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City and County of San Francisco

Meeting Information



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      Gavin Newsom
Mayor


                                                                           Susan Mizner
       Director

                         Jack Fagan
  Jul Lynn Parsons
   Co-Chairs

Norma Block
Ed Evans
Eugene T. Flannery
Elizabeth Grigsby
Tatiana Kostanian
Robert Neil
Ruth Nunez
Richard Ow
Denise Senhaux

 

 

Mayor’s Disability Council

Special Meeting
Minutes

29 October 2004

 

 

1       ROLL CALL

Mayor’s Disability Council Members Present:  Norma Block, Ed Evans (via Bridge Line), Jack Fagan, Eugene Flannery, Elizabeth Grigsby, Ruth Nunez, Richard Ow and Jul Lynn Parsons. 

Absent: Tatiana Kostanian, Robert Neil and Denise Senhaux

Mayor’s Office on Disability:  Susan Mizner, Director; Josie J. Lee, Office Manager; and Howard O. Wong, Council Clerk.

Jul Lynn Parsons, Co-Chair, called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m.

 

2       APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

The Council approved the agenda of the October 29, 2004 MDC Special Meeting.

 

3        REPORT FROM THE CO-CHAIR

Mr. Fagan reported briefly on the previous monthly MDC Meeting held on Friday, October 15th regarding the council’s endorsement of two ballot measures in the upcoming November 2004 election.  At that meeting, the Council adopted two resolutions regarding the propositions.  Mr. Fagan proceeded to explain the reasons for this “Special Meeting”.  He stated that the City Attorney Office is here to explain why adopting the two resolutions pertaining to the ballot measures went beyond the council’s authority.  Also, the City Attorney will be educating the council members and the public on appropriate policies and procedures.  Lastly, Mr. Fagan, on behalf of the MDC, apologized to the public for adopting the resolutions due to a lack of information on policies and procedures.

 

4         REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE MAYOR’S OFFICE ON DISABILITY (MOD)

Ms. Mizner conveyed MOD’s apologies regarding the adoption of the resolutions.  She thanked the City Attorney for attending this meeting to train the MDC.

Ms. Mizner provided an update on accessibility at City public events including the Mayor’s State of the City Address and Town Hall Meetings.  The Meetings Checklist reviewed by the council and passed by the Board of Supervisors has increased the expectation of accessibility in public meetings.

Ms. Mizner reported that MOD has conducted the final interviews for the Deputy Director of Physical Access position and hopes to announce a hire as soon as the requisition is approved.   

MOD met with the Board of Supervisors’ Rules Committee on making the President’s dais accessible to persons with disabilities in the Board of Supervisor Chambers.  It was a positive meeting with substantive and helpful feedback from the Supervisors.

Lastly, MOD’s DCARA consultant Todd Higgins organized a Town Hall Meeting recently for the deaf and hard of hearing community to discuss some of their issues and concerns regarding accessibility.  They received constructive feedback on working with the City departments and draft policies.

 

5         PUBLIC COMMENT

None

 

6         THE WITHDRAWAL OF MDC’S ENDORSEMENT OF BALLOT PROPOSITIONS IN THE UPCOMING NOVEMBER 2004 ELECTION. 

Chad Jacobs and Tom Lakritz, both lawyers from the City Attorney’s Office, were present.  Mr. Jacobs stated that state and local laws prohibit all public officers and City employees from using City resources for political activities, including supporting or opposing ballot measures or candidates.  The laws also prohibit City officers and employees from engaging in political activities on City time or City premises.  Mr. Jacobs noted the Council Members are volunteers who conduct their business on City time and on City premises.  However, when the meeting is over, and they are in their private capacity, they are free to engage in any political activities such as endorsing a ballot measure, making phone calls, urging people to vote, etc. 

Mr. Jacobs pointed out that the Council Members in their official capacity are free to do an impartial analysis of the effects of a measure on the city and the services that the city provides.   It has to be a fair and balanced presentation about the effects of a measure.  He spoke about the difference between a piece of legislation pending and a proposed ballot measure brought before the Board of Supervisors.  Once something is on a ballot, it becomes a measure and therefore, the Council cannot support or oppose it.  However, if it is still pending and it hasn’t become a measure yet, it is not improper for the council members to take a position on the piece of legislation.  Nor are they prohibited from passing a resolution or going before the Board in their official capacity to urge them to pass a piece of legislation.   

 

7         COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mr. Fagan announced that the next regular MDC Meeting will be on Friday, November 19th.      The agenda will include the 38 Geary bus line and proposed elimination of stops in the Tenderloin district.

Ms. Parsons had three announcements:

  1. www.kpfa.org and their phone number is (510) 848-6767. 
  2. Sign Language interpreter(s) are available at an Alcoholic Anonymous Meeting held weekly on a Saturdays from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm at 2135 Sutter Street at Steiner,
  3. There is a Mayor’s Town Hall Meeting on Saturday, October 30th for District 2 at the George R. Moscone Center.

Mr. Evans asked that if the disability community is experiencing any inaccessibility in their polling place, to contact the Election Protection Hotline at (866) OUR-VOTE (687-8683).

 

8          ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 2:10 p.m. 

 

For additional information, please contact:

Mayor’s Office on Disability
401 Van Ness, Room 300
San Francisco, CA  94102
415.554.6789 voice;
415.554.6799 TTY;
415.554.6159 fax;

email: [email protected]