2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Members Present Staff Present
Commissioner Nikki Calma Executive Director Emily Murase, PhD Commissioner Kay Gulbengay Administrative Analyst Laura Marshall Commissioner Dorka Keehn Policy Analyst Anu Menon
Vice President Carolene Marks Grants Administrator Carol Sacco
Commissioner Andrea Shorter Policy Analyst Jill Tregor
Commission Secretary Cynthia Vasquez
Excused: Commissioner Jing Xu Lee and President Katherine Munter
I. CALL TO ORDER/AGENDA CHANGES
Vice President Marks called the meeting to order at 5:10 pm and welcomed all present.
Action: Approved agenda.
m/s/c/ (Gulbengay/Shorter/Unanimous)
No public comment.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
President Munter announced that the June 24 and July 25, 2008 minutes will be approved at the September Commission meeting.
No public comment.
III. EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS REPORT DISCUSSION
A. Executive Directors Report
Dr. Murase referred Commissioners to her written report and referred Commissioners to the supporting documents which include:
· Strategic Planning Retreat Report
· Sexual Harassment Memo
· Pay Equity Memo
· Women's Policy Summit Planning Documents
Dr. Murase encouraged Commissioners to attend the Women's Policy Summit that will be held on Saturday, September 27 at the Milton Marks Conference Center, State Building.
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 Marking August 26th as Women's Equality Day
B Resolution Marking September as Latino Heritage Month
Action: To approve the Consent Agenda.
m/s/c (Shorter/Gulbengay/Unanimous)
Carlota del Portillo, Dean of the City College of San Francisco Mission Campus, thanked the Commission for acknowledging the 34 year effort to establish a permanent home for the Mission Campus.
Commissioner Shorter thanked Ms. del Portillo for her vision and leadership.
V. REPORTS
A. Health
Commissioner Marks is working with a group of African American women under the age of 40 who have developed cancer to develop a pamphlet of resources to provide to the public. Commissioner Marks continues to attend meetings with groups of transgender individuals to ensure that they are receiving appropriate health care services.
Commissioner Calma thanked Commissioner Marks for taking the initiative to work with such groups. She stated that San Francisco is known for its pioneering work in addressing the needs of the transgender community and promoting innovative health initiatives.
B. Justice and Courage
Commissioner Keehn reported that, in mid-July, the Justice and Courage Oversight Panel held its annual strategic planning session. The Oversight Panel is currently working on a work plan that will come before the Commission for approval once completed. Oversight Panel members will be scheduling a meeting with the Director of the Housing Authority to discuss housing issues. Commissioner Keehn thanked Policy Analyst Tregor for her leadership, guidance, and hard work with the Oversight Panel.
C. Violence Against Women Prevention and Intervention Grants Program
The grants will be discussed later in the agenda.
D. Family Violence Council
Dr. Murase reported that the Family Violence Council quarterly meeting, reviewed the composition and protocols of 3 death review teams: for children, for victims of domestic violence, and for the elderly. This meeting was well attended by judges. Dr. Murase thanked co-chairs Beverly Upton of the Domestic Violence Consortium, Kathy Baxter of the Child Abuse Prevention Council, and Mary Twomey of the Center of Excellence in addressing the Council of Elder Abuse.
E. Girls Committee
Commissioner Shorter reported that, at the Committee has been on hiatus for the past couple of months. Staff is currently looking at having quarterly meetings of Girls service providers, including young girls who are clients. The first meeting will take place in the fall. Commissioner Shorter reported that the Girls Service Directory is close to being released. The Department is working with Assemblymember Fiona Ma's office to hold a joint press conference for the report's release.
F. Language Access
A report will be provided at the September meeting.
G. CEDAW
Dr. Murase reported that the Department along with Professor Marilyn Rubin of the City University of New York, will be conducting 2-day training for the Mayor’s budget staff on gender responsive budgeting which has never been done in the U.S. before. While many European nations have adopted this approach, San Francisco will be the first in the nation to look at budgets this way.
On September 19, the Department along with Calvert Asset Management and Vérité launch the San Francisco Gender Equality Principles Initiative. A full report will be available at the next meeting.
V. OLD BUSINESS
A. Violence Against Women Grants (VAW)
1. Funding Committee Recommendations
Dr. Murase explained that securing this year's allocations has been a difficult task. However thanks to the advocacy of Partner Agencies and Commissioners, the Department was successful in receiving adback funds. Dr. Murase introduced Jenny Louie, of the Mayor's Budget Office, who works most closely with the Department's budget.
Ms. Louie explained that it is a difficult task to cut essential programs. However, all departments were facing budget cuts across the board. The Department has received a year by year increase so even with budget cuts, the allocation overall still exceed the FY07-08 funding levels. Ms. Louie looks forward to continue working with the Department. Commissioner Gulbengay thanked Ms. Louie for attending the meeting and for providing more information on the cuts that Department is being asked to make.
Commissioners expressed concerns about the reduction to emergency services and unanimously agreed services to women and children must be preserved.
Dr. Murase explained that the Commissioners were being asked to approve the funding allocations for the VAW Grants Program for the 3-year funding cycle beginning FY 08-09, including new addbacks. The Department will also be releasing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for $500,000 for Lesbian, Bi-sexual, and Transgender services once the addback allocations have been approved. Dr. Murase stated that Partner Agencies are receiving a 3% increase from last years funding, and that the VAW Program expanded services this year.
Action: Motion to approve the funding allocations for the VAW Grants Program for the 3-year funding cycle beginning FY 08-09.
m/s/c (Keehn/Gulbengay/Unanimous).
Beverly Upton, Executive Director of the Domestic Violence Consortium, thanked the Commission for its support and partnership during this difficult budget season. Ms. Upton hopes to continue to work with the Department to seek funding and is thrilled to see that Community United Against Violence will have an opportunity to seek funding through the Department with the new RFQ that will be available.
Vanessa Flower with the Asian Women's Shelter expressed her gratitude to the Commission for restoring funding to the Partner Agencies. Ms. Flower expressed her fear of services being cut to the most vulnerable populations.
Roberta Toomer, Executive Director of WOMAN, Inc., thanked the Commission for restoring funding to the Partner Agencies at the 07-08 levels and hopes to continue to work with the Commission/Department to restore funding to all 07-08 programs.
Kathy Black, Executive Director of La Casa de las Madres, thanked the Commission for restoring funding to the Partner Agencies that are providing life saving services to the women and girls of San Francisco. Ms. Black acknowledged the dedication of the Partner Agencies, Commissioners, and Department staff during the addback process and hopes to continue that great partnership.
Farah Aribe of the Arab Cultural Center thanked the Commission for restoring funding and hopes to continue to partner with the Department in advocating for more funding.
B. Themes for Commission Meetings
Commissioner Marks requested that the Commissioners develop themes for the next year of Commission meetings. This past year, the Commission heard various informational presentations in an effort to develop a working plan for this next year.
Commissioners suggested the following:
· Hold joint committee meetings with other city bodies to discuss how city departments can better collaborate as well as bring the work that we do to the forefront.
· Prioritize the work of the Commission and develop meetings around those priorities.
· Ensure that the presenters provide information that is data driven
· Have departments that we are monitoring for the CEDAW Ordinance implementation provide updates (Department of Public Works, the Rent Board, Adult Probation Department, Juvenile Probation Department, the Arts Commission, and the Department of the Environment).
· Determine what other City departments we would like to monitor for CEDAW implementation.
· Have City departments that are providing gender specific services make presentations.
· Explore employment and pay parity.
Commissioners requested that the Department propose meeting topics based on the Commissioners feedback.
C. Election of Officers for 2008-2009
Action: Motion to elect Commissioner Shorter as President and Commissioner Gulbengay as Vice President.
m/s/c (Keehn/Marks/Unanimous).
Commissioners thanked President Munter and Vice President Marks for their2 years of leadership and guidance.
VI. PUBLIC COMMENT
Pamela Cole provided public comment.
Jovida Ross, Executive Director of Community United Against Violence (CUAV) thanked the Commission for developing an RFQ for the Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, and Transgender communities.
VII. ADJOURN
Motion to adjourn meeting.
m/s/c (Shorter/Marks/Unanimous).
Meeting adjourned at 6:45 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.
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