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City and County of San FranciscoDepartment on the Status of Women

Meeting Information



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COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
City and County of San Francisco

.MINUTES
Regular Meeting

Wednesday, May 24, 2000 at 5:00 P.M.
City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 408
San Francisco, California 94102

American Sign Language interpreters and a Sound Amplification System provided upon request with 48 hour advance notice to 415-252-2570. Accessible parking available at the Civic Center Parking Garage, the parking lot on McAllister between Larkin and Polk and metered parking spaces adjacent to the building. Accessible BART station is the Civic Center Station on Market and between 7th & 8th Streets. Accessible MUNI Metro station is the Van Ness Station and lines are J, K, L and M. Accessible MUNI Lines are the 6, 7, 42, 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 make arrangements or for accessibility information, contact Kit Chau at 415-252-2570 (Voice) or 415-252-2550 (TDD).

CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

Meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by President Miles. Commissioner Tulier arrived at 5:04 p.m. and was excused from 5:04 p.m. to 5:16 p.m. for her photo session. Vice President Marks left at 6:00 p.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT STAFF PRESENT

President Juanita Miles Sonia Melara

Vice President Carolene Marks Rosario Navarrette

Commissioner Dorka Keehn Kit Chau

Commissioner Emily Murase Melyssa Jo Kelly

Commissioner Andrea Shorter Ann Lehman

Commissioner Valerie Tulier Carol Sacco

ADOPTION OF AGENDA (ACTION ITEM)

The Commissioners voted to move up any reports involving the staff so that the staff (except for Executive Director, Sonia Melara) could leave. They also voted to move up the Closed Session.

m/s/c (Marks/Murase/Unanimous) To adopt the agenda with the amendment to change the order of several agenda items.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES (ACTION ITEM)

m/s/c (Murase/Keehn/Unanimous) To approve the minutes of the April 26, 2000 Community Meeting.

 

 

STAFF REPORTS (As Modified in the Agenda)

In addition to submitting written reports prepared by herself and the staff, Sonia Melara, Executive Director, arranged for Melyssa Jo Kelly, Administrator of Violence Against Women (VAW) Programs to be present to answer any questions regarding the VAW Public Awareness Campaign and the Emergency/Transitional Fund:

VAW Public Awareness Campaign

Ms. Kelly reported that community response to the "Respect Is Sexy" ad campaign continues to be excellent, with approximately 30 calls and approximately 150 posters requested. She noted that posters have been mailed to all agencies listed in COSW's social services directory, as well as in response to requests. She answered questions from Commissioners, and noted that although the Department's supply of the English language versions has been exhausted, posters will be re-printed in July (if more funds are allocated to this project). In the interim, 8 ½ by 11 versions of the posters will be distributed to community clinics. Commissioners discussed the campaign, including the viability of obtaining discounts from printers, use of Friends of the COSW funds, and potential press contacts. Additional information was included in the Commissioners' packets.

Emergency/Transitional Fund

Ms. Kelly reported that W.O.M.A.N., Inc. is administering the COSW's emergency/transitional fund by disbursing grants to victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault for emergency or transitional expenses. Seventy-five percent of the funds are reserved for transitional grants, and twenty-five percent reserved for emergency assistance funding. She answered questions from Commissioners, and noted that, since the fund's inception in April 2000, two small grants have been made. The fund is designed to provide for a quick turn-around time for applicants, the current allocation will be carried over into the next fiscal year, and Commissioners will receive reports on the distribution of the funds to clients of local service organizations. Ms. Melara noted that a representative from W.O.M.A.N., Inc. will make a presentation regarding the fund at a future Commission meeting. Additional information was included in the Commissioners' packets.

 

OLD BUSINESS

    Sexual Harassment in the Schools, Reviewing Progress of the Implementation of the SFUSD Resolution Number 94-27A10 Improving the Curriculum About Sexual Harassment

Ann Lehman, Policy Analyst, reported that a Sexual Harassment Report from SLASH (Student Leaders Against Sexual Harassment) had been sent to some of the Commissioners. Ms. Lehman stated that this group of 12 to 14 year-olds did an excellent job. They met with Juanita Owens, Member, Board of Education, who strongly agreed that there is a need to hire a sexual harassment coordinator. Unfortunately, the meeting set up for yesterday, May 23rd at the Commission office with two Board of Education Members did not take place. They just heard about a possible move on San Francisco United School District's part to fund a sexual harassment coordinator. Ms. Lehman will continue to follow up.
  1. NEW BUSINESS
    • Discussion to Assign Commissioners to Girls Program Committee/Task Force

Rosario Navarrette, Assistant Director, reported that although the Task Force on the Sexual Assault of Girls & Young Women has not met officially, it has worked with San Francisco Women Against Rape (SFWAR) and other programs who do similar work. Last year, the members of the task force did a lot of intensive training with young adults and girls. A few years ago, they worked closely on a gender parity report with the Mayor's Office of Children, Youth, and Families to reflect the lack of funding. Recently they had a preliminary meeting with Commissioner Shorter and proposed focusing on policy development in terms of gender parity and implementation of that. The Action of Assigning Commissioners to the Girls Program Committee/Task Force was tabled over to after the Closed Session.
  1. PUBLIC COMMENT (on all matters pertaining to the closed session)

    2. There were no public comments.

  2. CLOSED SESSION - Pursuant to Government Code section 54957 and San Francisco Administrative Code section 67.10(b)

    3. Public Employee Performance Evaluation: Evaluation of Executive Director, Sonia Melara

    The Closed Session began at 5:42 p.m. and ended at 6:12 p.m.

  3. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION

Commissioners and Ms. Melara discussed concerns regarding
    • whether or not to take the approval regarding the appointed committee and the process to be used, including the survey,
    • whether or not the Commissioners can meet without Ms. Melara to discuss the evaluation before the actual evaluation in Ms. Melara's presence, and
    • the correct timeline for the Pay for Performance Program.

It was decided that Ms. Melara would contact Amy Ackerman, Deputy City Attorney, tomorrow, May 25th, to see if she can be at future meetings and guide/answer parliamentary questions. Ms. Melara will also contact President Miles by e-mail to set a date for a Special Meeting to be held next week.

  1. PRESIDENT'S REPORT

President Miles reported on the following:
    • She felt privileged to be on the Women Who Make a Difference Awards 2000 selection committee.
    • She attended the Million Mom March and would like to continue to support future legislation introduced by Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein. Commissioner Tulier asked if they (as Commissioners) could make resolutions to support gunless legislation. President Miles answered in the affirmative and requested Commissioner Tulier to spearhead that.
    • She attended the Living Wage Task Force presentation and commended Commissioner Keehn for her good work.
    • She explained that she made the decision to cancel yesterday's meeting with San Francisco Unified School District Board President Mary Hernandez for the following two reasons: 1) SLASH has already met with Ms. Owens, and 2) The meeting should be postponed until the new Superintendent is on board.
    • Due to illness, the presentation of the Proclamation to Ximena Delgado is postponed to the June 28th meeting.
    • She thanked the Commission for the speedy turnaround and support of the Certificates of Merit to Ms. Ruby Dee, Ms. Helena-Joyce Wright, and the Oakland Ensemble Theatre (OET).
    • She inquired about the status of the Needs Assessment and Ms. Melara replied that the Commissioners had heard a presentation at the February 23, 2000 Special Meeting held at the St. Francis Memorial Hospital. A draft of the final report will be submitted at the end of June and the recommendations will be available in July.
  1. NEW BUSINESS
    • Discussion and Possible Action to Revise Commission Letterhead

Ms. Melara stated that Kit Chau, Executive Secretary, had sent all Commissioners samples of new letterheads for the Commission. Ms. Chau compiled and announced the top favorites.

ACTION: m/s/c (Murasa/Keehn/Unanimous) To adopt the letterhead that retains the original font with the following modifications: adding the web site and e-mail addresses, Commissioners' names and titles, and deleting Ms. Melara's name and title.
  1. STAFF REPORT
    • Ms. Melara stated that last week she was informally told by the Mayor's Budget office that they will put in the final $100,000. A day later, she was told that a Board Member needed to call the Mayor's Budget office in support of this item. Ms. Melara called Supervisor Barbara Kaufman, who immediately made the phone call and confirmed that the funding would be allocated. What this means is that the Department would now go before the Finance Committee at City Hall on June 21, 2000 with the Mayor's recommendation. However, there is no money allocated for emergency, clerical support, and CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) consulting.
    • Some of the Commissioners will be attending the National Association of Commissions for Women Convention Executive Committee Meeting tomorrow, May 25, 2000. However, a full report was sent to all Commissioners with this report.
    • Included in the packets are Commissioners' biographies (except for Commissioner Shorter's) and a revised version of staff biographies to include Departmental Personnel Officer, Ann Courtright.
  1. NEW BUSINESS
    • Assignment of Commissioners to Girls Program Committee/Task Force

ACTION: m/s/c (Murase/Keehn/Unanimous) To assign Commissioner Shorter to chair (with staff) the Girls Program Committee/Task Force and Commissioner Tulier as the Alternate.

 

 
  1. OLD BUSINESS
    • Budget Strategy

Commissioners discussed budget strategies for the Department.

ACTION: m/s/c (Keehn/Murase/Unanimous) To have Commissioners meet with Members of the Board of Supervisors to discuss the Department's budget after first meeting with the Finance Committee members.

President Miles appointed Commissioner Keehn to coordinate Commissioners' meetings with Members of the Board.
  1. REPORTS
  • Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Task Force

Commissioner Murase reported that the CEDAW Task Force voted to postpone the Department of Environment's gender analysis until late September.
  1. PUBLIC COMMENT

    2. There were no public comments.

  2. ANNOUNCEMENTS BY COMMISSIONERS
  • Commissioner Tulier made several announcements:

-She reported that for the second time, she was invited to speak on a pre-recorded radio show regarding women prisoners and the impact on their children. She also promoted the COSW's Out of Sight/Out of Mind Report and made the Department's phone number available. The radio show will be released soon and the Department should expect to receive some phone calls.

-She attended a workshop dealing with undoing racism this past weekend and would recommend this workshop for any interested parties.

  • Commissioner Shorter made several announcements:

-She thanked the Commission for appointing her to the Girls Program Committee/Task Force.

-She mentioned that she had co-authored the Out of Sight/Out of Mind Report and was honored that the Commission adopted the report and formed a task force around it.

-She commended Ms. Kelly and the Department's good work at the Take Your Daughters to Work Day event. She felt honored to participate in this event, where she had the opportunity to speak to a group of 8th graders and observe them at the Supervisors' mock hearing.

  • Commissioner Murase noticed that the Staff Report did not mention the Women's Luncheon to be held on June 16th and Ms. Melara replied that all the Commissioners had been sent invitations.
  1. ADJOURNMENT

Meeting was adjourned at 7:02 p.m.

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Know Your Rights Under the Sunshine Ordinance

(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 415-554-4851. To obtain a free copy of the Sunshine Ordinance contact the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, Rachel Arnstine O'Hara, Clerk, City Hall, Room 362, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102-4683, phone: 415-554-6171, fax: 415-554-6177, email: rachel_arnstineo'hara@ci.sf.ca.us. 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. To review or obtain documents referred to on agenda, contact Kit Chau at 25 Van Ness Ave, Room 130, San Francisco, CA 94102: phone: 415-252-2570, fax: 415-252-2575.

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 Admin Code 16.520 - 16.534) to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the Ethics Commission at 1390 Market Street #701, San Francisco, CA 94102, telephone 415-554-9510, fax 415-703-0121 and web site http://sfgov.org/ethics.