2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
KATHERINE MUNTER
President
CAROLENE MARKS
Vice President
NICKY CALMA
Commissioner
KAY GULBENGAY
Commissioner
DORKA KEEHN
Commissioner
JING XU LEE
Commissioner
ANDREA SHORTER
Commissioner
EMILY MURASE, PhD
Executive Director
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COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Members Present Staff Present
Commissioner Nicky Calma Executive Director Emily Murase, PhD Commissioner Dorka Keehn Administrative Analyst Laura Marshall Commissioner Jing Xu Lee (5:15) Senior Policy Analyst Ann Lehman
Vice President Carolene Marks Policy Analyst Jill Tregor
President Katherine Munter Commission Secretary Cynthia Vasquez
Commissioner Andrea Shorter
Excused: Absent: Commissioner Kay Gulbengay
I. CALL TO ORDER/AGENDA CHANGES
President Munter called the meeting to order at 5:10 pm and welcomed the newly appointed Commissioner Nicky Calma.
Action: Approved agenda. m/s/c/ (Munter/Keehn/Unanimous)
No public comment.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Action: Approved draft minutes from January 23, 2008.
m/s/c (Keehn/Shorter/Unanimous)
No public comment.
III. EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS REPORT DISCUSSION
A. Executive Directors Report
Dr. Murase referred Commissioners to her written report and announced that the Board of Supervisors had unanimously approved the proposed charter amendment promoting the appointment of women, minorities and people with disabilities serving on appointed bodies. Dr. Murase announced that the first session of the Domestic Violence Cross-Training Institute would begin on March 11 and encouraged Commissioners to attend a session to view first hand the beneficial training that is being provided to the criminal justice system of San Francisco. Dr. Murase announced that there will be a Women's History Month Event that the Department will hold with the Board of Supervisors on March 4, with further information to be forthcoming.
Dr. Murase reported that she met with the may and he believes that gender analysis' should be done for all City Departments however, at this time because there is not a final figure on what the upcoming budget will be it would be very difficult. Department staff will be working wit the budget staff to provide trainings on conducting gender analysis. The Department hopes to mainstream the gender analysis into the budget process in the future.
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 Launch of the International Museum of Women's Global Online Exhibit "Women, Power, Politics"
B. Resolution Recognizing Alicia Boccellari, Recipient of the 2008 Heroes and Heart Award. C. Resolution Recognizing the 2008 Women's History Month Honorees
D. Resolution Recognizing the Dedicated Service of Andrea Evans
Action: To approve the Consent Agenda.
m/s/c (Shorter/Keehn/Unanimous)
No public comment.
Dr. Murase sent regards from Alicia Boccellari who had hoped to make the evenings meetings and thanked the Commission for such an honor.
Chris Yelton, CEO of the International Museum of Women's, expressed her gratitude to the Commission for honoring the launch of the Global online exhibition "Women, Power and Politics". The online exhibition is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week and is free, which includes stories, videos and pod casts of women claiming and exercising their power to raise awareness, spark conversations and inspire women to take action in their own communities.
Andrea Evans thanked the Commissioners for all the work that they have done and continue to do. Ms. Evans expressed her gratitude of being able to work with such a great group of women and hopes to continue to work with the Commission in the future.
Beverly Upton, Executive Director of the Domestic Violence Consortium, thanked Ms. Evans for her leadership with the revival of the Family Violence Council and expressed how significant Ms. Evans roll has been with the Council.
V. OLD BUSINESS
A. Update on the San Francisco Childcare Planning Council Needs Assessment
Michele Rutherford, Program Manager of Child Care Policy and Planning with the Human Services Agency reviewed the San Francisco Child Care Needs Assessment 2007. Ms. Rutherford suggested inviting services providers to come before the Commission Based on the Governor's January Budget Proposals the impact of State budget cuts would be as follows:
§ 500 San Francisco Children will be impacted
§ After school cuts will impact nearly 200 children
§ Will negatively impact progress to improve safety/quality of child care reducing visits to every 7 years
Ms. Rutherford reviewed the following areas in the report:
§ Capacity
§ Unmet Needs
§ Centralized Eligibility List
§ Parent Choice- R&R Survey: Location of Care
§ Important Factor in Choosing Care
§ Type of Care Used with Vouchers Summary
§ Type of care Parents are using for all Voucher Programs
§ Strategies
§ Workforce: - Number of Center Workforce Participants
- Family Child Care ECE Workforce Summary
- Making Ends Meet
- Compensation Rates of ECE Hourly Wages
- Compensation Rates of Hourly Wages of Center Staff
§ Preschool for All Enrollment by Zip Code
§ Continuing Subsidy
Ms. Rutherford reported that overall the City continues to increase capacity, despite no growth in child population. There has been an overall decreased subsidy access as of 2006.
The Commission can help by having service providers present what obstacles they face since they are the one's providing direct services. The Commission can also support bills that increase funding for services provided to children as well as send a letter on behalf of the Commission to local representatives supporting increase funding for childcare providers.
Commissioners thanked Ms. Rutherford for her presentation and expressed their continued support in providing childcare to children in San Francisco.
B. First 5 Presentation
Laurel Kloomok, Executive Director of First 5 explained that First 5 promotes and improves the development of children from prenatal to 5 years of age. First 5 adopted a Strategic Plan to guide its activities that include:
§ Improved Family Functioning
§ Improved Child Health
§ Enhanced Child Development
§ Improved Systems of Care
First 5 has two funding streams:
§ Proposition 10 - Which is that $.50-per-pack tax on cigarettes will fund early childhood development and anti-tobacco education programs statewide.
§ Proposition H - Which provides $10 million per year to fund universal Pre-K
Ms. Kloomok reviewed common themes which are:
§ Addresses the needs of children with special needs and their families
§ Addresses the needs of monolingual immigrant families.
§ Improves school readiness, early literacy and transition to kindergarten and work to close the achievement gaps.
§ Promotes social emotionally well being of children and their families.
§ Increases parent engagement and leadership development.
§ Expands utilization of and access to health insurance, screenings and assessments and to other public benefits.
§ Address professional development and workforce development.
§ Builds upon past history of successful investments, especially in early care & homeless families.
§ Builds upon parent input and ideas.
§ Offers strong partnership opportunities with other departments especially SFUSD, DCYF and HSA.
§ Develops policy and advocacy platforms to influence key policy issues.
§ Addresses not just current but projected future challenges for families and young children.
Ms. Kloomok expressed how important it is to continue to support families in San Francisco as it is instrumental to keeping families in the City.
Commissioners expressed how important it is to improve the pay range for service provides in this field as they are providing essential services to the families of San Francisco.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
A. Strategic Planning
1. Health
Commissioner Marks reported that she continues to work with the Department of Public Health in discussing how to reinstate the Women's Health Coordinator, a position that was eliminated due to budget cuts several years ago. Commissioner Marks is waiting to receive a report from the January 31 "Call to Conversation" on Women's Health which would highlight what work is being done on women's health in San Francisco and what needs aren't currently being met. Commissioner Marks continues to sit on the Healthy San Francisco Advisory Committee that oversees the implementation of San Francisco's universal health care access plan. Commissioner Marks would like to follow up with the service providers who attended the African American Breast Cancer town hall and discuss next steps.
Dr. Murase explained that due to budget constraints and mid-year cuts that the Department eliminated the part time position that was dedicated to health issues, however the Department would need a full time employee dedicated to health to continue to work on health issues.
2. Justice & Courage
Commissioner Keehn reported that the Justice and Courage Oversight Panel are focusing on the implementation of the Safety and Accountability recommendations. Commissioner Keehn also reported that the Oversight Panel has developed a 3 year strategic plan. Department Staff continues to attend the Stalking Task Force that was recently reactivated by the District Attorney. Department Staff also participates in the JUSTIS meetings and continues to work to have the JUSTIS program available to the San Francisco Police Department. Commissioner Keehn announced that Chief Joanne Woodward will be leaving the Adult Probation Department and expressed how Chief Woodward had been instrumental in the implementation of the Safety Audits recommendations. The Justice & Courage Governance Committee has recommended that Kathy Black, Dr. Mary Cavanaugh, and Allyson Hauck be appointed to the Justice and Courage Oversight Panel.
Action: To approve the recommendation of the Justice and Courage Oversight Panel to appoint Kathy Black, Dr. Mary Cavanaugh, and Allyson Hauck to a two year term ending on January 20, 2010 on the Oversight Panel.
m/s/c (Munter/Shorter/Unanimous)
Kathy Black and Allyson Hauck both expressed their enthusiasm of working with the Oversight Panel.
3. Violence Against Women Prevention and Intervention Grants Program
Grants Administrator Carol Sacco reported that the Department has released the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Violence Against Women Prevention an Intervention Grants Program which is for a 3 year funding cycle. Applications/proposals are due to the Department by Friday, March 21st by 4:00 pm. A bidder's conference will be held on February 28th with the location still to be determined. The Department is currently looking for possible candidates to sit on the Review Panel and welcomed any recommendations from the Commission. Review Panel members will have 2 weeks to review and independently score proposals and attend a Review Panel meeting to discuss the proposals and agree on final recommendations. The Review Panel’s recommendations will then be submitted to the Commission’s at the April meeting. Once the recommendations have been approved by the Commission the Department will prepare contracts and funding will begin on July 1.
Ms. Sacco reported that she continues to participate in the City-wide Non-Profit Fiscal and Compliance Monitoring Committee were she is currently reviewing two currently funded agencies, Asian Women's Shelter and Bay Area Legal Aid and she will participate in 5 joint monitoring site visits.
4. Family Violence Council
The 3 Co-Chairs of the Family Violence Council will provide an update at the March Commission meeting. The next meeting of the Council will be held on Thursday, April 17.
5. Girls Committee
Commissioner Shorter reported that the Girls Committee continues to work on the Girl's Services Directory and hopes to have it printed by Assemblywomen Fiona Ma's office in the coming month. The Department is still actively recruiting for the 4 vacant positions. The Committee has not done much work on sexual harassment but will continue to have it as a goal for the upcoming year.
The Department is helping the Juvenile Probation Department convene a meeting of community based organizations who have participated on the Girls Unit Task Force to Help Juvenile Probation create and implement a strategy for the Girls Unit based an a report done by the city of Chicago.
Commissioner Shorter thanked Policy Analyst Anu Menon for her leadership with the Girls Committee.
6. Language Access and Association of California Commissions for Women
Commissioner Lee reported that she has had the Departments website translated into Chinese and will be meeting with the Office of Language Services to discuss the technical support and cost of translating the website. Dr. Murase reported that the City is in the process of finalizing a contract to translate 11 identified large departments' websites into other languages. Dr. Murase has requested that the Office of Language Services look at how smaller departments can possibly work under together under one contract to have access to translation services.
Commission Secretary Cynthia Vasquez reported that she attended the February meeting of the Association of California Commissions for Women (ACCW) in Marin. The ACCW was tentatively going to hold a convention in Los Angeles in June, however due to a turn over in Officers; the convention would now turn into a retreat that will be held in November. Ms. Vasquez has volunteered to be the Chair of the planning committee for the November retreat and will meet with current ACCW Officers to discuss possibly becoming an officer.
7. U.N. Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
Policy Analyst Ann Lehman reported that Department Staff followed up on revising what is now called the San Francisco Gender Equity Principles for the Private Sector and continue discussions with Calvert and Verité. The Department is currently looking to get suggestions for private sector entities the Department should approach to participate in the launch of the initiative. Ms. Lehman agreed to follow up with Commissioners for contacts.
B. Community Meeting Location
Commissioners agree to carry this item forward to the March Commission meeting.
VII. PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment.
IX. ADJOURN
Motion to adjourn meeting. m/s/c (Marks/Shorter/Unanimous)
Meeting adjourned at 7:35 pm.
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.
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.
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.
Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Requirements
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 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 220, San Francisco, CA 94102; phone: 415-252-3100, fax: 415-252-3112; web site: sfgov.org/ethics.
