Meeting Information

COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
City and County of San Francisco
Special Meeting
Minutes
Monday, May 12, 2003
3:30 P.M.
City Hall, Room 408
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102

MEMBERS PRESENT                                STAFF PRESENT

President Dorka Keehn                    Belle Taylor-McGhee, Executive Director
Vice President Emily Murase            Rosario Navarrette, Deputy Director
Commissioner Carolene Marks        Caroline Donnola, Senior Policy Analyst
Commissioner Juanita Miles             Angela Martin, Executive Secretary

1.  CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

       President Dorka Keehn called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m. 

NO Public Comment                                                                                         

2.  ADOPTION OF AGENDA

m/s/c/ (Keehn/Murase/Unanimous) To adopt the agenda for the Monday, May 12, 2003, Special Meeting.

NO PUBLIC COMMENT

3.   OLD BUSINESS

Deputy Director Rosario Navarrette explained the details of the three-percent (3%) Budget Reduction Plan.  She stated that the Department’s budget will be reduced by $72,739.00.

m/s/c/ (Murase/Marks/Unanimous)  To adopt the three-percent (3%) Budget Reduction Plan for fiscal year 2002-2003 to the amount of $72,739.00.

Ms. Navarrette explained the budget reductions to the VAW Programs and stated that the total change in the General Fund budget for fiscal year 2003-04 is $390,561.00.

President Keehn asked Ms. Navarrettte what the repercussions would be if the Commission only agreed to a five-percent (5%) cut.

Noelle Simmons of the Mayor’s Budget Office stated that if the Commission does not vote to approve the ten-percent (10%) contingency cuts, the cuts will still appear in the budget that the Mayor will submit to the Board of Supervisors.  She further stated that a letter will accompany the budget to the Board stating that the Commission did not ratify the cuts.  Ms. Simmons concluded by saying that the Board of Supervisors will make the final determinations regarding the cuts to the budget.

Commissioner Miles asked if the Board of Supervisors could further reduce the Department’s budget if the cuts were not approved.

Ms. Simmons responded affirmatively.

Commissioner Miles asked Ms. Simmons about the possibility of the Department not being cut by the full ten-percent (10%). 

Ms. Simmons stated that the budget that the Mayor will submit to the Board of Supervisors will reflect the full ten-percent (10%) cut.  However, the Board of Supervisors makes the final decision regarding the budget and could decide to restore some of the cuts.

Commissioner Marks stated that the funded agencies should also write letters to the Board of Supervisors voicing concern about the impact of the budget cuts.

President Keehn stated that women from the various community based organizations should attend the June 9, 2003, budget hearings.   She added that the Commission should organize the event.  She also stated that Supervisor Sophie Maxwell and Fiona Ma have agreed to help.

m/s/c (Marks/Keehn/Unanimous) To accept the 2003-2004 budget without the ten-percent (10%) contingency plan.

Commissioner Miles asked for clarification regarding who will be responsible for organizing the event relative to the June 9, 2003, hearing for the budget.

President Keehn stated that the organization of the event should be the responsibility of both the Commission and Department.

Executive Director Belle Taylor-McGhee stated that the Commission would want to be at the Budget Committee’s June 9, 2003, meeting, and at the Board of Supervisors’ meeting when the budget will be discussed.

Vice President Murase commended the staff for the work on the budget.

Commissioner Marks stated that she would like to have talking points available to present at the meetings with the Board of Supervisors Budget Committee members.

It was decided that President Keehn will meet with Supervisor Daly; Vice President Murase will meet with Supervisor Ma; Commissioner Miles will meet with Supervisor Maxwell; and Commissioner Marks will meet with Supervisor Peskin to discuss the budget cuts.

Noelle Simmons suggested that the Department inform the Mayor’s office, in writing, that the Commission approved the budget without the additional ten-percent (10%) contingency plan. 

Commissioner Marks asked when the talking points would be available to present to the Board of Supervisors’ Budget Committee.

Executive Director Belle Taylor-McGhee stated that the Department could provide the talking points to the Commission by June 1, 2003.  She added that the Domestic Violence Consortium is also creating a document to present to the Board of Supervisors.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Khushbu Sirvastava of the Asian Women’s Shelter spoke and stated that the Commission could play a major role in organizing community based organizations and women to make a statement about the budget at the Board of Supervisors’ meetings.

4.        ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 4:24 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/.