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, June 23, 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 Executive Director Belle Taylor-McGhee
Vice President Juanita Miles Deputy Director Rosario Navarrette
Commissioner Andrea Evans Executive Assistant Bernice Casey
Commissioner Dorka Keekn Senior Policy Analyst Caroline Donnola
Commissioner Carolene Marks Policy Analyst Carol Sacco
Commissioner Angela Williams
President Shorter called the meeting to order at 5:16 p.m.
No public comment.
m/s/c (Marks/Williams/Unanimous)
Action: Adopted agenda for COSW Meeting, June 23, 2004.
No public comment.
m/s/c (Williams/Evans/Unanimous)
Action: Approved minutes from COSW Meeting, May 20, 2004.
No public comment.
- PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President Shorter acknowledged the Executive Director and informed the public that this would be the Executive Director’s last meeting. Ms. Shorter thanked her for her efforts and wished her well. Ms. Shorter discussed her testimony at the June 8th Human Rights Commission (HRC) hearing on girls’ issues. She said that she and Policy Analyst Carol Sacco heard testimony about moving forward on some of the same issues heard at the October 2003 Girls Hearing sponsored by the Commission and the Department on the Status of Women. One of the issues highlighted was the incarceration rates of African-American female youths in San Francisco. Ms. Shorter said there would be follow up testimony on the Girls and the Law hearings. Ms. Shorter acknowledged the work done by the Commission to assist the Department during the budget preparation.
No public comment.
- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Executive Director Taylor-McGhee informed the Commission that the Department would be presenting to the Board of Supervisors’ Budget Committee tomorrow, June 24, 2004 and Thursday, July 1, 2004. At this time, the Department has not experienced the proposed 15% cut. Ms. Taylor-McGhee told the Commission that no funded agencies would experience a cut. Board of Supervisors’ Budget Analyst Harvey Rose has proposed a cut in the Department’s travel budget of $1,000.00 and the collapse of the Office of Administrative Services (OAS) support of human resource services of over $20,000.00. With the loss of Human Resources representative Ann Courtright in March, the Department has been working with the OAS to process all human resource issues. Ms. Taylor-McGhee explained to the Commission that if the Department lost the OAS support those tasks would have to be absorbed by staff. She said that the Department would challenge these cuts.
Ms. Taylor-McGhee told the Commission that the Violence Against Women (VAW) Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for $30,000.00 is due on June 30, 2004. This funding is designated specifically to reach underserved and marginalized populations.
The Executive Director let the Commission know that the Justice and Courage Oversight Panel would be losing Quita Keller, Susan Leal and her within the month. Ms. Taylor-McGhee thanked Ms. Keller and Ms. Leal for their contributions.
Ms. Taylor-McGhee thanked the staff for their work during her two year time with the Department. She said she had a lot of respect for staff and appreciated their assistance.
Vice President Miles thanked Ms. Taylor-McGhee for her work. Ms. Miles said she had developed a relationship between herself and Ms. Taylor-McGhee. She said she really appreciated the work done by Ms. McGhee and was glad she was moving on to bigger and better things.
President Shorter wished Ms. Taylor-McGhee well. Ms. Shorter told the Commission that the budget hearing would be held tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. She said that she would be attending.
Public Comment.
Beverly Upton thanked Ms. Taylor-McGhee for her work. Ms. Upton said that the domestic violence community had sent letters of support to the Mayor, the Board of Supervisors and the Budget Committee. Ms. Upton provided the Commission with copies of those letters. She thanked the Commission for helping to ensure that services remained uncut.
President Shorter thanked Ms. Upton for her support on behalf of the women and children of San Francisco. Ms. Shorter said that she had received phone calls of support from all over California during the budget crisis and the concern of a possible merger of the Department with another City department. People from Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and from all over California called the Commission and the Mayor’s Office to voice their support for the Department.
President Shorter suggested moving the Consent Agenda before New Business on the Agenda.
Vice President Miles also asked that Domestic Violence Services under New Business be moved to the beginning of New Business.
m/s/c Shorter/Marks/Unanimous
Action: Moved Consent Agenda before New Business.
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.
- CONSENT AGENDA
- Resolution for Emily Murase
- Resolution for Dr. Catherine M. Smallwood
m/s/c Miles/Marks/Unanimous
Action: Approves a resolution recognizing the contributions of former Commissioner Emily Murase and a resolution recognizing the contributions of Dr. Smallwood.
President Shorter read the resolution for Commissioner Murase into the record. She thanked Emily Murase for her contributions and presented her with the resolution.
Ms. Murase thanked her family, the Commission, the Department and the community.
Commissioner Marks thanked Ms. Murase and said that her presence on the Commission was missed.
Commissioner Keehn thanked Ms. Murase for her work on the Commission and in the community.
Vice President Miles said that Ms. Murase was missed. She thanked her for her work on Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
President Shorter acknowledged the work of Dr. Smallwood and read her resolution into the record.
No public comment.
- Domestic Violence Services
Sarena Levine from AVACA (Abuse, Violence & Anger Cessation Alliance) provided the Commission with some background about her organization. Ms. Levine contacted Vice President Miles after reading her story in the Bay Area Businesswomen Weekly. Her partner, Carl Hovdey spoke to the Commission about his extensive history of working with abusers. He spoke about a new approach in therapy that their agency was utilizing.
Vice President Miles asked what the approach was and how it was different from other therapeutic approaches.
Mr. Hovdey said that the base of this approach came from the belief that all people at their core are healthy and have good judgment. This approach has people examine their patterns of thought to see that they have been conditioned. The approach has participants learn to drop their resistance to change and look at the conditioning. He said that once the resistance is down real work can begin. Particpants are able to take this knowledge with them and share it with others.
Vice President Miles asked how the Commission can help AVACA.
Mr. Hovdey asked if he could think about it and get back to the Commission.
Commissioner Keehn asked if they had a relationship with the Family Violence Prevention Fund and Domestic Violence Consortium.
Mr. Hovdey said he had a relationship with those organizations and was connecting with other members of the community.
Commissioner Marks asked where their funding came from.
Mr. Hovdey informed the Commission that there was a sliding scale but no one was turned away.
President Shorter thanked Ms. Levine and Mr. Hovdey for presenting.
No public comment.
a. Relay for Life: American Cancer Society
Ms. Chan from the American Cancer Society informed the Commission of the Relay for Life on August 7th and 8th in San Francisco at George Washington High School. She gave the Commission the history of the Relay for Life and let them know how the funds raised were used. Ms. Chan provided the Commission with pamphlets, teddy bears and a video explaining the event.
Commissioner Marks asked the cost of the event.
Ms. Chan said it was $100.00 and it was open to the public.
President Shorter thanked Ms. Chan for her time.
No public comment.
b. Department of Child Support Services
Beatrice Duncan gave the Commission some background about her organization. The Department of Child Support Services was under the District Attorney’s Office but new state legislation created the Department separate from the D.A.’s Office. Ms. Duncan told the Commission about the new centers her office had opened in both the Mission and Bayview/Hunters Point districts. She said that the Bayview area had the highest case load.
Commissioner Evans asked where the drop-in center in the Bayview was located.
Ms. Duncan said it was at 1350 Evans. She said that there were nine counselors at the Bayview branch and three at the Mission branch.
Commissioner Keehn asked how the Commission could be of assistance.
Ms. Duncan asked to have a list of resources.
Commissioner Keehn said that the Department would forward a list of the funded agencies.
Ms. Duncan recognized the contributions of Dr. Smallwood.
Commissioner Williams asked the number of clients being served by Ms. Duncan’s department.
Ms. Duncan said it was approximately 25,000 a year.
No public comment.
- Meeting with Mayor
Commissioner Keehn discussed the upcoming July 7th meeting with Mayor Newsom on women’s issues. She asked the Commission for feedback on what should be discussed at the meeting and who from the community should be invited. Ms. Keehn listed economics, violence, health care and CEDAW.
Commissioner Marks suggested housing.
Executive Director Belle Taylor-McGhee suggested expanding the definition of violence.
Commissioner Williams suggested economic development and its ties to domestic violence and why women stay. She also suggested HIV and other health issues.
Commissioner Keehn asked for suggestions on who should be invited to the meeting.
Commissioner Williams suggested extending an invitation to Planned Parenthood.
Executive Director Belle Taylor-McGhee asked what the goal of the meeting would be.
Commissioner Keehn said the meeting would focus on what women’s issues the City wanted to address. She said it would be an opportunity to narrow the issues down.
Public Comment.
Sarena Levine suggested looking at heart disease.
Deputy Director Navarrette suggested looking at women in a holistic manner. She stressed the importance of looking strategically at women’s lives. She also suggested diabetes, public education and heart disease.
President Shorter said it was important to articulate what has already been done by covering the history of both the Commission and the Department. She stressed the importance of illustrating where the Commission and the Department have already had an impact. Ms. Shorter suggested coming to the meeting with an inventory.
Commissioner Marks said it was important to define a goal of what we want to achieve. She said that it was important to get a commitment from the Mayor’s Office on women’s issues.
8. OLD BUSINESS
a. Justice and Courage Project
Commissioner Keehn said that the Oversight Panel is looking for new individuals to serve on the Panel. She thanked the Department for arranging the meeting between the Courts. Ms. Keehn said that goals of the Justice and Courage Project were the same as they were introduced at the January retreat.
m/s/c Shorter/Keehn/Unanimous
Action: Approved the 2003-2004 goals of the Justice and Courage Project.
No public comment.
b. Strategic Plan
President Shorter reviewed the Strategic Plan and asked Commissioners what portions of the Strategic Plan they would like to work on for the next fiscal year.
Commissioner Evans said she would work on the budget.
Commissioner Williams said she would work on CEDAW.
Commissioner Keehn said she would work on VAW Programs and the Justice and Courage Project.
President Shorter said she would work on Girls and that she would take on Leadership until she could ask Vice President Miles if she would like to work in that area again.
Commissioner Marks said she would work on health.
Commissioner Williams said she would work on the Friends.
m/s/c Shorter/Keehn/Unanimous
Action: Assigned Commissioners to each part of the Strategic Plan.
Commissioner Williams said she would need some time to prepare for the next CEDAW meeting and asked that the meeting time be set at another time. The action to establish the next CEDAW meeting was postponed until the July 28, 2004 COSW meeting.
No public comment.
9. PUBLIC COMMENT
No public comment.
President Shorter adjourned the meeting at 6:47 p.m.
American Sign Language interpreters and a Sound Amplification System provided upon request with 48-hour advance notice to 415-252-2570. Translation into languages other than English is also available with 48-hour notice. Limited accessible street parking available. Accessible MUNI Metro station in the Van Ness Station and lines are J, K, L, M and N. Accessible MUNI Lines are the 6, 7, 9, 42, 47, 49, and 71 lines. Accessible seating for persons with disabilities (including those using wheelchairs) will be available. Meeting proceedings available in alternative formats. In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illness, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products. Please help the City to accommodate these individuals.
To obtain a disability-related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, to participate in the meeting, please contact the Department on the Status of Women at least two business days before the meeting at 415-252-2570 (Voice) or 415-252-2550 (TTD).
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)
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 Donna Hall, 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, email: Donna.Hall@sfgov.org. 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.
Attention: 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 – 2.160) to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the San Francisco Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness Ave., Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102; phone: 415-581-2300, fax: 415-581-2317 and web site http://www.sfgov.org/ethics.
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 30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102; telephone (415) 581-2300; fax (415) 581-2317; web site: sfgov.org/ethi
