2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
City and County of San Francisco
Minutes
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
5:00 P.M.
City Hall, Room 408
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
Members Present Staff Present
President Andrea Shorter Executive Director Emily M. Murase, PhD
Commissioner Andrea Evans Deputy Director Rosario Navarrette
Commissioner Carolene Marks Executive Assistant Bernice Casey
Commissioner Angela Williams Senior Policy Analyst Caroline Donnola
Justice & Courage Coordinator Justine McGonagle
Policy Analyst Carol Sacco
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
President Shorter called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m.
Vice President Miles and Commissioner Keehn were excused.
2. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
President Shorter moved that following changes be made in the agenda.
She asked that the President’s Report and the Executive Director’s Report be heard after the Consent Agenda. Under New Business, President Shorter asked that items c & d be move to the Consent Agenda and item f be postponed until the August 25, 2004 Commission meeting.
Public Comment
Jakkee Bryson asked to be heard regarding the disgraceful conditions at the Next Door shelter.
President Shorter asked if Ms. Bryson had public comment regarding the agenda and further explained that public comment could be heard during each agenda item if it pertained to that item.
m/s/c (Marks/Williams/Unanimous)
Action: Adopted amended agenda for COSW Meeting, July 28, 2004.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Marks submitted grammatical changes to the Minutes to Executive Secretary.
m/s/c (Shorter/Williams/Unanimous)
Action: Approved amended Minutes from COSW Meeting, June 23, 2004.
No public comment.
4. NEW BUSINESS
a. Incompatible Activities Statement
Deputy Director Navarrette gave an overview of the Incompatibilities Activities Statement and the requirements of Proposition E which required all City commissions to develop such statements.
City Attorney Paula Jesson reviewed the sections of the Statement with the Commissioners.
President Shorter asked what the differences were between the Statement currently under the Commission’s consideration and current local and state policies on conflict of interest. Ms. Shorter asked if the Statements would differ with each City department and commission.
City Attorney Paula Jesson said the Statement could be different for each City department and commission as the Incompatible Activities Statement was a place for each department and commission to decide what it felt were activities of incompatibility. Ms. Jesson explained that while some of the policies were already covered within existing law that the Statement went into more specific of what the Commission deemed to be conflict of interest.
The Commission discussed the possibility of conflict of interest when a Commissioner worked or volunteered for an agency that applied for or received monies from the Department on the Status of Women.
City Attorney Jesson reviewed some additional suggested changes within the Statement.
President Shorter asked if there were additional edits and changes that needed to be made when could those changes be made.
Deputy Director Navarrette suggested that the Commission wait to receive feedback from the Ethics Commission after it had submitted its Statement to see if the Ethics Commission makes any additional edits or changes.
City Attorney Jesson informed the Commission that it could make changes or edits at anytime.
Executive Secretary Casey read into record the changes that the Commission had made to its Incompatible Activities Statement.
Public Comment
Jakkee Bryson asked the Commission where to find the materials in discussion.
President Shorter directed Ms. Bryson to the location of the materials.
m/s/c (Marks/Williams/Unanimous)
Action: Approved the Commission’s Incompatible Activities Statement
b. Violence Against Women (VAW) Programs
Senior Policy Analyst Caroline Donnola gave a brief report from the Funding Committee regarding RFQ submissions for the Prevention, Education & Training for Underserved Populations category for the 2004-2007 funding period. The independent Review Panel approved seven of the eight proposals for funding. Ms. Donnola told the Commission that the Funding Committee recommended the following allocations: 1) $15,000.00 to Women in Dialogue for the “In Defense of Prostitute Women’s Safety” project to fun d outreach efforts and to support their infrastructure; 2) $10,000.00 to the Institute on Aging for the “Preventing Domestic Violence in Late Life” project for training worships to clergy and service providers about domestic violence and its impact on at-risk elders; and 3) $5,000.00 to the Arab Cultural and Community Center for “The Women’s Program: Domestic Violence Awareness Campaign,” which would produce a bilingual brochure in English and Arabic on domestic violence prevention and available services.
Commissioner Marks asked if the Department would encounter similar problems with Arab Cultural and Community Center as it had with San Francisco Women Against Rape in the past.
President Shorter thanked Commissioner Marks for her question but stated there was no evidence to suggest that there were any efforts by the Arab Cultural and Community Center to do anything that would impact the community in a negative manner.
Commissioner Marks asked if the Arab Cultural and Community Center had an anti-Israel policy.
Ms. Donnola reported that to her knowledge it did not.
Commissioner Williams asked how many people would be served by these grants.
Ms. Donnola said that she did not bring that information with her but would provide it to the Commission at a later time.
m/s/c (Williams/Evans/Unanimous)
Action: Approved the recommendations of the VAW Funding Committee for the 2004-2007 funding allocation period.
No public comment.
c. Nomination of Commission Officers for 2004-2005
President Shorter asked the Commission for nominations for a President and Vice President.
Commissioner Williams nominated President Shorter for another term as President of the Commission.
President Shorter accepted the nomination and thanked the Commission. President Shorter nominated Commissioner Williams for Vice President. President Shorter asked if there were any other nominations to be put forward.
Commissioner Williams accepted the nomination.
No public comment.
CONSENT AGENDA
All matters listed hereunder constitute a Consent Agenda and are considered to be routine by the Commission on the Status of Women. They will be acted upon by a single roll call vote of the Commission. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the Commission so requests, in which event the matter shall be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered as a separate item. Members of the public may speak on each item listed on the Consent Agenda.
5. CONSENT AGENDA
m/s/c (Marks/Williams/Unanimous)
Resolved, That this Commission is in support of AB 2404: Equal Opportunity in Community Athletic Programs.
RES. NO. 2004-009
Resolved, That this Commission recognizes the service of Deputy Director Rosario Navarrette.
RES. NO. 2004-010
Action: Approved sending a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger expressing concern over his use of the term “Girlie-Men” and asking him to publicly apologize.
Action: Approved sending a letter to Education Secretary Riordan expressing concern over his comments to a Santa Barbaragirl about her name.
Action: Approved sending a letter to District Attorney Harris supporting her position over on booths used for illegal sexual activity.
Action: Approved sending a letter to Chief Fong supporting her position on charges she brought on a police officer regarding his conduct at the San FranciscoInternationalAirporton February 29, 2004.
Public Comment
Rachel West asked that before the Commission took a position on the booths used for illegal sexual activity that the Commission gets the view of the women working in the booths. Ms. West said she would be happy to ask the women in her network their thoughts and report back to the Commission.
Beckie Masaki acknowledged the contributions made by Rosario Navarrette and thanked her for her service and contributions to the community. Ms. Masaki also welcomed Emily Murase as the new Executive Director.
Beverly Upton thanked Rosario Navarrette for her work and leadership on behalf the domestic violence community. Ms. Upton also asked that the Commission recognize Governor Schwarzenegger work with the Parole Board on releasing women from prison who were imprisoned for killing an abuser.
President Shorter asked the Department to draft a letter to the Governor recognizing the positive work he has done on behalf of women.
Commissioner Marks departed at 5:56 p.m. There was no longer a quorum of the Commission.
6. PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President Shorter welcomed Executive Director Emily Murase and gave a brief synopsis of the contributions made by Ms. Murase while serving on the Commission. Ms. Shorter said she was confident in the abilities of Ms. Murase to move the Department and the Commission forward.
President Shorter gave a brief background on the meeting with the Mayor regarding a variety of priority issues facing women in San Francisco.
President Shorter also discussed the Board of Supervisor hearings which took place in July that focused on the high arrest rates of African-American girls in San Francisco.
7. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Executive Director Emily Murase summarized her written report for the Commission. She acknowledged the work being done by the Department staff.
Ms. Murase introduced the new VAW Grants Administrator Michelle Turner and gave a brief background of Ms. Turner’s experience.
Ms. Murase talked about the work being done by the Department to address the issues brought to its attention by a member of the public, Jakkee Bryson.
Commissioner Williams thanked Ms. Murase for her report. Ms. Williams clarified that the Friend’s recruiting event had been moved to Monday, August 23rd to One Market restaurant.
Public Comment
Beckie Masaki discussed the upcoming events scheduled for October: Domestic Violence Month. She asked the events be collaborated and coordinated with each other.
Ms. Brsyon asked for clarification about what was being done by the Department on issues she had raised.
Executive Assistant Casey summarized the efforts being undertaken by the Department. She explained that she was working with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) to develop a timeline of issues raised by Ms. Bryson and how and if said issues were addressed.
Ms. Bryson asked when HRC was contacted.
Ms. Casey gave background on the July 21, 2004 meeting.
Ms. Bryson said she would wait until Public Comment to make additional comments.
8. REPORTS
a. Justice and Courage
President Shorter moved the item to the next meeting as there was no longer a quorum.
b. CEDAW
Commissioner Williams gave a brief report of the work being done to set up the next CEDAW Committee meeting. She provided the Commission and the public with a handout breaking the work of CEDAW down in five parts. Ms. Williams would like to schedule the first Committee meeting on September 1, 2004.
c. Friends
Commissioner Williams gave the Commission an overview of the July 22, 2004 Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women meeting. She asked the Commission to provide her with names of people who might be interested in attending the Friends event on August 23, 2004.
9. PUBLIC COMMENT
Jakkee Bryson reported to the Commission conditions at Next Door shelter. Ms. Bryson said that one toilet was non-operational and other toilet stalls had no doors. Ms. Bryson indicated that she had filed complaints on these issues with the Mayor’s Office of Disability and the Department of Building Inspections. Ms. Bryson also expressed her concerns with sharing the shower room with transgender people. She also expressed the opaque shower curtains in the shower room. Ms. Bryson said she was concerned as well about sharing sleeping and living space with transgender people.
President Shorter said the Commission was moving forward with the complaints brought forth by Ms. Bryson and was doing everything within its power to be proactive change. Ms. Shorter said it was her goal to resolve the issues and to not have to have Ms. Bryson come back as often as she has in the past.
10. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting ended at 6:45 p.m. There was not a quorum.
American Sign Language interpreters and a Sound Amplification System provided upon request with 48-hour advance notice to 415-252-2570. Translation into languages other than English is also available with 48-hour notice. Limited accessible street parking available. Accessible MUNI Metro station in the Van Ness Station and lines are J, K, L, M and N. Accessible MUNI Lines are the 6, 7, 9, 42, 47, 49, and 71 lines. Accessible seating for persons with disabilities (including those using wheelchairs) will be available. Meeting proceedings available in alternative formats. In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illness, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products. Please help the City to accommodate these individuals.
To obtain a disability-related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, to participate in the meeting, please contact the Department on the Status of Women at least two business days before the meeting at 415-252-2570 (Voice) or 415-252-2550 (TTD).
The Board of Supervisors has amended the Sunshine Ordinance by adding provision 67A.1. The provision is effective as of January 21, 2001.
The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers, and similar sound producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager or other similar sound-producing electronic devices.
(Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code)
Government’s duty is to serve the public, reaching its decision in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people’s business. This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people’s review. For more information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance, or to report a violation of the Ordinance, contact the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force at 415-554-7724. To obtain a free copy of the Sunshine Ordinance contact Donna Hall, Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, City Hall, Room 244, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102-4689, phone: 415-554-7724, fax: 415-554-7854, email: Donna.Hall@sfgov.org. Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance can also be obtained from the San Francisco Public Library and on the City’s website at www.sfgov.org.
Attention: Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance (SF Campaign & Governmental Conduct Code § 2.100 – 2.160) to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the San Francisco Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness Ave., Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102; phone: 415-581-2300, fax: 415-581-2317 and web site http://www.sfgov.org/ethics.
Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Requirements
Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign & Governmental Conduct Code § 2.100] to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the San Francisco Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102; telephone (415) 581-2300; fax (415) 581-2317; web site: sfgov.org
