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
Regular Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
5:00 P.M.City Hall, Room 400
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 Rosario Navarrette, Deputy Director
Vice-President Juanita Miles Caroline Donnola, Senior Policy Analyst
Commissioner Dorka Keehn Ann Lehman, Senior Policy Analyst
Commissioner Emily Murase Justine McGonagle, Justice & Courage Coordinator
Commissioner Valerie Tulier Carol Sacco, Policy Analysis
Winne Xie, Grants Administrator
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
President Shorter called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m.
Commissioner Tulier arrived at 5:10 p.m.
No public comment.
2. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
m/s/c (Murase/Miles/Unanimous)
Action: Adopted agenda for the Wednesday, November 19, 2003, Regular Meeting
No public comment.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
m/s/c (Keehn/Murase/Unanimous)
Action: Approved the minutes from Wednesday, October 29, 2003, Special Meeting, Public Hearing on the Girls Report.
No public comment
4. President's Report
President Shorter spoke about the public response to the Girls Hearing and stressed the Commission’s and the Department’s continued effort to share the rich information with service agencies and the public as a whole. President Shorter shared Supervisor Dufty’s desire to sponsor a follow-up hearing with a focus on violence prevention and juvenile justice. She stated that the Department would focus on foster care issues that were brought up by the youth and service agencies at the Hearing while the Commission determines an exact focus on how they want to proceed with the information gathered at the Hearing. The Commission and the President will use the time before the January 2004 Annual Retreat to compose recommendations, policy action and suggestions on how to further engage the community.
Commissioner Miles suggested a follow-up in the Bayview/Hunters Point area in an effort to start going back to the neighborhoods.
Deputy Director Rosario Navarrette shared with the Commission the positive public response the Department has received in regard to people who viewed the Girls Hearing on SFGOV TV. She stated that the public has called the Department to get more information on some of the agencies at the Hearing.
5. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Executive Director Belle Taylor-McGhee was out ill. Deputy Director Rosario Navarrette gave the Executive Director’s Report. Deputy Director Navarrette informed the Commission that Senior Policy Analyst Ann Lehman will be leaving the Department after almost nine years of service at the end of the year. Commissioners Miles, Murase, Tulier, and Keehn expressed their deep appreciated for Ms. Lehman and her policy work over the past years. Deputy Director Navarrette reported that interviews for the Executive Secretary position would be conducted in the upcoming weeks.Deputy Director Navarrette gave a brief report on the Department funded Violence Against Women (VAW) All Agency meeting that was held on November 13, 2003. The meeting provided an opportunity for the service providers to break into groups and discuss strategies to better serve the public. The Department stressed the need for cultural competency, Clients’ Bill of Rights and to establish a grievance policy.
President Shorter stopped by the All Agency meeting and noted the lively discussion among the agencies and the philosophical discussions.
Commissioner Tulier hoped that future meetings of this nature would provide an opportunity for relationship building and the coordination of resources.
Deputy Director Navarrette discussed the positive feedback the Department received from the agencies and is hopeful that future meetings will produce similar outcomes. She stated that the agency networking was one of the many highlights. The agencies, due to time constraints, believe half day meetings would be better attended and more helpful.
Commissioner Keehn asked about the selection process and the strategic planning involved in the grant process. It was her hope that the Commission could be more involved in discussion.
Deputy Director Navarrette discussed the possibility of collaborating with other public agencies to draw additional funding for service agencies such as the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families (DCYF).
Senior Policy Analyst Lehman discussed the upcoming meeting with the (DCYF) at the beginning of December to discuss how DCYF’s $36 million budget can use direct funds for girl specific programs.
Commissioner Keehn inquired what the next steps of the Girls Hearing will be and how the Commission will be involved in creating and implementing policies to address the issues raised at the Hearing.
President Shorter said that the next few weeks would be used to get a general scope of the policies that need to be developed as well as on opportunity to meet with other departments to discuss earmarking funds for girl specific programs.
Commissioner Murase asked what stage is DCYF’s Request for Proposals is currently in.
Senior Policy Analyst Ann Lehman responded that it was being formulated.
Commissioner Tulier stressed the importance of identifying the key players and services that need to be provided by looking at current service providers and what girls’ services are currently provided.
Commissioner Tulier thanked Justice & Courage Coordinator Justine McGonagle and the Department for their support at a recent hearing for a San Francisco girl who was sexually assaulted. 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 items
m/s/c (Murase/Tulier/Unanimous)
Action: To recognize Lateefah Simon, Executive Director of the Center for Young Women’s Development, for her achievement in receiving the MacArthur Foundation Fellowship Award.
President Shorter suggested a reception in conjunction with the Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women to recognize Ms. Simon and the Center itself to be led by Commissioner Marks.
7. OLD BUSINESS
a. Commission Retreat, January 30, 2003
m/s/c (Keehn/Murase/Unanimous)
Action: To appoint a designee to work with the Executive Director on the agenda for the annual retreat.
Commissioner Tulier was appointed to work with the Executive Director on the agenda for the retreat.
b. Faith Fancher Recognition
Commissioner Miles is getting background on the recognition and is open to suggestions from the Commission on how Ms. Fancher’s contributions should be recognized.
c. Grant Allocation Process
Winnie Xie, Grants Administrator, gave an overview of the current contract status of the funded agencies. Commissioner Keehn asked what the time period of certification was each year. Grants Administrator Xie explained that the Department reviewed all funded agencies’ reports on their past years progress to compare outcomes with the initial goals and objectives. President Shorter asked if this was done for every agency. Grants Administrator Xie said yes. President Shorter wanted to know how far into the fiscal year the process was. Grants Administrator Xie informed the Commission that they were in their fifth month of funding for this fiscal year. Commissioner Miles asked what happened with agencies didn’t comply and what the Department was currently doing to ensure compliance.
Deputy Director Navarrette explained that the Department currently had a monthly report system. This allowed the Department to monitor the agencies and give support when problems occurred instead of waiting until the end of the contract cycle. Furthermore, it was the goal of the Department to be able to conduct site visits to help agencies implement the programs that they were funded for, however, the current funding of the Department did not allow staff to make these visits at this time as regularly as possible.
Commissioner Miles concurred that the idea of visits would be beneficial to all involved.
Commissioner Murase commented that there should be a policy discussion among the Commissioners before the next funding cycle.
Commissioner Keehn suggested that funding policies for the agencies be an agenda item at the January 30 Retreat.
President Shorter reminded the Commission that this had been put on hold at the last retreat and should be an opening item at the next retreat.
Deputy Director Navarrette
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.
maintained that any changes made to the RFPs would be brought to the Commission’s attention, and that it was crucial for the Department and the Commission to work together.
Commissioner Keehn asked when the Commission could discuss the RFPs and when the Department was planning on releasing the RFPs.
Deputy Director Navarrette informed the Commission that the sooner the discussion could take place the better it would be as the plan was to release the RFPs in late February/early March. The Deputy Director informed the Commission that the Mayor’s Office informed the Department that $60,000.00 had been cut from this year’s budget. The Department would be putting current efforts into funding strategies.
Commissioner Keehn and President Shorter asked about the contingency budget plans.
Deputy Director Navarrette said that the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor’s Office followed the contingency plans as outlined in the September 24, 2003 agenda.
Commissioner Keehn asked what the next steps of action would be in regard to the Department’s budget.
Commissioner Miles believed that the Commission would have to have a special meeting to discuss the implications of the budget cuts.
Commissioner Keehn concurred and commented that the Mayor’s Office and the Board of Supervisors had stated that they would not make any additional cuts in the Department’s budget during this fiscal year.
Commissioner Keehn left at 6:00 p.m.
No public comment.
CEDAW Committee Members
Maria Chatfield-Taylor, Friends and Foundation of the San Francisco Library
Sharon Friedrichsen, Office of the Controller
Maria Elena Guillen, Department of Aging and Adult Services
Camren Herrera, Human Rights Commission
Dee Williams, Adult Probation Department
b. Discuss Commission support for SB 689
Due to Commissioner Mark’s absence, the discussion of SB 689 will be postponed until December 17th’s meeting.
No public comment.
9. REPORTS
a. Justice and Courage Report
Commissioner Keehn had to leave the meeting early, so the Justice and Courage Report will be given at the December 17th meeting.
b. NACW/ACCW Report
Commissioner Miles discussed her attendance at both the NACW and the ACCW meetings in early October. Commissioner Miles was pleased with both organizations new strategic plan and encouraged all Commissioners and staff to support the organizations at their annual meeting this July in Pasadena, California. Deputy Director Navarrette explained to the Commission that due to funding constraints, the Department would be unable to pay its annual dues to NACW and ACCW. Commissioner Miles said she would speak to the organizations on the behalf of the Department in hopes of lessening the due amount. President Shorter asked the Deputy Director to provide a list of organizations the Department was unable to pay dues because of a lack of funding.
c. Performance Review
Commissioner Murase gave the Commission an outline of the process and general timeline of the Executive Director’s Performance Review based on her meeting with Commissioner Keehn and Williams the previous week. Commissioner Murase provided the Department with a written outline. The Commissioners (Murase, Keehn, and Williams) recommended a 360 degree review involving Department staff, other city departments and service providers. Commissioner Miles disagreed with a 360 review. Commissioner Murase stated that it would be an eighteen-month evaluation period. The first evaluation would happen in six months time in June. The process and timeline would be submitted in January for approval. Commissioner Murase said they would be working with the Human Resources Department (HR) closely to get feedback of current Executive Directors’ performances reviews. After the June review, reviews would follow every six months. Acknowledging current Commissioners resistance to the 360 process, Commissioner Murase said Commissioner sampling of ideas would be encouraged throughout the process. Commissioner Miles believed involving outside agencies would be unfair due to funding issues.Commissioner Tulier opposes involving other departments as these reviews may be subjective and could be taken out of context. The Commissioner wanted to hear more about the staff evaluation aspect of the review.President Shorter believed further research was needed to help establish a standard and encouraged involving HR to provide models for productive and effective reviews. Commissioner Miles wanted to hear futher information about how the Executive Director would be involved in the review process. Commissioner Murase said she would be meeting with Commissioners Keehn and Williams in early December and would bring back an updated process for the December 17th Commission meeting.
No public comment.
10. ANNOUNCEMENTS
President Shorter reminded the Commissioners to respond to the Department’s memo regarding updating Commissioner contact information.
No public comment.
11. ADJOURNMENT
m/s/c (Miles/Tulier/Unanimous)
Action: President Shorter adjourned the meeting at 6:32 p.m.
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 130, San Francisco, CA 94102:, telephone (415) 581-2300; fax (415) 581-2317; web site: sfgov.org/ethics.
