City and County of San FranciscoDepartment on the Status of Women

COSW Meeting Information - October 22, 2014 - Meeting Minutes

COSW Meeting Information - October 22, 2014

COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

4 – 6 pm

City Hall, Room 408

1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

San Francisco, CA  94102

Members Present

President Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez

Vice President Andrea Shorter

Commissioner Amy Ackerman

Commissioner Alicia Gamez

Commissioner Mary Jung

Commissioner Julie D. Soo

Staff Present

Executive Director Emily Murase, PhD

Associate Director Carol Sacco

Director of Women’s Policy Minouche Kandel

Senior Policy Advisor Andrea Evans

Executive Management Assistant Iris Wong

Policy Fellows Allison Ipsen & Elizabeth Newman

 

  1. CALL TO ORDER/ AGENDA CHANGES

President Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez called the meeting to order at 4:09pm. She remarked that she is disappointed by the resolution put forward by Supervisor Jane Kim on death review panel.

 

President Kirshner-Rodriguez noted that Police Commission President Suzy Loftus and presenters Captain Michael Connolly and Captain Teresa Gracie will have to leave early because of the Police Commission meeting later in the evening. She proposed approving the agenda with understanding that the presentation on Rape Kit Backlog and resolution for President Loftus will be taken out of order.

Action: To approve the meeting agenda as proposed.                              m/s/c (Ackerman/Gamez/unanimous)

 

  1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Action: To approve draft minutes from August 21 and September 16, 2014.

m/s/c (Ackerman/Shorter/unanimous)

                    

  1. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Dr. Emily Murase directed Commissioner to her written report. Below are the highlights.

 

  1. CEDAW Women’s Human Rights Awards Luncheon

Dr. Murase thanked Commissioners and staff for their support before, during, and after the event, which ensured the success of the luncheon.

 

  1. Violence Against Women (VAW) Prevention & Intervention Grant Program

The VAW Grant program is underway. The deadline to apply is Friday, October 24, at noon.

 

 

  1. Domestic Violence & Workplace Policy

Director of Women’s Policy Minouche Kandel has designed a brochure about domestic violence in the workplace, which will be distributed through the Human Resources Department to all 29,000 City & County employees this October.

 

  1. Domestic Violence Awareness Month - October Annual Cell Phone Drive

Associate Director Carol Sacco is coordinating the 7th annual cell phone drive to support victims of domestic violence. San Francisco Police Department Special Victims Unit and Partner Agencies give these phones to victims of crime.

 

  1. Annual Combined Charities Campaign

The “Heart of the City” Campaign runs through the month of October and is a great way to provide financial support to local communities. Staff participation is at 100%, and we hope to have 100% participation by commissioners as well.

 

Commissioner Soo arrived at 4:18 pm.

 

  1. Resolution Recognizing San Francisco Police Commission President Suzy Loftus

Vice President Shorter introduced President Loftus. She stated that President Loftus has been a champion in many levels, and thanked her for her leadership at chief of policy, attorney general’s office.

 

President Loftus thanked Commission for its recognition and its leadership in women’s issues, as well as Dr. Murase for the Department’s partnership.

 

Action: To approve resolution.                                                                             m/s/c (Soo/Gamez/Unanimous)

 

Commissioner Jung arrived at 4:23 pm.

 

  1. NEW BUSINESS

 

  1. San Francisco Police Department Update on Rape Kit Backlogs

Commanding Officer of Forensic Services Division Captain Michael Connolly and Commanding Officer of Special Victims Unit Captain Teresa Gracie provided an update on rape kit backlogs. Below are some highlights.

 

  • Of 1908 kits dating from 2003, 753 have been identified as needing to be tested. The oldest kits were sent out to be tested first.
  • As of October 20, 2014, 342 kits remain to be sent for testing. All kits will be sent out for testing by mid-November of 2014.
  • The testing turnaround time is 60 – 90 days depending on the complexity of case.
  • As a result of the new state mandate, every kit is tested regardless of whether the victim wants to pursue the case or not or not. Starting in January 2015, any rape kit that comes in will be sent out to be tested within 20 days. Captain Connolly acknowledged that it will be a difficult process, but the Forensic Services Division is committed to fulfilling the deadline.
  • Regarding communication with victims, San Francisco Police Department Lieutenant Mike Duderoff stated that since 2004, victims were asked if they want to pursue a case when evidence is found in their rape kits. If there is no evidence, there is no communication with victims.

 

  1. Cohort Study of Young Girls' Nutrition, Environment, and Transitions (CYGNET)

Co-Investigators Dr. Louise Greenspan, Pediatric Endocrinologist at Kaiser Permanente, Julianna Deardorff, PhD, Associate Professor at UC Berkeley, and Larry Kushi, ScD, Kaiser Permanente, provided a presentation on CYGNET. Below are the highlights.

 

  • This national study looks at early onset of puberty. Data is collected from hospitals in three different states: San Francisco Kaiser Permanente; Cincinnati Children’s Hospital; and Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
  • Puberty is generally starting earlier for girls, but there is an ethnic difference. At 7 years old, 25% of African American girls had breast budding. For black girl, the average age for breast budding is 8.8 years old.
  • There are a number of factors contributing to the early onset of puberty, with obesity as one of the major contributors. One of the goals in this study is to determine the effects of a combination of these factors.
  • Health education around pubertal development needs to start earlier. Based on the data from this study the researchers recommend starting around fourth grade.
  • Breast feeding protects against early onset of puberty. But mothers who have higher gestational diabetes increases the likelihood of their children developing diabetes as well.

 

Discussion focused on the effects of antibiotics, GMO products and soy products. Commissioners expressed interest in incorporating the results of this study in the next Report on Girls in San Francisco.

 

  1. Resolution Recognizing San Francisco Chief Adult Probation Officer Wendy Still on the Occasion of Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Action: To approve the resolution.                                                                       m/s/c (Soo/Gamez/Unanimous)

 

Through the 12 years of the Justice and Courage Oversight Panel, Adult Probation has improved the most because of Chief Wendy Still’s leadership. Chief Still will retire at the end of the year.

 

Chief Still thanked Commission for its recognition. She also thanked Domestic Violence Consortium (DVC) Executive Director Beverly Upton, Adult Probation Director of Community Restoration and Government Affairs Sunny Schwartz, and Reentry Division Director Jennifer Scaife for their work. Chief Still then recognized her mother and sisters and stated that they have influenced her most.

 

Public Comment:

  1. Ms. Upton stated that Chief Still brings a level of commitment to excellence that is unprecedented.

 

  1. Update on Healthy Mothers Workplace Coalition

Director of Healthy Mothers Workplace Coalition and Project Attorney at Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center Julia Parish provided an update on the Healthy Mothers Workplace Coalition. Below are the highlights.

 

  1. The Healthy Mothers Workplace Coalition is a collaboration of non-profeit organizations, government agencies, and employers, created to improve the working conditions and health of new parents.
  2. Last year, the Coalition hosted the inaugural San Francisco Healthy Mothers Workplace Awards, there were 18 winners. The awards have three levels: bronze, silver, and gold. The bronze criteria are fulfilled by complying with federally mandated policies.
  3. This year, there were 24 awardees, including 13 that reapplied last year. Three of the employers improved their policies enough to move up a level.
  4. Because of these two years of awards, 10,000 employees have been positively impacted.

 

Discussion focused on funding for the program, because the current funding source has been cancelled, but Coalition members are committed to the program.

 

Ms. Parish thanked the Department and Commission for their continuous support these past two years.

 

  1. 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.

Action:  To approve the Consent Agenda.                                                      m/s/c (Soo/Ackerman/Unanimous)

 

  1. Public Comment

 

  1. Resolution Recognizing Heather Marlowe, Playwright and Performer of “The Haze”

Heather Marlowe thanked Commission for its recognition. She looks forward to working with Police Commission President Loftus and Ms. Upton to remove the state statute that limits process of rape kits. She informed the Commission that “The Haze” will move to Berkeley Rep to help address the 1300 rape kit backlog in Oakland.

 

Commissioners thanked Ms. Marlowe for her leadership and her commitment to create positive change.

 

  1. Resolution Supporting Assistance to Unaccompanied Immigrant Children

Commissioner Soo thanked Yali Lincroft, Program Officer for the Walter S. Johnson Foundation, for bringing this issue to her attention. She stated that Board of Supervisors and California Attorney General Kamala Harris are considering policies on where these children are placed once they arrive in the US.

 

  1. Resolution Recognizing Leadership San Francisco (LSF) Executive Director Dianne Easton

Ms. Easton thanked Commission for its recognition and is honored to represent LSF and San Francisco business leaders.

 

Kevin Carroll, Executive Director of San Francisco Hotel Council thanked Ms. Easton for her leadership. He stated that she connects people with her networks, and taught him how things happen in San Francisco.

 

Dr. Murase acknowledged Ms. Easton and Leadership San Francisco for providing the Department with contacts in the private sector as it began the Gender Equality Principles Initiative,  which contributed to the success of the program.

 

  1. AGENDA ITEMS FOR FUTURE COMMISSION MEETINGS

Commissioner Gamez stated she would like to discuss the issue of young families being panhandled in downtown San Francisco.

 

  1. COMMISSIONER REPORTS

 

  1. Justice and Courage Oversight Panel

Vice-President Shorter noted that it is nearing the end of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Police Commission unanimously adopted two revised general orders for domestic violence and member-involved domestic violence.

 

  1. Human Trafficking

Commissioner Soo noted that planning for the December 3 Labor Trafficking Conference is underway. San Francisco Collaborative Against Human Trafficking is also working with the Department to collaborate with the Hotel Council, Superbowl Committee, and Chamber of Commerce to address human trafficking and Superbowl 2016.

 

  1. General Commission Business

 

  1. Strategic Planning Retreat

President Kirshner-Rodriguez stated she looks forward to the November 21 Strategic Planning retreat. She asked Commissioners to schedule time to speak with facilitator, Beryl Michaels.

 

  1. Equal Pay Legislation

Commissioner Ackerman stated that the Commission has a role in generating feedback for the Equal Pay Legislation sponsored by Supervisor David Campos. Other Commissioners agreed, and a special meeting will be scheduled in the next two weeks.

 

Commissioners also expressed interest in setting up policy or legislative committee to respond to proposed legislations during the Strategic Planning retreat.

 

Commissioner Jung departed at 6:15 pm.

 

  1. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT

 

  1. Iris Fluellen, Development Director of Alive & Free – Omega Boys Club, introduced the program to Commissioners, and distributed its 2013 Annual Report. She invited Commissioners to come to meetings on Tuesdays evenings.

 

  1. Roberta Guise, Public Policy Co-Chair of American Association of University Women (AAUW) – San Francisco Branch, recognized Executive Management Assistant Iris Wong for her presentation on the Gender Equality Principles Initative at the Cities for CEDAW webinar earlier today, and stated that AAUW is interested in participating in the campaign.

Commissioner Ackerman departed at 6:20 pm.

 

  1. ADJOURNMENT

In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, President Kirshner-Rodriguez adjourned the meeting in memory of the latest domestic violence homicide victims - Mary Freeman, Mary Atchison, Cecilia Lam, Ruby Gim. She also noted that it is also the anniversary of Claire Joyce Tempongko’s death.

 

Additionally, Commissioner Soo proposed adjourning the meeting in memory of Sumi Sevilla Haru, who passed away at age 75, who was the first Asian Pacific Islander woman to serve as National President of American Federal of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, and co-founded the Association of Asian Pacific American Artists.

Action: To adjourn the meeting.                                                                           m/s/c (Soo/Shorter/unanimous)

 

Meeting was adjourned at 6:21 pm.