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COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
City and County of San Francisco
Regular Meeting
Minutes
Tuesday, March 26, 2002
5:00 P.M.
City Hall, Room 263
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102

MEMBERS PRESENT                              STAFF PRESENT
Vice President Dorka Keehn                              Rosario Navarrette
Commissioner Julie Burton                              Ann Lehman
Commissioner Juanita Miles                              Rebecca Rolfe
Commissioner Emily Murase                              Carol Sacco
Commissioner Andrea Shorter                    Winne Xie
Commissioner Valerie Tulier

1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Vice President Dorka Keehn called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m.
President Carolene Marks excused.
Commissioner Valerie Tulier arrived at 5:35 p.m.

NO PUBLIC COMMENT
2. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
m/s/c (Miles/Burton/Unanimous) to adopt the revised agenda for Tuesday, March 26, 2002, Regular Meeting as follows: New Business was moved to Item 4; Discussion of Strategic Plan was postponed; Discussion of Kuehl Legislation was postponed.

NO PUBLIC COMMENT

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

m/s/c (Shorter/Burton/Unanimous) To approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting held Wednesday, February 27, 2002.

m/s/c (Shorter/Burton/Unanimous) To approve the minutes of the Special Meeting held Tuesday, March 12, 2002.

m/s/c (Shorter/Burton/Unanimous) To approve the minutes of the Special Meeting held Monday, March 18, 2002.

NO PUBLIC COMMENT

4. NEW BUSINESS

·          Introduction of new City Attorney for the Commission and Department: Deputy City Attorney Amy Ackerman introduced Deputy City Attorney Edward Olsen, who will be the Commission and Department’s new City Attorney. Ms. Ackerman will continue her involvement in the domestic violence investigative report, but has been asked to assist City Attorney Dennis J. Herrera in establishing a professional training program for the City Attorney’s Office, as well as other projects. Ms. Ackerman stated that Mr. Olsen is a graduate of University of Wisconsin Law School, and has been with the City Attorney’s Office for about six months. Commissioners Murase and Miles thanked Ms. Ackerman for her hard work on behalf of the Commission and Department.
·          2002 Domestic Violence Investigation Report:
o          Background on the report: Vice President Dorka Keehn reviewed background on the domestic violence investigation report, Justice and Courage: A Blueprint for San Francisco’s Response to Domestic Violence. She stated that the report is the result of the murder of Claire Joyce Tempongko and collaborative efforts of several individuals, agencies, and events including: 1) the City Attorney’s investigative report; 2) the Commission on the Status of Women Public Hearing on Domestic Violence; 3) the Domestic Violence Review Panel; 4) The Charan Report; 5) the Department on the Status of Women staff.
o          Summary of recommendations: The main recommendation is to develop an oversight committee which would be a committee of the Commission on the Status of Women ensuring that all of the recommendations in the report are implemented. The recommendations deal with interdepartmental communications and coordination; full staffing of various city departments, such as the SFPD Domestic Violence Response Unit; culturally sensitive domestic violence trainings; review of protocols and policies; and data collection and management needs to be improved.
o          Data collection: The Justis System, is a computerized system that links law enforcement, i.e. the Courts, the District Attorney’s Office, the Police Department, and the Adult Probation Department. This system would establish a data collection and management system and improve interdepartmental communication.
o          Department and community participation in the development of the recommendations: The recommendations came out of interviews by the investigator with City departments, analysis of the departmental policies and practices by the investigator, departmental feedback, the Charan Report, as well as community testimony at the public hearing on domestic violence in May 2001, held by the Domestic Violence Review Panel.
o          Timeframe: Some recommendations are currently in the process of being implemented, i.e. full staffing of the Domestic Violence Response Unit in the Police Department; the Justis System; and discussions regarding trainings in the Police Department. A five-year time frame has been given for the completion of this work.
o          Financial investment: The Department on the Status of Women currently does not have the funding to ensure that the report’s recommendations are implemented or to support the work of the oversight committee. The Commission should make the implementation of these recommendations one of its primary program goals, and should emphasize the importance of these recommendations to the city in order to save women’s lives. A major investment needs to be made by the City to ensure the implementation of the recommendations. City departments have been asked to look at the recommendations and to identify what they can do with the current resources; what can change immediately, and where additional resources are needed. It is believed that a dedicated full time staff person is needed to oversee the administration of the oversight committee.
o          Press Conference: The press conference will be held on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 at 10:30 a.m. at City Hall, Room 305, the Mayor’s Press Room. The report will also be posted on the Department’s website.
o          Replication: It is hoped that the findings of the report can be shared and replicated by other Commissions on the Status of Women and by other entities. Ms. Navarrette stated that she met Paul Seeves, head of the Violence Prevention Unit at the Attorney General’s Office in Sacramento. She stated that his office is going through a similar process in an attempt to get all of the statewide agencies together to collect data.
o          Public Feedback: The Commission will have a meeting on Monday, April 22, 2002 at 2:00 p.m., location to be determined, to provide an opportunity for the public to give the Commission feedback on the report. A notice will be sent out regarding this meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Noelle Hanrahan, KPFA Radio suggested that the Commission delay ratification of the document until after public comment on April 22, 2002. She wonders what authority will the oversight committee have to review departments and to make changes; what the report says regarding actual actions of the Police Department, the Probation Department, and the District Attorney’s Office; what changes in police practices will happen; and if the specifics of Ms. Tempongko’s case are addressed in the report, such as the Police Department’s response to the felony acts committed against her.

Vice President Keehn and Interim Executive Director Rosario Navarrette responded to Ms. Hanrahan’s questions. Vice President Keehn stated that the report is a living document, the oversight committee will allow for continual public comment and changes in recommendations if necessary, and therefore a delay in ratification would not be necessary. She further stated that the oversight committee will be a committee of the Commission on the Status of Women, working with the full support of the Mayor who has the authority to implement the recommendations. Rosario Navarrette stated that one of the recommendations that has been implemented is that the Domestic Violence Unit in the Police Department is now fully staffed; the City Attorney’s investigative report outlines specific recommendations regarding the Police Department around the Claire Joyce Tempongko case which is part of the COSW/DOSW report, and will be available for the public as part of the full C/DOSW report. Commissioners Tulier and Shorter acknowledged Ms. Hanrahan’s concerns and suggested that she submit her concerns in writing to the Commission.

Action Item: To approve the 2002 Domestic Violence Investigation Report.

m/s/c (Murase, Miles, Approved) To adopt the report Justice and Courage: A Blueprint for San Francisco’s Response to Domestic Violence, with the understanding that it is a living document, subject to change given public input and further developments.

Commissioner Shorter was excused at 6:06 p.m.

·          Draft Resolution Creating the Oversight Committee: The draft resolution states that the Commission is committed to the creation of the oversight committee. There are issues around funding of the Oversight Committee. The Commission will not be required to do this work, nor can it do this work, without the proper funding. This resolution shows the Commission’s intent. Additionally, the activities of the Oversight Committee will be included in the Commission and Department’s strategic plan and budget.
o          Deputy City Attorney Amy Ackerman suggested that the resolution be amended to explicitly state that the creation and administration of an oversight committee by the COSW is subject to an adequate budget. Secondly, Ms. Ackerman asked the COSW to distinguish between the existing Family Violence Advisory Council and the COSW’s planned oversight committee. Interim Executive Director Rosario Navarrette explained that the mandate of the Family Violence Council is to educate and raise public awareness on domestic violence prevention and awareness. However, because it is chaired by judges, it cannot discuss or create legislation or policy. The COSW oversight committee, as a policy making body, will not be bound by those restrictions.
o          Commissioner Murase suggested an amendment to the resolution: that the phrase "contingent on funding" be added at the end of the last line of the resolution.
o          Commissioner Keehn thanked department staff Rosario Navarrette, Rebecca Rolfe, and Carol Sacco; the City Attorney’s office; the review panel, particularly Ken Theisen; for their work on this report. She also thanked Supervisor Gavin Newsom for funding, and Mayor Brown for his support. Commissioner Murase acknowledged Vice President Keehn’s leadership on this issue. Commissioner Keehn thanked all of the Commissioners for making this issue a priority.

Commissioner Burton was excused at 6:14 p.m.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Beverly Upton, San Francisco Domestic Violence Consortium: Ms. Upton stated that her agency wants to support the COSW in their work to implement the domestic violence report.

Action Item: To approve the Oversight Committee Resolution # 03.26.02.1.

m/s/d (Murase, Burton, Denied) To adopt the resolution creating a Violence Against Women Oversight Committee. Commissioner Burton left the meeting before the vote, and due to the amendment that resulted from the discussion, the motion was denied and resubmitted with the amendments.

m/s/a (Murase, Miles, Approved) To adopt the resolution creating a Violence Against Women Oversight Committee, amending the last sentence of the final paragraph to end with "contingent on funding."

Action Item: To support SB 1301 (Kuehl) The Reproductive Privacy Act.
Item postponed.

5. PRESIDENT’S REPORT                                                   DISCUSSION
Vice President Dorka Keehn presented the President’s Report for President Carolene Marks.
·          Update on Executive Director Search: The Commission made its recommendation to the Mayor on Friday, March 22, 2002, which he approved on Monday, March 25, 2002. The new Executive Director will be Belle Taylor-McGhee, currently the executive director of the California Abortion Rights Action League (CARAL). Commissioner Miles reported that the Commission unanimously selected Ms. Taylor-McGhee and that the Mayor was pleased with their choice. The announcement will be made at the press conference on Wednesday, March 27, 2002. The Commissioners thanked Interim Executive Director Rosario Navarrette for acting as the Interim Executive Director during this period and the staff for their hard work. Commissioner Tulier also thanked the other Commissioners for their extra efforts during this period. Commissioners Murase and Miles also thanked Eunice Azzani for her role in the executive search and suggested that her efforts be recognized with a resolution or gift.
·          Women’s History Month Recognition Ceremony: Report postponed.
·          Afghan Women: Report postponed.

NO PUBLIC COMMENT

6. INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT                    DISCUSSION

·          2002-2003 Budget Update: The Board of Supervisors will be holding budget hearings where each department will have to present and justify budget expenditures. The Department on the Status of Women’s budget is scheduled to be presented to the Board of Supervisors Budget Committee on May 21, 2002. The support of the Commission in this process is important, including meeting with members of the community and with the members of the Board of Supervisors to advocate for the Department’s budget. Commissioner Keehn said that she will send out an email and commissioners can decided which Supervisors they each want to meet with. She would like talking points from the staff.
Ms. Navarrette stated that community members are providing the department with information on what the impact of a 10% cut would be. Ms. Navarrette briefly reviewed the budget process: the Mayor will submit his budget to the Board of Supervisors on April 1, 2002. The Board of Supervisors will then hold hearings where departments will present on their budgets. By June, the budget has to be balanced. Add backs will no longer happen.
Note of clarification:
The Board of Supervisors has created a new committee to deal specifically with the budget, named the Budget Committee. Its members are: Supervisors Sophie Maxwell, Aaron Peskin, Leland Yee, Tom Ammiano and Jake McGoldrick. The Finance Committee no longer deals with the budget; it will continue to focus on the on-going financial matters (such as contracts, grants, etc.) of the City and County as it does the rest of the year.
·          Front Desk Staff: Cristine Ayalin has been hired to cover the front desk on Tuesday, Thursday and half day on Friday. Ms. Ayalin will also provide assistance on the California Endowment Grant. She brings years of experience as an administrative assistant and is a welcome addition to our temporary staff until June.
·          Program Descriptions for Website: We are incorporating program descriptions to the Website that will assist the public in understanding what public policy work we are doing. The revised strategic plan will also be added to the website.
·          Strategic Planning Process for 24-hour Centralized Crisis Line: DOSW’s contract for the 24-hour Centralized Domestic Violence Crisis Line Strategic planning process will be signed by the end of March and work will begin immediately in April. Ms. Navarrette will ask the contractor, Holly Potter, to introduce herself at the next regular commission meeting.
·          Power Point Training: Staff attended a Power Point training that will be very useful in future presentations to the Commission. The Department of Public Works generously provided the training at no cost to DOSW.
·          Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Add Backs to VAW Programs: The violence against women programs funded by the Department are currently processing the COLAs. This cost has already been absorbed for next year and is therefore included in the budget resulting in no COLA add backs for FY 2002-2003.
·          CEDAW: The CEDAW Strategic Plan is being developed. It is timely for the Commission to be considering CEDAW as the overarching issue because there is a big movement across the nation not only to have CEDAW ratified by the federal government, but also to have all commissions on the status of women adopt CEDAW.
Ms. Navarrette thanked staff Rebecca Rolfe and Ann Lehman for their work and Commissioner Murase for her leadership on this issue.

NO PUBLIC COMMENT

7. OLD BUSINESS

·          Strategic Plan                                                   DISCUSSION/ACTION
Revise the policy priorities of the Strategic Plan.
To revise and approve the policy priorities for the COSW Strategic Plan FY 2000-2003.
Item postponed until April regular meeting.

8. REPORTS                                                                      DISCUSSION

·          Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women: No report was presented. The public will be notified of the details of the potluck scheduled for Thursday, April 4, 2002.

NO PUBLIC COMMENT

9. PUBLIC COMMENT                                                  DISCUSSION
(This item is to allow members of the public to comment generally on matters within the Commission’s purview as well as to suggest new agenda items for COSW’s future consideration.)

NO PUBLIC COMMENT

1O. ANNOUNCEMENTS                                                  DISCUSSION

NO ANNOUNCEMENTS

11. ADJOURNMENT                                                            ACTION

m/s/c (Miles/Tulier/Unanimous) The meeting was adjourned at 6:44 p.m.

Explanatory documents: For copies of explanatory documents listed in this agenda, and other related materials received by COSW, please contact the Department on the Status of Women at 25 Van Ness Ave, Suite 130, San Francisco, CA 94102; phone: 415-252-2570, fax: 415-252-2575. Also, to the extent possible, documents will be available on the COSW website at http://www.sfgov.org/cosw/.

Meeting Information