Introductions & Sign In

Facilitator:  Karen Cohn                                Recorder:  Anjali Nath

1.      Review Agenda and Minutes

2.      Review of SFHA and next steps

Clarified that we wanted to go on record saying that SFHA budget should not be cut

Battery has come in for cameras.

Karen will offer to get Miguel and other supervisor to training in Jan.

Karen will contact Mayor’s office

to provide advance notice of letter from ATF.

Karen will draft formal letter.

Anjali will contact Naja or Naja’s aide.  We had agreed to meet separately to discuss MOE.   Now that people have had training good idea to go back to MOE.

People who are knowledgeable to comment on MOE and next steps.  When can we set up a meeting?

(not Oct 16^th,, Nov 2^nd and 3^rd)

3.      Overall Housing Objectives

Reviewed color-coded grid that outlines committee’s work.

We are getting support from Dept of Environment to have their consultant help develop fact sheets for consumers about what is in their homes (Fulfills first yellow box)

Focus of this meeting is in the green area: Providing policy makers with a guidance on healthy housing in San Francisco (public and private)

Neil suggested that we not lose sight of issues around furnishings and chemicals used.

No update on guidance development yet.

Re: Article 11 - smoking in common areas:  Supv. Mirkarimi wants exceptions for reductions in services and evictions. 

Karen indicated that she is researching the feasibility of a proposal where tenant and owner share burden of fines. 

Article 11 is continued to Oct 16^th

Will list as an Action Item on Oct 23^rd   agenda

1. Vote related to healthy housing and landlords; Required Training for repeat violators
2. Vote to go on record that smoking in common areas section be reconsidered when going before board

Ray spoke with Chris Chan.  There is a checklist re: new construction that is available on Dept of Environment website.

LEADS is an architecture certification that indicated healthy buildings.

CHPS – Collaborative for High Performance Schools.  Neil worked with them to get SFUSD to adopt High Performance Design Guidelines.  3^rd Party Commissioning is also a priority that we may want to consider.

Karen and her Dept are continuing to get calls from tenants who are having housing issues

Discussed avenues for promoting public awareness of tenants rights and resources and also informing professionals.

Neil announced the PSR is training physicians about environmental triggers.

Alison Lum from SFHP contacted Karen requesting book marks on environmental triggers.  She will send to their whole database of asthmatics and also update the guides in various languages.

Gloria suggested incorporating this information into the next SF Asthma Network Meeting being coordinated by ATF Clinical Committee.  Linking the work of ATF.

What do we mean when we say least healthy housing? (Brainstorm)

People living in garages

Temporary housing/illegal housing

Below grade units

SF Housing Authority*

Redevelopment financed projects in Western Addition (Marcus Garvey, etc.)

SROs*

Section 8 –varies

Older rentals (pre-’79)/Older Victorians

Faulty new construction

*Get most public attention

Possible asks:

1. Prioritized Code enforcement scheme – changing housing inspection to look like restaurant grading system
2. Requirements before you get permit/Raise the bar with criteria for accessing public monies
3. DBI make a permit requirement

Issues BIN:

Fly by night contractors

Working with private banks

Bernie suggested having a team using thermographic cameras for exterior assessment.

à Strategy would be to record against the property.

Timeline considerations:

Neil suggested we complete this recommendation by Jan 07 so we can promote it for the following 6 months to ensure there is buy in for long term

Need to work with potentially affected stakeholders to get their feedback and buy-in

Incentives:

Keeping property value up

Health Values

Liability

Janan New – SF Apartment Association

Brooke Turner – Coalition for Better Housing

Short-term goal – have enough info to be able to have dialogue with key players

Need to develop timelines for this work

Karen will rework outline so that green objectives reflect our new desired direction. And will further develop the “White Paper” objective with specific steps.

4.      Next Meeting & Agenda

Ensure Bernie Tom is on listserve

Anjali needs to send minutes out to committee right away with clear follow up outcomes

Next Meetings of Committee: 

a.      Wednesday, October 18, 2006 – cancelled so members can focus on follow up work

b.      Wednesday, November 1 , 2006