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, March 24, 2004
5:00 P.M.
City Hall, Room 408
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
Public comment will be heard before and/or during each agenda item.
Members Present Staff Present
President Andrea Shorter Belle Taylor-McGhee, Executive Director
Vice President Juanita Miles Rosario Navarrette, Deputy Director
Commissioner Dorka Keehn Bernice Casey, Executive Assistant
Commissioner Carolene Marks
Commissioner Emily Murase
Commissioner Angela Williams
President Shorter called the meeting to order at 5:09 p.m.
Roll call. Commissioner Keehn arrived at 5:22 p.m.
No public comment.
Commissioner Murase moved that item 9. a., the Evaluation Update under Reports, be removed and that
the Closed Session be postponed to a later meeting.
m/s/c (Marks/Miles/Unanimous)
Action: Amended the agenda for the COSW Meeting, Wednesday, March 24, 2004
m/s/c (Miles/Marks/Unanimous)
Action: Adopted agenda for the COSW Meeting, Wednesday, March 24, 2004.
No public comment.
Commissioner Williams requested Supervisor Peskin’s name be corrected in the minutes.
Commissioner Keehn requested Supervisor Ammiano’s name be corrected in the minutes.
The Commission discussed how to make the minutes more concise and more reflective of the meetings.
m/s/c (Murase/Miles/Unanimous)
Action: Approved amended minutes for the COSW Meeting held Thursday, February 19, 2004.
No public comment.
4. PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President Shorter acknowledged the work on the membership drive for Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women done by Commissioner Williams. She also recognized Commissioner Marks’ past contributions to the Friends.
President Shorter discussed the staff meeting that she and Vice President Miles attended on Tuesday, March 15, 2004, at the Department on the Status of Women. The meeting provided an opportunity to check-in with staff and to discuss about ways to improve communication between the Commission and the Department. She thanked staff for their time and ideas.
Vice President Miles also thanked the staff and suggested that each Commissioner attend a Department staff meeting sometime in the near future.
Executive Director Belle Taylor-McGhee said that she would send out an e-mail of available dates for Commissioners to attend upcoming staff meetings which are held weekly on Tuesdays from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.
No public comment.
5. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Executive Director Taylor-McGhee directed the Commission to the most recent memo from the Mayor’s Office regarding the budget and said she would provide updates as they became available.
Executive Director Taylor-McGhee said that the meetings on Monday, March 22, 2004, between members of the Justice and Courage Oversight Panel and Acting Chief of Police Health Fong and with District Attorney Kamala Harris went well. One of the major concerns discussed was how the Domestic Violence Module will be integrated into the JUSTIS, the computer warehouse that will link all criminal justice agencies, and what training and resources will be available to ensure that the system works.
The Executive Director informed the Commission of her interview last week by Jack Hanson of Comcast for two five-minute segments to air in April on domestic violence and budget issues. She also was able to successfully pitch an op-ed piece with the Bay Area BusinessWoman newspaper on Commissioner Miles story of survival of domestic abuse in the paper’s May issue. Ms. Taylor-McGhee stated this is an excellent outreach opportunity for the Commission and will send a powerful message about the importance of preserving domestic violence services. The Executive Director reported she was invited to participate in the Young Women’s Health Conference on Wednesday, March 10, 2004, by Senator Jackie Speier. She said this was the second year she has served on the Women of Inspiration Panel.
The Executive Director also discussed staff’s activities over the past month. Policy Analyst Carol Sacco worked a resource table for the Department at the 4th Annual Young Women's Health Conference on Wednesday, March 10th. She provided information about the Girls Report, and she also distributed the "Respect is What's Sexy" posters in Chinese, Spanish and English. Ms. Sacco continues to attend the Women and Girls Health Advisory Committee.
The Department held a bidders conference on March 15, 2004, to review the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Violence Against Women (VAW) Program funding cycle for 04-07. The conference was attended by representatives from 20 community-based organizations. The Department reviewed the RFQ guidelines and requirements and answered questions from participants. RFQ applications are due to the Department by 5:00 p.m. on March 31st. Senior Policy Analyst Caroline Donnola, Deputy Director Rosario Navarrette and Policy Analyst Carol Sacco coordinated the conference.
Commissioner Marks asked how agencies would know about the posting for the RFQ and where the Department had posted the information about the RFQ.
Deputy Director Navarrette reviewed the process the Department has followed.
Vice President Miles asked if the Commission could have a better idea of which agencies had been contacted and if the Department had done outreach to agencies not currently part of the VAW Program.
Executive Secretary Bernice Casey explained that the cost of public notices in mainstream press had prevented the Department from posting it publicly, but she said she would provide the Commission with a list of who had been contacted.
The Executive Director acknowledged Deputy Director Navarrette presentation on domestic violence and the impact on women and children for the Sheriff’s Department’s Resolve to Stop the Violence Project (RSVP), Victim Restoration Program at the county jail in San Bruno on March 3, 2004, which received very positive feedback. Ms. Navarrette also attended the Lifetime Television, Stop Violence Week in Washington, D.C. March 8-12, 2004. As the Co-Chair of Alianza (the National Latino Alliance for the Eradication of Domestic Violence), she presented an award from Alianza to actor and activist Victor Rivers at a reception hosted by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Lifetime Television.
Executive Director Taylor-McGhee reported that Executive Secretary Casey attended the Women as Peacemakers & Peacekeepers event on March 7, 2004, which was sponsored by the Women’s Building to highlight the Afghan Women’s International Association. On Saturday, March 20, 2004, Executive Secretary Casey attended the 11th annual UCSF Women’s Health Conference and attended workshops that covered topics on lesbian health to women’s health disparity in the Bay Area.
Commissioner Marks asked that the Commission be reminded of community events so that Commissioners could also participate in community outreach.
President Shorter asked that the Commissioners contact her regarding community events, and stated that she would refer those comments to the Department.
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.
6. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Resolution for Commissioner Valerie Tulier
m/s/c (Murase/Miles/Shorter/Williams/Marks) (Keehn-Abstains)
Action: Recognized, with a resolution, the contributions of Commissioner Valerie Tulier.
m/s/c (Marks/Miles/Unanimous)
Action: Approved Commissioner Keehn’s abstention.
No public comment.
- Resolution for a human rights center
Mr. Bill Hough, a member of the Human Rights and Environment Committee, presented background on the community-based human rights research, education and training center dedicated to the memory of Philip and Sala Burton at the Presidio National Park.
m/s/c (Murase/Keehn/Unanimous)
Action: Approved a resolution in support of the human rights center.
No public comment.
7. OLD BUSINESS
a. Closed Session from 2/19/04
m/s/c (Miles/Williams/Unanimous)
Action: Voted not disclose discussions held regarding Agenda Item No. 9 in the Closed Session conducted at the February 19, 2004, Commission meeting regarding the Public Employee Performance Evaluation of Executive Director Belle Taylor-McGhee. Government Code section 54957.1(a) (2) and San FranciscoAdministrative Code section 67.12 (b) (2).
No public comment.
- Justice and Courage Project
Commissioner Keehn informed the Commission that the wrong explanatory documents had been provided in the Commission packet for the 2003-2004 goals of the Justice and Courage Project. She requested that this item be moved to next month’s agenda.
No public comment.
- Budget Assignment List
President Shorter reviewed the list of assignments from the January 30, 2004, Commission Retreat.
Commissioner Keehn and President Shorter agreed to undertake Commissioner Tulier’s assignment to work on a letter writing campaign on budget issues.
Beverly Upton, from San Francisco Domestic Violence Consortium (DVC), discussed the work her agency had been doing around the budget. The Consortium has appeared before the Budget Committee and had written letters to Mayor Newsom regarding cuts to the Department. She invited everyone to attend the April 8th DVC meeting.
President Shorter suggested assigning a timeline for each assignment at a later date when the budget process becomes more heightened.
m/s/c (Keehn/Williams/Unanimous)
Action: Made reassignments to the Budget Assignment List.
No public comment.
d. Committees of the Commission
City Attorney Paula Jesson reviewed the Sunshine Ordinance requirements governing commission committees. Ms. Jesson reviewed Passive Meeting Body, Policy Body and Advisory Committees. She informed the Commission, in accordance to the Sunshine Ordinance, the Commission must treat Committees that it creates in the same way Commission meetings are treated.
Commissioner Murase asked that references to Executive Committee not be included in future Commission documentation, and that the Commission be aware of the responsibilities that go with creating committees.
No public comment.
- Girls Committee
Commissioner Keehn provided the Commission with historical background of the Commission’s work on task forces created by the Department.
President Shorter suggested establishing a committee, and in the later months, develop the function of the committee and its membership.
Executive Director Taylor-McGhee asked that the committee complement the work already done on girls by the Commission and the Department.
m/s/c (Marks/Miles/Unanimous)
Action: Re-established a committee on girls’ issues.
No public comment.
- Resolutions
Executive Director Taylor-McGhee informed the Commission that resolutions previously adopted by the Commission for Faith Fancher, Other Minds and the Women’s Foundation were being circulated for signature. She asked that the signed resolutions be given to Executive Secretary Casey.
Commissioner Murase left at 6:25 p.m.
No public comment.
- Strategic Plan
Executive Director Taylor-McGhee asked that this item be tabled until the next COSW meeting so that a copy of the Strategic Plan can be sent to each Commissioner for review.
No public comment.
- Healthy Californians Biomonitoring Program
Executive Director Taylor-McGhee read a memo prepared by Senior Policy Analyst Donnola that stated that Healthy Californians Biomonitoring Program, SB 1168 by Senator Ortiz is a rewritten version of the original. The bill will go before the Senate Health Committee today, March 24, 2004. She reported that the funding as well as some new language are the main changes to the bill, which attempts to refer people to services if they are tested and are found to have high levels of toxins in their systems. The Executive Director said that Senior Policy Analyst Donnola had called Ms. Barbara Brenner and asked for her input. Barbara Brenner continues to have problems with the bill and told Ms. Donnola that Breast Cancer Action is not endorsing the revised version of this bill as she believes that the bill pays lip service to helping women who are tested but provides no support if indeed high level of toxins are found.
Commissioner Marks suggested having opposing views present at the next Commission meeting. She asked that the Breast Cancer Fund and Senator Ortiz’s Office be contacted and asked to present at the next meeting. She asked the Department to provide speakers who oppose the bill.
No public comment.
8. NEW BUSINESS
- Violence Against Women (VAW) Funding Committee
President Shorter asked for volunteers to serve on the VAW Funding Committee.
m/s/c (Keehn/Miles/Unanimous)
Action: Assigned President Shorter and Commissioner Williams to serve on the VAW Funding Committee.
President Shorter requested that a copy of the VAW timeline be sent to Commissioner Williams and herself.
No public comment.
b. Plight of Homeless Women in Shelter
Ms. Jakkee Bryson spoke to the Commission on issues regarding women in San Francisco’s homeless shelters. Specifically, she expressed her concerns about transgendered women sharing living space with biological women in homeless shelters. Ms. Bryson said that she had brought her concerns to the Human Rights Commission, but did not feel she had been heard. She insisted that the decision to house transgendered women and biological women together in homeless shelters had been made without a public hearing. Ms. Bryson said she had brought similar concerns to the Commission in 1998 and 2000.
President Shorter said that the Commission would research the historical record and make inquiries about the current situation and get back to Ms. Bryson with its findings. She thanked Ms. Bryson for her testimony.
No public comment.
- Clean Money Campaign
Executive Director Susan Lerner presented the work of the California Clean Money Campaign. She said that the main focus of the Campaign was to educate Californians about campaign finance issues at the state level. Ms. Lerner discussed how the process had worked in Arizona and in Maine. She said that public financed campaigns encourage more women to run for office.
m/s/c (Keehn/Marks/Shorter/Miles) (Williams Abstains)
Action: Support the CaliforniaClean Money Campaign.
m/s/c (Keehn/Shorter/Unanimous)
Action: Approved Commissioner Williams’s abstention.
No public comment.
9. REPORTS
a. Justice and Courage Update
Commissioner Keehn discussed the meetings with Acting Chief Fong and District Attorney Harris. She asked the Department send an official invitation to Chief Fong and District Attorney Harris to attend the April 28, 2004, Commission meeting. She also asked that an invitation be extended to Fire Chief Hayes-White.
No public comment.
- Updated Protocol Flow Charts
President Shorter asked the Executive Committee be removed from the protocol flow charts.
No public comment.
10. PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment.
m/s/c (Marks/Miles/Unanimous)
Action: Meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
No public comment.
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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)
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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.o
