are vulnerable during high priority situations requiring immediate deployment of individuals with necessary skills.  These hiring practices are not only unfair but result in our public health system fully prepared for any situation.”

Ann Ling – 2905 Sr. Eligibility Worker with HSA - “…I was denied of taking a 2905 exam in June 2003…and was told by Arlene Brice of HR… that the exam was not opened for new workers and … my previous experience was null and void.  Later found out the reason…was because she wanted her friends and relatives to rank higher on the list so they could be hired before me…In 2005, I became 2905 (EW) after passing the exam.  In 2012, I along with 8 co-workers… went for Supervisor’s exam and all failed.  Now finding out through a law suit…the exam might have been fixed.  May 2013…a Temp/Exempt 9702 Employment Specialists became available.  Submitted my interest… told by Florence Hays, the acting manager of ES, denying my interest… all new hires from outside, 2 manager’s  sons namely Mel-Victor Tiongson (son of Sylvia Tiongson-Mgr of EIC/WDD) and Christopher Scott (Son of retired MGR of Investigation)…”

Rosalie Pera – 2905 Sr. Eligibility Worker with HSA - “…My name is Rosalie Pera.  I have been working in Human Services Agency for 23 years now.  I was hired in 1992 as a Medical Eligibility Worker.  In 2005 I was hired as Employment Specialist and since I was already on the last step as a Senior Eligibility Worker I was put under the Employment Specialist 2 or 9703 after I passed my probation.  Unfortunately due to budget cuts I was laid off in 2009 and got called back as Senior Eligibility Worker under CalWorks Program.  I was never offered or given the choice to go back as Employment Specialist.  I inquired to HR why I was not called and they told me that they are only calling Employment Specialist 1 or 9702 and that I am better off as a Senior Eligibility Worker because Sr. EW makes more than the 9702.  But later on the 9702 advance to 9703…”

Joseph Rys – 1426 Senior Clerk Typist with HSA - “Hi my name is Joseph Rys.  I worked for the Human Services Agency for 16 years… I thought it would be a great organization… my assessment has changed over the last 3 ½ years ago when my former supervisor retired who was a Principal Clerk.  She was replaced …by someone who had failed the 1408 Principal Exam.  Someone in our unit scored …I think number 3 but he….wasn’t even interviewed for this job.  After he protested … approximately 6 months later he finally got the job …the acting supervisor was no longer there…if he had not protested he wouldn’t have the job now.  Employees should not have to be trying to get the rules enforced …because the management overlooks them.  It happens all the time… unless the union or other organization help them to get their promotions, favoritism unfortunately exists... Please do whatever you can … Thank you.”

Valoria Russell-Benson – 2302 Nursing Assistant with DPH - “I’m a certified Nursing Assistant, 2302, from Department of Public Health at Laguna Honda Hospital…Laguna Honda is plagued with…favoritism, cronyism, you name it racism, discrimination it’s ridiculous and then every time I turn around there is someone’s children being hired... Despite Civil Service, hired through the back door and then they come in… and then they work modified duty and then from modified duty they push to these cushy positions…They’re teaching in-service they’re teaching SMART training… positions haven’t been posted… somebody that’s in house that applied for the position or asked to apply for the position they tell them they can’t apply because either they are not working in that position or you know is just always something.  So, please I am imploring you to investigate Laguna Honda.”

Theresa Rutherford – 2303 Patient Care Assistant with DPH - “…I work at Laguna Honda… hit with nepotism …for a long time…people being hired based on friendship.  Managerial positions are specifically set aside for families and friends we have a whole family mother, father, daughter.  Mother is supervisor, father supervisor, daughter is supervisor right down the line… a young woman who works at Laguna Honda temporarily… she is on the eligibility list and she applied for a Home Health Aide she was told now the Home Health Aide classification is 2383…you must have a CNA License at Laguna Honda at least.  Now, so she applied for the job and she was called personally by a Manager who told her she is not hiring her because she doesn’t have the Home Health Aide license… everything is adjust based on whom it is or who you want to align the job for. We… are asking for you to investigate Laguna Honda… ”

Nebyat Negasi – 2312 Licensed Vocational Nurse with DPH - “Hello …I work at Laguna Honda, 2312…So in my classification…people who are related to somebody are always coming in.  The workforce is not diverse… Whoever is in a position to hire every person that gets hired looks like them, speaks like them, and comes from the same place they come from…. We cannot ask questions.  If we are asking questions… you are called a trouble maker and there a lot of cliques so then you are excluded from discussion in the unit discussion within your department…your colleagues are told not to talk to you so you feel out of place and you feel misinformed and you are not necessarily part of the workforce… It is somebody’s living room it is somebody’s house and it is somebody’s backyard… I need somebody to come to be in Laguna Honda or City and County to take over the hiring process…”

Roger Varela – 9704 Senior Eligibility with HSA - “…I was hired in September 1981 as a 2905 Sr. Eligibility Worker for the City and County of San Francisco, Department of Social Services, Refugee Resettlement Program…6 months  later after … I joined the Union …I became black listed, I took other exams 2910, 2912, 2907, Sr. Eligibility Worker Supervisor, and countless other exams and I placed in the top 10 in all of them, and I placed number 1 in two of those exams, I was never hired or promoted… the good is that I got the respect of all my clients…that is why I work with the City and County of San Francisco; now I am a proud 9704 Sr. Eligibility Worker…all this nepotism, cronyisms, all the isms in this world make this civil servant, service system a very, very sick system, it runs rampant and you have the power to put the system to a screeching halt.”

Kory Schueler –1220 Payroll Clerk with HSA - “…I formerly worked in the Homeless Department at HSA…My co-worker and I are both temps…she …was nearing the end of her term… mentioned that she had never taken a test or done an interview … since she had… been there for three years she … was no longer going to be working with HSA and she was going to go on to further her education… she left, three days later she was back…Both…took the 2905 test in May 2015…I scored higher than…her…I went out on medical leave… she had to cover me while I … I came back I found out that none of my work had been done…supervisor (told me)…if you say any negative…about co-workers I’m not going to listen…. August 2015…a reassignment was posted…told…no reason…to apply…she is going to get the position…. There was a major break down of trust and teamwork …I am no longer working there.”

Debra Dobson – 2303 Patient Care Assistant with DPH - “I work at Laguna Honda… A co-worker took leave of absence to accept employment… outside of the City last year and was on leave… They posted an LVN position he … apply…but…he was not currently working as an LVN with the City…did not qualify.  I went on vacation and …came back I was told he was put into a lead PSA position because nobody…wanted it… I said I was interested… then told oh well then it’ll have to be posted… it was never posted before?... we went through the application process…found that the interview process had been compromised… new round was rescheduled… got rescheduled…eventually…taken off the table… they posted another LVN position… he was still not LVN with the City but two days before the close of application he was made a float pool LVN in order to qualify…This … happens over and over and over again…Thank you.”

Edlyn Kloefkorn – 2915 Program Specialist Supervisor with HSA - “…I’ve worked for the City and County since I was 18 since 1988…within the last five years … we noticed that there have been a lot of inconsistencies…It’s no longer the Department of Human Services.  We call it the Department of Human Suffering… The director had hired his girlfriend.  He promoted her through the ranks.  Tony Lugo hired Sylvia Tiognson who was his clerk… by giving her an acting assignment.  He turned that acting assignment into … the 2904. She didn’t score high enough on the list…It’s shameful… because the only people that were getting promoted were Asian women, young attractive Asian women.  And I didn’t think I had a complaint because I am an Asian woman...OK.”

Phelicia Jones – 8420 Rehabilitation Services Coordinator with the Sheriff’s Department (SHF) - “…thank you Michael Brown and …Sandra for accepting us and hearing…about … our classification 8420’s within the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department... the investigation … didn’t find anything, it’s just really unusual how a program director can go and seek out three people who she wants to become 8420’s…Strangely enough …two people scored the highest score…are our program director’s friends who she recruited personally… coincidental, that two people who could not take the test with the other 45 came and took a test by themselves… the program director who is not a skills based expert designs the test with two other deputies who don’t know anything about our work… I’m hoping that you will go beyond what is normally done in this commission and really begin to look at what actually going on in this City of San Francisco around nepotism, favoritism, cronyism in the City and County of San Francisco.”

Jose Serrano – 2905 Sr. Eligibility Worker with HSA - “…I was hired initially by CalWorks…When I first got hired I thought… it was fair…until… met my co-workers that were hired at the same time...they scored way lower than the Rule of Three… I thought… we were supposed to follow that… about the 9703, I left CalWorks because the work environment was horrible… friends in CalWorks and I met …for lunch and they told me a month in half before the due date for the 9703 that no one  from CalWorks was going to be hired… we were black listed for leaving the program…when we got the letter saying that we did not qualify for the position… we found… people that scored lower, no CalWorks experience and they are friends of management, knew that they were going to get the job…before…interviews… I knew something was wrong... it’s about making sure that the hiring process is fair…Thank you.”

Selina Keene – 9704 Employment & Training Spec 3 with HSA - “…I’ve been working for the City for about ten years…I have seen a lot of the discrimination that’s been going on.  Everybody is saying the same thing you guys are hearing it, my whole thing is, what are you guys going to do about?  … personally our agency should not be testing anybody everything should be back at the Civil Service level like it used to be okay, period.  And that’s with all the agencies; I don’t think that any personal City agency should be doing any hiring on their own that can’t be trusted…and if we had one place to go for hiring, scoring and choosing that should be done at the Civil Service level … right now it’s out of control, okay, all right.”

Lucia Granger – 2918 Social Worker with HSA - “I was on the list for the 2940 position: Protective Service Worker on Rank 1.  I was interviewed the first time … not selected.  The second time … received an interest e-mail requesting I respond … responded for the English positions and tried to respond for the Spanish … unaware …needed to respond to two e-mails…I contacted personnel and requested to be interviewed for the Spanish positions and was told, those were already completed today.  I was not hired during the second round of interview.  I … noticed that all those …hired were younger than 40.  When I began voicing my discovery, I was interviewed and hired on the third round with people who were as low as the 20^th rank…I was on the job for approximately 2 months and the supervisor began to pressure me and single me out.  Then they indicated that “I was not the right fit…”

Larry Bradshaw – 9924 Public Service Aide Health Services with DPH - “Hello commissioner Larry Bradshaw with SEIU 1021…this selection process is part of a bigger more systemic problem…Along with the rise of non-merit hiring we have a proliferation of reports of nepotism favoritism and cronyism… over the last five years it has been an explosion of those complaints around non merit hiring... I guess the bottom line is we would like you to really look at …what’s going on with the non-merit hiring process… Maybe, we’re probably wrong on some of these cases.  But are…all the people in this room and the hundreds of other members … all mistaken and have a perception problem… then the City has a perception problem because there are thousands of people that feel like people are gaming the system… there’s seems to be no reason not to really go after this aggressively and we hope that you will work with us to do that.”

Paul Camarillo – 8159 Child Support Officer II with Child Support Services (CSS) - “At SF CSS, Director Karen Roye in AUG 2007 appointed her friend as an 1844-Senior Management Assistant (TEX CAT-18).  After negotiations w/SEIU 1021, the 1844 citywide class was…posted by DHR in 2013.  After a 5.7 year appt, the director’s friend did not meet the MQs.  Director Roye …unilaterally appointed her friend to 8159-Child Supt Offcr III (supv level, PEX CAT-18), but he did not meet the MQs.  That appt abruptly ended in AUG 2013 at the instruction of DHR after two 8158-Child Supt Offcr II (journey level) filed the Request for Inspection with the CSC...following month, the Director appointed her friend to 1404 Clerk TEX CAT 16 for 6 months.  February 2014 left work on Friday and returned Monday as a 1310-Public Relations Assistant (PEX CAT-17).  He qualified after obtaining a college degree during work hours and “scoring” high on an Eligibility List of hundreds… All employment was consecutive.”

Eric Williams - Transport Union, Local 250A - “…First of all this commission knew about what these practices going on... it’s two issues that’s going on here, your contracts that you’re dealing with your hiring… bringing all these contracted employee in here, you’re undermining the Civil Service Commission, the bottom line…You guys are letting managers and things like that undermine the system by hiring their friends and family… This commission knew about this problem.  This is a major problem.  You are undermining this Union Shop City.  This is not one Union Shop job.  This entire City is Union Shop and we ask for you to look into it.”

Dora Barnes – 2918 Social Worker with HSA - “…I’m a 2912 Senior Social Worker with CalWorks…They have attempted to change our classification to 2918…2014 they decided to bring in a new classification 2916…With no experience... they are transferring our duties.  We no longer do SSI, we can’t advocate for the clients, they don’t want us to do referrals to paralegal to help the clients navigate through the system…they are having us to do Employment Specialist work… I was hired as a Social Worker to help clients.  Not to set up a work plan….I applied for a 2940 position I hold a bachelor … a master’s degree in gerontology… have certification as an administrator for a residential care for the elderly…My application was rejected for educational reasons… I would appreciate if you would give some type of consideration to what has been said tonight at this meeting.”

Kerry Sheehan – 2918 Social Worker with HSA – representing anonymous submission - “I have worked in HSA HR in the last ten years and have seen the countless favoritism and nepotism not only in HSA but in HR as well.  I have seen, 1220, David Tu and others… hired for job they are not doing…  In the last three years, David Tu advanced to 1241 and 1244 which he is not qualified nor does he has the supervisory skill to do the job…There is no merit in HSA hiring.  HSA was named the number one hiring department in the city in 2014 due to hiring John Kraus Jr, son of John Kraus Sr. Recruitment and Assessment Services Director, who has no experience in HR.  John Kraus Jr. temp appointment bypassed the most qualified candidate due to nepotism…Along in the ride, Steve Lin, 1220, who is receiving out of class pay is another to make PCS 1241 before the hiring process is completed…”

Sin Yee Poon, SEIU Local 1021 - “…I worked in contracts … my colleges from HSA said that …“Dave and my father play golf together.  That’s why I’m here.” …Dave would …tell folks that he has found somebody who he would like to hire…That person went through the hiring panel…did not score…high… couple of … contract managers …said…Dave…made one of the scorers change her score… I … talked to Stella and I said is that true and Stella says yes… Stella did not want to complain and the position was an 1823 not a 1021 position so we did not file a complaint… management brings in whoever they want… using temp exempt … bringing in their friends and family allowing them to have work experience so that they qualify for the test, they score the test in such a way that everybody is reachable and …in multiple tied scores…So we ask you commissioners to fix it…”

Notes:

The following individuals submitted a written statement, which are available for review upon request: Wai Kan, Edlyn Kloefkorn, Rosalie Pera, Irvin Lazo, Ann Ling, Paul Camarillo, Lucia Granger, Patrick Monette-Shaw, and Anonymous.

Action:

Denied the appeal by Sin Yee Poon, SEIU, Local 1021, opposing the Executive Officer’s decision to invoke an Inspection Service for the 9703 Employment and Training Specialist II Post Referral Process at the Human Services Agency.  In addition, the Commission directed the Executive Officer to conduct an investigation on the allegation of individuals being black listed for leaving the Cal Works Program.  (Vote of 3 to 0)

COMMISSIONERS’ ANNOUNCEMENTS/REQUESTS  (Item No. 17)

President Chan requested the Executive Officer Michael Brown to meet with Sin Yee Poon, SEIU, Local 1021 to determine the scope of the issues so the Civil Service Commission can develop a framework on how to inspect or audit records of post referral selection processes specifically in the departments and classifications which include those identified during public comment and report back on January 4, 2016.

ADJOURNMENT  (Item No. 18)

7:35 p.m.