Meeting Information

COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
City and County of San Francisco
Regular Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, July 23, 2003, 5:00 P.M.
City Hall, Room 408
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place San Francisco, CA 94102

MEMBERS PRESENT
President Dorka Keehn Vice
President Emily Murase
Commissioner Carolene Marks
Commissioner Juanita Miles
Commissioner Andrea Shorter
Commissioner Angela Williams-Cofield

STAFF PRESENT
Belle Taylor-McGhee, Executive Director
Rosario Navarrette, Deputy Director
Angela Martin, Executive Assistant     
Winnie Xie, Grants Administrator 
Justine McGonagle, Justice and Courage Coordinator 
Carol Sacco, Policy Analyst 
Caroline Donnola, Senior Policy Analyst 

• CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
  President Dorka Keehn called the meeting to order at 5:08 p.m. 
  Commissioner Valerie Tulier was excused.
  NO Public Comment                                                                                         
  2.  ADOPTION OF AGENDA
  m/s/c/ (Miles/Williams-Cofield/Unanimous) To adopt the agenda for the Wednesday, July, 23, 2003, Regular Commission Meeting with the stipulated amendments.
  NO PUBLIC COMMENT
  3.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES 
  m/s/c (Miles/Shorter/Unanimous)  To approve the minutes for the Wednesday, April 23, 2003, Regular Meeting, the May 12, 2003, Special Meeting and the Wednesday, June 25, 2003, Regular Meeting.
  NO PUBLIC COMMENT
• OLD BUSINESS
• Letter to the San FranciscoCountyTransportationAuthority Board
  Holli Thier of Thier PR spoke before the Commission and stated that her company was discriminated against by Systan, Inc.  Ms Thier stated that one of her employees was given a notice of termination by two gentlemen from Systan, Inc. and locked out of the office by the Executive Director. She stated that the Transportation Authority has not paid Thier PR’s invoices since March 2003.  Ms. Thier is asking for the Commission to write a letter of support asking the Human Rights Commission to do an investigation into the complaints raised by Thier PR.  She stated that she would also like a public hearing held to discuss the Authority’s actions and for Thier PR to be reinstated.
  Action: To approve writing a letter to the San Francisco County Transportation Authority Board asking that it make a request to the Human Rights Commission to conduct an investigation into complaints raised by Thier PR.
  Roll Call Vote:  Keehn – Yes; Shorter – Yes; Miles – Yes; Williams-Cofield – Yes; Marks – Yes, Murase - Abstained
  m/s/c (Keehn/Marks/Unanimous) To excuse Commissioner Murase from voting on this issue.
  NO Public Comment

• La Casa de las Madres
  Executive Director Belle Taylor-McGhee updated the Commission on the status of the recommendations presented to La Casa. 
• Commissioner Miles commented that at the previous site visit, she was under the assumption that the Department and La Casa were working together to address the issues that needed to be resolved. She stated that she did not understand the motivation behind the July 1, 2003, letter La Casa sent to the Department.  
• La Casa’s Executive Director, Kathy Black, agreed that the site visit went very well.  She stated that she was surprised that she was never notified that the recommendations would be read in public forum during the April Commission meeting. Ms. Black commented that the issue relative to the overnight staff has been discussed on a number of occasions. She stated that she has notified the Department in person and in writing that La Casa does not have the resources to hire 2.5 FTE’s.  She added that in February, she notified the Commission that through attrition, she would replace overnight staff with Spanish-speaking staff.  Ms. Black reported that she received a letter from the Department giving La Casa a September 1, 2003, deadline to have overnight staff in place.   She concluded by saying that the July 1, 2003, letter was a response to the Department’s demands.Commissioner Miles asked if the issue surrounding the food staples had been resolved.  Ms. Black responded affirmatively.  Commissioner Miles asked if the issue relating to the cultural competency language services had been resolved. Ms. Black asked Commissioner Miles to elaborate. Commissioner Miles commented that number two of the recommendations state:  “we recommend that La Casa maintain a minimum of one (1), but preferably two (2) Spanish-speaking staff who interact with clients 24 hours a day, seven days a-week.”  Ms. Black responded by stating that during the day, there are Spanish-speaking staff on pager and a language line service that offers 140 languages.  She added that in addition, La Casa contracts with W.O.M.A.N., Inc. to provide bilingual overnight coverage. Commissioner Miles asked if the use of children as interpreters had been resolved.  Ms. Black responded affirmatively.  Commissioner Miles stated that the fourth recommendation is for La Casa to submit its Grievance Policy and Client Bill of Rights.  Commissioner Miles added that La Casa has submitted a policy that does not yet include this critical aspect of the process. Kathy Black stated that the Homeless Prenatal Program and the Coalition on Homelessness is part of the grievance procedure.  She added that she submitted to Paul Boudin of the Coalition on Homelessness La Casa’s intake packet, welcome packet, and its grievance policy.  Ms. Black stated that the Coalition on Homeless has agreed to hear and mediate the grievances of La Casa’s clients. Commissioner Miles asked if La Casa had implemented the fifth recommendation by providing anti-racism training to its staff and volunteers.  Ms. Black stated that the training had not taken place.  She added that after exploring the possibilities, it was determined that La Casa did not have the resources to afford the $25,000 fee.  Ms Black stated that she would happily participate in any community offered anti-racism, anti-oppression training.  She commented that she is committed to making La Casa a better agency, and working with the Department and Commission in a non-adversarial manner. Commissioner Marks stated that she would like to conclude all discussion relating to the issues surrounding La Casa.  She also commented that the other funded agencies should be involved in the anti-racism training. President Keehn stated that no complaints have been brought before the Commission against any other funded agency.  She added that in would be inappropriate to include them in the issues surrounding La Casa.  President Marks stated that she would like to revisit the issue at a later time.  President Keehn stated that the Commission and Department also want closure regarding the La Casa issue; however, not all of the recommendations have been implemented.  Executive Director Belle Taylor-McGhee stated that Ms. Black has never revealed that La Casa would be willing to participate in community-based anti-racism training.  She added that the Department has never asked La Casa to spend $25,000 on its training.  Ms Taylor-McGhee commented that it behooves La Casa to have a grievance policy that clearly states the process for filing grievances.  She stated that the final step in La Casa’s current grievance policy ends with the Executive Director, and that in the event issues cannot be resolved internally, the grievance policy should clearly offer an additional recourse for the client.  In addition, Ms. Taylor-McGhee stated that the Department never asked La Casa to fire African-American employees so that Spanish-speaking staff could be hired. Commissioner Marks asked how La Casa could hire additional staff without firing existing employees. Ms. Taylor-McGhee stated that she is certain that if Ms. Black and the Department discussed the issue it could be resolved.  Vice President Murase stated that one of the recommendations is to conduct a fund raising campaign. Ms. Taylor-McGhee stated that closure will come by La Casa addressing the needs of its clients. Commissioner Marks asked if the issue could be concluded after the Department conducts its site visit. President Keehn stated that La Casa continues to appear on the agenda because the issues have not been resolved. Vice President Murase stated that she has full confidence that La Casa’s Executive Director and Executive Director Belle Taylor-McGhee can resolve the issues.  She stated that once this happens, La Casa should no longer appear on the agenda. Commissioner Shorter informed the Commission that she is no longer a member of La Casa’s Board of Directors, and that she is now able to participate in the conversation.  She added that the time frame for concluding the process seems to be indefinite and that it’s not clear where the investigation stops and monitoring begins. Commissioner Shorter voiced her concern regarding setting a precedent of re-voting on the same issues.  She stated that unless there were modifications or something new to add to the recommendations no additional vote should be taken.  It was agreed by the Commission that no formal action would be taken on this issue at this time.
  PUBLIC OOMMENT Lisa Polacei spoke regarding La Casa de las Madres. 

5.     NEW BUSINESS

• San FranciscoWomen Against Rape (SFWAR)

Executive Director Belle Taylor-McGhee presented background information regarding SFWAR’s volunteer application form.  She stated that the Department on the Status of Women was notified that SFWAR posted on its website a volunteer application form that asked applicants to commit to participation and political educational activities, such as taking a stance against Zionism.  Ms. Taylor-McGhee added that the Department provides $277,990 in funding for four programs at SFWAR.  She stated that because the City does not fund political activities, the Department has requested, and SFWAR has complied, that they remove all references to Zionism from its volunteer application.
Public Comment

The following individuals commented about SFWAR and its volunteer application form:

Several Commissioners asked the various speakers question relating to the training at SFWAR.

Candidates for President and Vice President of the Commission
m/s/c (Marks/Murase/Unanimous) To nominate Commissioner Andrea Shorter for President.
m/s/c (Shorter/Marks/Unanimous) To nominate Commissioner Juanita Miles for Vice President.
Vice President Murase nominated Commissioner Williams-Cofield for Vice President.
Commissioner Williams-Cofield respectfully declined.

• Status of the State Commission on the Status of Women
  m/s/c (Miles/Marks/Unanimous) The Department will write a letter in support of continued funding for the State Commission on the Status of Women.

Commissioner Marks would like to get an update on Resolutions that the Commission has prepared memorializing individuals who are deceased.  

6.     PRESIDENT’S REPORT

• Justice and Courage Panel:  President Keehn reported that the Panel met on the morning of July 23, 2003.  She added that the Panel will conduct media work in October surrounding Domestic Violence Month and Claire Joyce Tempongko’s murder.

President Keehn also reported that due to the City’s hiring freeze, the District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Unit was unable to hire two additional Assistant District Attorneys.  She stated that this meant that the Domestic Violence Unit would no longer be able to handle vertical prosecutions. However, Judge Hitchins has instituted an all-day domestic violence court and this has allowed the District Attorney’s Office to reinstate misdemeanor vertical prosecutions.

7.     EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

• Violence Against Women (VAW) Program Update:  Ms. Taylor-McGhee reported that the Violence Against Women Against Women (VAW) Program re-application workshop was held on Thursday, July 10, 2003.  She added that there were 38 attendees representing all 20 contracted VAW agencies.  Ms. Taylor-McGhee stated that the re-application package, including completed grant agreement appendices and the required insurance documents must be submitted to DOSW no later than Wednesday, July 30, 2003.  The contract are for one year, the last year of the three-year funding cycle.  Ms. Taylor-McGhee added that next year the Department will issue new request for proposal, and the new bidding process for funding will open during the first quarter of 2004.
• W.O.M.A.N., Inc.:  Ms. Taylor-McGhee officially informed the Commission that W.O.M.A.N., Inc. has a new Interim Director, Margaret Kokka.  She added that on July 22, 3003, the Department met with Ms. Kokka and members of the Board to discuss the transition along with outstanding contract compliance issues.
• Girls Report Update/Next Steps:  Ms. Taylor-McGhee reported that a presentation is scheduled for Thursday, August 14, 2003, from noon to 2:00 p.m. at the United Way of the Bay Area.  The event is jointly sponsored by COSW, Girls Inc. of Alameda County and United Way.

• REPORTS
  Commissioner Miles reported that Association of California Commissions for Women (ACCW) will hold its annual convention on August 14 -16, 2003, at the Oakland Marriott. ommissioner Shorter thanked the Commission and Department for adjourning the June 25, 2003, Commission meeting in the memory of her late father.

    9.   PUBLIC COMMENT
  No Public Comment

10. ADJOURNMENT
m/s/c (Keehn/Unanimous)The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 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.