2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
ANDREA SHORTER
President
KAY GULBENGAY
Vice President
NIKKI CALMA
Commissioner
DORKA KEEHN
Commissioner
CAROLENE MARK S
Commissioner
KATHERINE MUNTER
Commissioner
BARBARA SKLAR Commissioner
EMILY MURASE, PhD
Executive Director
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COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Members Present Staff Present
Commissioner Kay Gulbengay Executive Director Emily Murase, PhD
Commissioner Dorka Keehn Policy Analyst Ann Lehman Vice President Carolene Marks Administrative Analyst Laura Marshall Commissioner Katherine Munter Policy Analyst Anu Menon
President Andrea Shorter Grants Administrator Carol Sacco
Commission Secretary Cynthia Vasquez
Intern Cecilia Terrazas
Excused: Commissioner Nikki Calma and Commissioner Barbara Sklar
I. CALL TO ORDER/AGENDA CHANGES
President Shorter called the meeting to order at 5:06 pm and welcomed all present.
Action: Approved agenda.
m/s/c (Munter/Keehn/Unanimous)
No public comment.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Action: Approved draft minutes from December 10 and December 17, 2008.
m/s/c (Munter/Gulbengay/Unanimous)
No public comment.
III. EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS REPORT DISCUSSION
A. Executive Directors Report
Dr. Murase referred Commissioners to her written report. The Department’s landmark work promoting the human rights of women as part of the CEDAW Ordinance is featured in the Winter issue of Ms. Magazine. The article focuses on gender analysis work both in departments and with the City budget. Dr. Murase reminded Commissioners of the Anti-Human Trafficking Forum will be held on February 24 at the Milton Marks Auditorium in the State Building, 455 Golden Gate. The Department will also be holding a follow-up to the September 2008 Women’s Policy Summit on February 10 at 1 South Van Ness, Atrium Conference Room. This first in a series of quarterly roundtables will focus on the City budget process.
Robin Brasso gave public comment on the need for women to be engaged in the budget process and fiscal stimulus measures.
IV. 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.
A. Resolution Recognizing the Contributions of Jill Tregor
B. Resolution Commemorating the 10-Year Anniversary SafeHouse
C. Resolution Recognizing the Contributions of Winna Davis
Action: To approve the Consent Agenda.
m/s/c (Shorter/Gulbengay/Unanimous).
No public comment.
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. National Lesbian Summit
Maria Cora, Associate Director of the Lesbian Health & Research Center of the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and Program Manager at the Center for Young Women’s Health, provided information on the upcoming National Lesbian Health Summit that will take place from March 6-8 at the UCSF Parnassus Campus. The summit will include workshops, panels, and various presentations to gather and disseminate information on various health issues that reflect the diversity of women. Ms. Cora requested that the Commission help publicize the event and work together on future projects. More information can be found at www.lesbianhealthinfo.org. Commissioners agreed to propose a resolution in support of the Summit for approval at the February Commission meeting.
B. San Francisco Rent Board
Delene Wolf, Executive Director of the San Francisco Rent Board provided an update on the implementation of gender analysis at the Rent Board. Since the last time the Rent Board reported to the Commission Supervisor McGoldrick sponsored and passed legislation to have rental applications include an inquiry of the number of school-aged children that live in the house. Then-Supervisor Matt Gonzalez also sponsored legislation prohibiting evicting families for adding a family member to the rental unit. The Rent Board is one of the first City departments to implement work life balance policies. Currently several staff attorneys telecommute, counselors have the option of working 9/80 days, and staff has a 1 year maternity leave option. Ms. Wolf reported that the Rent Board has very little staff turnover due to these work life balance policies. She concluded that though the gender analysis process was extremely demanding and time-consuming, it resulted in positive change within her agency. The Commission thanked Ms. Wolf for her report and her on-going work to promote gender equity within city government.
C. Adoption of the Budget for FY09-10
Executive Director Murase reviewed the proposed budget for FY09-10. Dr. Murase explained that the Mayor's Office required a 12.5% reduction in the current budget and another 12.5% in contingency reductions. In mid-year cuts, the Department was forced to reduce staff by 15%, thereby avoiding any reductions to the VAW Grants Program. However, the Department cannot function properly if it does not maintain the remaining staffing level. Department staff met with Partner Agencies to discuss and brainstorm possible alternative revenue sources. As part of the budget process, the Mayor's Office has convened various working groups to discuss cost saving measures. One option that is being considered is consolidating smaller departments under large umbrella entities. Dr. Murase is participating in the working group on consolidation that is being chaired by City Administrator Ed Lee and Supervisor Michaela Alioto-Pier.
Catherine Dodd, the Mayor's Deputy Chief of Staff for Health and Human Services, thanked the Commission for deliberating on such a serious topic. She recommended that the Commission review its Strategic Plan in light of the budget crisis. She stated that the reality is that women, children and families will suffer greatly from city-wide reductions in services. Commissioners discussed studying the current economic status and what effect it is having on the women and girls in the City.
Robin Brasso spoke in opposition to the proposed cuts.
Katherine Berg, with La Casa de las Madres, spoke in opposition to the proposed across-the-board reductions.
Roberta Toomer, with WOMAN Inc., spoke in opposition to the proposed reductions.
Beckie Masaki, with Asian Women's Shelter, provided testimony on the impact the proposed reduction would have on clients and staff of her agency.
Jennifer Grant, with La Casa de las Madres, provided testimony on the direct impact of the proposed reductions to clients.
Emberly Cross, with the Cooperative Restraining Order Clinic, provided testimony on the impact of the proposed reductions.
Jill Zawisza, with WOMAN Inc., provided testimony on the impact of the proposed reductions on her agency.
Den Quinsay of Young Asian Women Against Violence (YAWAV) provided testimony on how the agency has served young women in the community and introduced participants in the YAWAV program.
Beverly Upton, with the Domestic Violence Consortium, expressed concern over the proposed reductions. However, she stated that she would like to partner with the Department to increase awareness of the work of the Department.
Zwazzi Sowo, with Glide, provided testimony on the impact of the proposed reductions.
Commissioners agreed that at a time when the agencies are seeing an increase in a need for services it is difficult to make the necessary reductions. The Commission urged agencies to provide the Department with data that show how the reductions will directly impact their clients.
Action: Adopt the budget for FY09-10.
m/s/c (Keehn/Shorter/Unanimous).
VI. OLD BUSINESS
A. Strategic Plan Review
In light of the proposed budget reductions, Commissioners agreed to have an Ad-hoc Committee, composed of President Shorter, Vice President Marks, Commissioner Keehn and Commissioner Munter. to review the Strategic Plan.
No public comment.
B. Guidelines for Resolutions
The Commission discussed and reviewed the proposed guidelines for resolutions.
Action: To approve guidelines for consent calendar resolutions.
m/s/c (Keehn/Gulbengay/Unanimous).
No public comment.
VII. REPORTS
A. Health
Commissioner Marks continues to work with a group of African American women to increase knowledge and diagnosis of cancer within this underserved community. Commissioner Marks also continues to work with the transgender community on reproductive health issues and is working with Senator Mark Leno's office to introduce legislation to improve access to reproductive health among transgender individuals.
B. Justice & Courage
Commissioner Keehn reported that the Justice & Courage Oversight Panel is looking at the impact of the budget cuts on the various City departments it engages with. Commissioner Keehn was glad to report that the curriculum guide for the Domestic Violence Response Cross-Training Institute had been published.
C. Women's Human Rights Treaty
Policy Analyst Anu Menon reported that on January 23, the Department held the Gender Equality Principles Initiative Roundtable focused on Principle #4: Management and Governance, at the McKesson headquarters. The roundtable was attended by 25 company participants and featured speakers from Catalyst, the Level the Playing Field Institute, and Wells Fargo. The panel was followed by peer-to-peer discussion on best practices and challenges facing companies on gaining more diversity in management and governance positions.
D. Family Violence Council
The Family Violence Council met on January 15 and discussed a draft of the Report on Family Violence in San Francisco, FY07-08. This report focuses on data from criminal justice agencies, child and adult protective services, and community agencies about child abuse, domestic violence, and elder abuse. A final report will be available once the Council has approved it.
VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT
Sylvia Johnson gave public comment.
IV. ADJOURN
Motion to adjourn meeting in memory of the life of Richard Sklar.
m/s/c (Marks/Gulbengay/Unanimous).
The meeting adjourned at 7:41 pm.
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 415-554-7724. To obtain a free copy of the Sunshine Ordinance contact the 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. 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.
