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Meeting Information



Finance_Committee

2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 

CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO

JUVENILE PROBATION COMMISSION

 

 

 

FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE JUVENILE PROBATION COMMISSION

 

 

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

6:00 PM

Youth Guidance Center – Room 222

375 Woodside Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94127

 

 

 

Finance Committee

Dirk Beijen, Chair

Ellouise Patton

Susana Rojas

 

Minutes

 

  1. Roll call.  The chair called the meeting to order at 6 PM.  Commissioners Beijen, Patton, and Rojas were present.  The Department was represented by Chief W. Siffermann, Ms. A. McGee, and Ms. S. Wong.  Mr. L. Holmes arrived at 6:30.
  2. Public Comment.  There were no public  comments at this time.
  3. Review and approval of the minutes from the meeting of October 24, 2007 – (action item).  A motion (Beijen, seconded by Patton) to approve the minutes, passed unanimously.
  4. FY 08-09 City and County Budget situation, the Department’s response, and how the Commission can assist with the process – (discussion only).  Chief Siffermann stated that he had delivered the Department’s budget, as approved by the Commission, to the Mayor’s Office, and that there has been a continuing dialog between that office and his.  Ms. Wong (Director of Finance) advised our committee that the City’s projected budget deficit will likely grow from a previously announced $338 million to a deficit approaching $400 million.  (This is related to the State’s budget deficit that will be close to $20 billion.)  The City’s exact deficit should be known by May 14.  Ms. McGee (Director of Administrative Services) indicated that the Department will need the Commission’s support when the budget goes before the Board of Supervisors.  Commissioner Patton suggested that representatives of the Commission might speak with The Mayor in support of the Chief’s efforts.  Ms. McGee concurred.  Ms. Wong also agreed and noted that the Commission had supported the Mayor’s request for an 8% across the board cut.  Commissioner Beijen suggested that further cuts might be inimical to the Department’s mission.  Commissioner Patton suggested that the Commission President, Finance Committee Chair, and other members of the Commission might present a logical argument, against further cuts, to the Mayor.  Chief Siffermann assured the Committee that the mission/work preformed by the Department, helping youth avoid further involvement in the criminal justice system, is the priority, but that it has already stretched the service capacity of juvenile hall.  He stated, “if juvenile delinquency is not addressed in the community, it will likely be addressed by increased population in the hall”.  Commissioner Patton again suggested that the Commission President, Committee Chair, and other commissioners might effectively address the Mayor regarding the Department’s budget needs.  Commissioner Rojas suggested taking this issue to the next meeting of the full commission – agreed by Committee consensus.  Public comment:  Bruce Rice (Huckleberry Youth Programs) spoke, advising the Committee that The City had cut HYP budget by $170k.  He related that, since 1988, the Department had focused more on delinquents while HYP has focused on status offenders.  He will be looking to the Department of Children Youth and Families and the Department of Health and Human Services for assistance, but that the current funding cut means that HYP will be unable to help kids in crisis on a 24 hour/7 day a week basis.  He hopes that, since the Juvenile Probation Department has a long-term interest in shelter, that the Department will collaborate to help maintain HYP services.   Ms. Coleman-Ellis (Huckleberry Youth Programs) stated that if HYP is forced to close Huckleberry House in SF the kids that need those services will have nowhere else to go.  She further advised that the JPD cut, amounting to almost half HYP budget, was unexpected.  She asked the Committee to advocate for HYP.  Commissioner Patton stated that she “feels” the weight of problems related to HYP budget issues.  Chief Siffermann stated that the JPD values the work preformed by HYP as they are “cousins” in the juvenile justice family.  The “immediate family”, however, must take priority.  The Chief said that although he initiated a meeting with the DCYF, the issue of distressed pre-delinquent youth has somewhat fallen by the wayside.  Commissioner Patton said that when we address the Mayor about the Department’s budget, we should also advocate for related services.  Ms. McGee said that, at this point, no one can afford cuts.
  5. Possible fund raising activities by the Commission – (discussion and possible action).  Commissioner Patton indicated that she knew of possible sources for funds to support juvenile services and capital improvements.  It was agreed that she would provide that information directly to Ms. McGee.  Commissioner Patton further suggested that the Log Cabin Ranch School’s furniture reupholstering program could be developed into a fund raising program.  She further suggested creating a “Friends of the Juvenile Probation Commission” group that would raise money for programs.  Ms. McGee stated that “City Youth Now” might be approached.  It is a group, already focused on doing that kind of work.  Ms. McGee suggested the first step would be to meet with “City Youth Now” and then to meet with the LCRS Director.  Chief Siffermann reminded the Committee that any program at LCRS would require necessary staff.  Public comments:  Ms. Coleman-Ellis supported the idea of programs that teach youth self-sufficiency.  Mr. Rice said that Department of Labor funds might be taped for such programs.
  6. Discussion of funding from the Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act (JJCPA) and the Juvenile Probation and Camps Funding (JPCF) – (discussion only).  Commissioner Patton asked about how this funding works.  Chief Siffermann stated that State funding is to be cut by 10%.  Ms. Wong stated that the governor’s budget recommended a 10%, across the board, budget cut in January.  That budget, however, will not be finalized until later this year (sometime between July and September).  So, The City does not budget those State cuts this early.  Chief Siffermann reported that the Chief Probation Officer’s of California had registered support for the Runner’s Bill.  That bill might have significant financial impact on the criminal justice system and could also adversely impact youth of color.  The Board of Supervisors may oppose the Runner’s Bill.  The MOCJ request for proposal process was briefly discussed by the Committee and members of the public.  This subject will be referred to the full Juvenile Probation Commission. 
  7. Status of Controller’s Audit of reported grant funding to the Juvenile Probation Commission – (discussion only).  Ms. McGee told the Committee that she had no update on this matter.  The matter will be continued until the next meeting of this committee.
  8. Adjournment – (action).  There were no further public comments, and the meeting was adjourned at 7 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted by: Commissioner Dirk J. Beijen