1. CALL TO ORDER/AGENDA CHANGES                                                                                                 

President Zwart called meeting to order at 5:06pm. President Zwart reviewed the ground rules.

Ms. Sacco conducted Roll Call.

Vice President Dr. Miry was excused. Commissioner Chung was not present at the time.

President Zwart recognized June as Pride Month and marked the first national holiday to commemorate Juneteenth.

Ms. Sacco acknowledged that we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone, who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula.

No changes to the Agenda.

No Public Comment.

Action: To approve the meeting agenda.

(Roll Call Vote)         m/s/c (Andary/Prado/5 ayes, 0 nays - Unanimous)

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES                                                                                                                    

A.      Commission Meeting Minutes from May 26, 2021.

President Zwart called for an action on the Approval of Minutes from the meeting on May 26, 2021.

No changes to the Minutes.

No Public Comment.
Action: To approve minutes from the Commission meetings on May 26, 2021.

(Roll Call Vote)         m/s/c (Rihal/Moses/5 ayes, 0 nays - Unanimous)

B.      Commission Meeting Minutes from June 2, 2021.

President Zwart called for an action on the Approval of Minutes from the meeting on June 2, 2021.

No changes to the Minutes.

No Public Comment.

Action: To approve minutes from the Special Commission meeting on June 2, 2021.

(Roll Call Vote)         m/s/c (Andary/Moses/5 ayes, 0 nays - Unanimous)

3. DIRECTOR’S REPORT                                                                                                                 

Director Ellis shared highlights of the Department’s current activities including working to strengthen implementation of Administrative Code 12X Article II, which prohibits City-funds from going to states that ban abortion. The Department has also been advising Supervisor Melgar’s Office on legislation to create a parental leave policy for the Board of Supervisors and members of City Commissions and Boards and continues to advocate for state legislation that advances women’s rights including SB 331.

Director Ellis informed the Commission of the anti-human trafficking grant application the Department is preparing to submit to the US Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime by June 29. She also mentioned the Department continues to support GBV Partner Agencies in delivering essential services to survivors of violence.

Director Ellis honored Dr. Liliana Carnero-Rossi who passed away on June 14, 2021.

Director Ellis stated that she presented the Department’s new vision, budget plan, and expanded programmatic scope at the June 16 Board of Supervisors’ Budget and Appropriations Committee hearings. She will continue to advocate for an increased budget for fiscal year 2021-2022 in final budget discussions. At the same time, the Department is working to meet year-end fiscal deadlines and close outs including monitoring, auditing and reporting requirements and the Single Audit Report.

Director Ellis announced that Associate Director Carol Sacco will be leaving the Department at the end of June after two decades of service. Two new hires have also joined the Department: Lauren Battung (Executive Management Assistant and Commission Secretary) and Nazneen Rydhan-Foster (Grants Manager).

 

Public Comment:

1. Emberly Cross, Cooperative Restraining Order Clinic, expressed appreciation for Ms. Sacco’s work and dedication to the Department and its Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Intervention program grantees. She stated that Ms. Sacco will be missed.
2. Mary Martinez, WOMAN Inc., thanked Ms. Sacco for her many years of service to the Department and the grantees. She stated that Ms. Sacco will be missed.
3. Beverly Upton, San Francisco Domestic Violence Consortium, shared words of gratitude for Ms. Sacco. She stated that Ms. Sacco will be missed.

Commissioners thanked Ms. Sacco for her service to the women and girls of San Francisco and to the Commission and Department. President Zwart commended Ms. Sacco for her leadership of the Department during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commissioner Chung arrived at 5:32 pm.

Director Ellis mentioned that the Department would be drafting a Commission resolution to honor Ms. Sacco at an upcoming meeting and host an in-person celebration in the future to recognize her service.

4. CONSENT AGENDA                                                                                                                           

President Zwart read the resolution recognizing Public Policy Fellow Selma Osman for her contributions to the Department.

Ms. Osman shared that it was an honor to participate in the fellowship program and expressed her appreciation to the entire Commission and Department. Ms. Osman shared her gratitude for Policy and Grants Manager Elise Hansell, who served as her primary supervisor, as well as Associate Director Carol Sacco and Policy and Projects Director Elizabeth Newman, with whom she also worked.

No Public Comment.

Action: To approve the Consent Agenda.

(Roll Call Vote)         m/s/c (Andary/Prado/6 ayes, 0 nays – unanimous)

5. NEW BUSINESS                                                                                                                                   

A.      Administrative Code - Parental Leave Policies Authorizing Teleconferencing by Members of the Board of Supervisors and City Boards and Commissions

Jen Low, Legislative Aide to Supervisor Myrna Melgar, presented on legislation introduced to authorize parental leave and teleconferencing for members of the Board of Supervisors and appointees to City Boards and Commissions during pregnancy and bonding with a new child. She shared that currently, there is no parental leave policy and Supervisors and members of Boards and Commissions have to be physically present to vote.

The proposed legislation, drafted by Supervisor Melgar, would create an official parental leave policy for Boards and Commissions, as well as permit teleconferencing for members on parental leave. It would enable the Board of Supervisors to create a parental leave policy for themselves. Board and Commission members and the Board of Supervisors would still be required, per California’s Brown Act, to disclose their remote teleconferencing location and to teleconference in from a location that is publicly accessible. Ms. Low shared that Supervisor Melgar plans to introduce an amendment that would also create an additional 16 weeks of leave to accommodate physical limitations due to pregnancy and childbirth.

This legislation aims to be a model for the rest of the city to set a precedent that invites private institutions to extend paid parental leave. Ms. Low mentioned that Redwood City in San Mateo County provided a parental leave policy for city council, board and commission members, as have Canada and the UK.

Commissioner Rihal expressed her thanks, as a mother herself, to Ms. Low and Supervisor Melgar for addressing barriers to parents’ participation in government through this legislation.

No Public Comment.

Action: To take a position on the proposed legislation.

(Roll Call Vote)         m/s/c (Moses/Zwart/6 ayes, 0 nays – unanimous)

6. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT                                                                                                  

No public comment.

7. ADJOURNMENT                                                                                                                                             

President Zwart closes in honor of Dr. Liliana Rossi.

Action: To adjourn the meeting.

(Roll Call Vote)         m/s/c (Rihal/Chung/6 ayes, 0 nays – unanimous)

President Zwart adjourned meeting at 5:54pm.