2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 Minutes
SHELTER MONITORING COMMITTEE
Wednesday, July 5, 2006
10:00 AM
25 Van Ness Ave., Basement, Suite 70
San Francisco, CA 94102
Members Present: Members Absent:
Chair Diana Valentine Committee Member Joyce Crum
Committee Member Judi Iranyi Committee Member Bianca Henry
Committee Member Keith Kemp
Committee Member David Nakanishi
Committee Member Damian Ochoa
Committee Member Maxine Pauson
Committee Member Joanne Smith
Committee Member Kendra Stewardson
Bernice Casey, Staff
I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL/AGENDA ADJUSTMENTS
Committee Chair Diana Valentine called the meeting to order at 10:05 AM.
No public comment
II. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
Action: Approved June 7, 2006 Committee Meeting Minutes
m/s/c (Kemp/Stewardson/Unanimous)
No public comment
III. COMMITTEE REPORTS
Committee Member Judi Iranyi asked that tokens be placed on the August agenda. Committee Member Iranyi stated that the Committee should clarify if the City provided tokens to clients as a way to pay for transportation to shelter sites.
Committee Chair Valentine asked that the Committee develop a way to share information to the whole Committee [regarding the type and frequency of calls, e-mails, faxes, and letters the Committee receives regarding conditions in the shelter].
Committee Member David Nakanishi suggested that Committee staff provide a monthly report.
No public comment
IV. NEW BUSINESS
A. Sunshine Overview
Committee Chair Valentine postponed the item as Sunshine Ordinance Task Force Member David Pilpel had not arrived.
B. McMillan Drop-In Center
The Committee discussed the closure of McMillan Drop-In Center as a 24-hour resource center and discussed concerns of providing a 24-hour resource and drop-in services once McMillan closes.
Committee Member Iranyi asked if there was a temporary resource center established.
Action: Approved letter to the Human Services Agency (HSA) requesting next steps after the McMillan closure
m/s/c (Stewardson/Nakanishi/Unanimous)
No public comment
C. Nomination of Officers
Committee Member Nakanishi nominated Committee Member Kendra Stewardson for Committee Secretary. Committee Member Iranyi nominated Committee Member Damian Ochoa for Vice Chair. No other nominations were made for either office.
Action: Nominated Committee Member Stewardson for Committee Secretary
m/s/c (Nakanishi/Iranyi/Unanimous)
Action: Nominated Committee Member Ochoa for Committee Vice Chair
m/s/c (Iranyi/Nakanishi/Unanimous)
No public comment
D. Web Site
Staff person Bernice Casey reviewed the draft format of the web site. Ms. Casey said that the site should have artwork and asked for suggestions.
Committee Member Stewardson suggested using photos of shelters without the clients.
Committee Member Joanne Smith suggested using images of homeless people with their identities blurred.
Committee Member Iranyi suggested using artwork from shelters.
Committee Member Nakanishi said he liked the idea of using artwork as it highlighted positive programs in some shelters.
Committee Member Maxine Pauson suggested contacting Compass Point and asked for images used in their brochures.
Committee Member Stewardson asked staff to write up a better description of the Committee, including its powers and duties, in the About Us section.
Ms. Casey said that the Committee could continue to make changes and edits to the site once it went live.
Public Comment
Local Homeless Coordinating Board staff Ali Schlageter asked that [when vacancies occurred] applications be posted on the site.
HSA Deputy Director of Housing and Homeless Programs Gregory Kats expressed his support for utilizing artwork from Hospitality House and also suggested contacting staff at Multi-Service Center South.
Action: Approved format of the Committee's web site
m/s/c (Stewardson/Iranyi/Unanimous)
E. Deputy City Attorney
Committee Chair Valentine reviewed the draft letter to the City Attorney requesting a change of attorney.
Committee Member Stewardson asked why the change was needed.
Committee Member Nakanishi said that the letter may hurt the Committee more than it would help it. Committee Member Nakanishi said that the letter may cause a rift between the Committee and the City Attorney's Office.
Committee Member Ochoa asked what the Committee would lose if the letter was sent and supported sending the letter.
Committee Member Keith Kemp said the letter was a slap in the face.
Committee Member Iranyi explained to the newer members of the Committee that the Committee had had communication challenges with its Deputy City Attorney.
Committee Member Ochoa stated that it was within the rights of the Committee to request a change.
Committee Member Pauson suggested the letter include a history of specific incidents in which the Committee did not feel fully represented.
Ms. Casey said that the City Attorney's Office represents the City at large and the role of the Committee's Deputy City Attorney is to provide legal advice.
Committee Member Nakanishi said that Committee should document specific issues.
Committee Member Kemp asked that item be tabled for the Committee's August retreat.
Committee Member Ochoa asked that the item be voted on.
Public Comment
Hank Wilson said that Roberts Rules of Order stated that the tabled item must be voted on first.
Sunshine Ordinance Task Force Member David Pilpel concurred with Mr. Wilson.
Committee Member Kemp moved to table the item to the August retreat. Committee Member Stewardson seconded the item. Committee Members Smith, Pauson, and Nakanishi voted for the tabling. Committee Members Ochoa, Iranyi, and Valentine voted against tabling.
Committee Member Ochoa moved to send the letter. Committee Member Iranyi seconded the motion. Committee Chair Valentine voted for sending the letter. Committee Members Kemp, Stewardson, Pauson, Smith, and Nakanishi voted against sending the letter.
Committee Chair Valentine asked staff to place the item on the retreat agenda.
A. Sunshine Overview [continued]
Mr. Pilpel provided the Committee with an example of ground rules for conducting a meeting.
Mr. Pilpel explained that the 13-member Committee needs seven votes to pass or fail an item.
Mr. Pilpel gave an overview of Sunshine and the Brown Act. He explained that the State of California has the Brown Act, which includes general information about disclosure and posting an agenda. San Francisco has stricter laws. The purpose of Sunshine is to provide members of the public with enough notice to know what items will be discussed at each meeting and what proposed actions may take place. Mr. Pilpel explained that this was to provide members of the public with enough notice to know when and what would be discussed at public meetings. Mr. Pilpel reminded the Committee members that they cannot abstain from voting; with few exceptions, and that they should contact the City Attorney's Office to learn about those exceptions.
Committee Member Nakanishi asked for clarification on the public noticing of subcommittee meetings and stated that the Committee had been informed by its Deputy City Attorney that subcommittee meetings did not have to be noticed.
Mr. Pilpel said that subcommittee meetings must be noticed. Mr. Pilpel said that a point person could be selected by the Committee to work on an issue or follow up on an item; however, if a subcommittee was formed to do work on behalf of the Committee those [subcommittee] meetings must be noticed in the same fashion that monthly full-Committee meetings are noticed.
Committee Chair Valentine asked how the Committee can avoid seriatim meetings.
Mr. Pilpel said that the Committee should avoid meeting outside of noticed meetings. E-mail can be used for scheduling purposes only and should not be used to talk about anything substantive.
Committee Chair Valentine asked if a Committee member could recuse herself/himself from voting.
Mr. Pilpel stated there were reasons a member could recuse himself/herself and referred the Committee to the City Attorney's Office for specifics.
Committee Member Pauson asked how many members were needed for a quorum.
Mr. Pilpel said that 7 members were needed for a quorum and to pass an action item.
Committee Chair Valentine thanked Mr. Pilpel for his presentation and asked how the Committee could learn more about Sunshine.
Mr. Pilpel suggested utilizing the Good Government Guide [An Overview of the Laws Governing the Conduct of Public Officials].
Committee Chair Valentine asked Ms. Casey to follow up with the City Attorney's Office to obtain copies.
F. Retreat & Training Schedule
The Committee discussed format and dates for the retreat. The Committee discussed splitting up the retreat to a two-day event or keeping it at one day. The Committee agreed to have the retreat in one day, with a morning session set aside to discuss the goals and the mission of the Committee and an afternoon session devoted to training.
Committee Chair Diana Valentine asked Ms. Casey to follow up on August 25 and 28 for the retreat.
Committee Member Nakanishi said that he would help Ms. Casey locate a venue for the event.
No public comment
G. Ten Year Plan Council
Ten Year Planning Council staff Reg Smith invited the Committee to attend a joint meeting on September 13, 2006 with the Ten Year Planning Council and the Local Homeless Coordinating Board.
Committee Members Iranyi, Kemp Ochoa, Stewardson, and Valentine said they would be interested in attending the meeting.
Ms. Casey said that she would work with Mr. Smith to make sure the meeting was noticed properly.
H. Site Inspection Form
The Committee reviewed the draft site inspection form.
Committee Member Iranyi asked Ms. Casey to develop a form that could be provided to the shelter staff prior to the time of the inspection which outlined what information would be requested from the inspection team.
Committee Member Nakanishi said that the original forms had included that information and suggested that the form be updated.
Committee Chair Valentine asked Ms. Casey to try and order tape measures for the inspection teams. Committee Chair Valentine also asked that the form include a feedback area for staff [for asking the frequency of training utilizing the Shelter Training Manual].
Committee Member Pauson asked that Ms. Casey obtain a list of all posting required by the City.
Action: Approved site inspection form
m/s/c (Iranyi/Nakanishi/Unanimous)
Public Comment
Pat Harrison stated that HSA had hired a consultant in the past to train all [shelter] staff on the Shelter Training Manual, but she was unsure if there had been additional training [for new staff].
Committee Chair Valentine asked Ms. Casey to move public comment to the front of the agenda for future meetings.
V. OLD BUSINESS
A. Multi-Service Center South
Committee Chair Valentine asked that the item be tabled as there was no HSA staff present to answer questions.
B. CAAP Presentation
Ms. Casey informed the Committee that she did not have materials available from CAAP. Ms. Casey said that at earlier meetings of the Committee, members had heard that utility costs were taken from General Assistance (GA) checks and the Committee was unclear on who was receiving those monies.
Public Comment
Linzie Coleman said that the shelters had not received any additional monies for utilities since the change in policy [Care Not Cash] and that as far as she knew the shelters were not being reimbursed for providing utilities to clients.
Committee Chair Ochoa said that if the monies being removed from GA checks were going to housing that the Committee should contact Scott Waltin to verify this information.
VI. REPORTS
A. Shelter Status
Committee Chair Valentine said that Providence's First Friendship shelter [clients] moved to the 150 Otis site. She also said that St. Boniface was able to secure funding through the Budget and Finance Committee to re-open later in the year.
No public comment
B. Health
Committee Member Nakanishi said the San Francisco Access Health Plan [being discussed by the Board of Supervisors] could provide an estimated 82,000 uninsured residents for primary and preventive health care.
Committee Member Nakanishi said the health department released new clinic protocols for STDs (Sexual Transmitted Diseases) at the end of June and he had asked Ms. Casey to review the 86-page document and alert the Committee of any items relevant to the shelters. He informed the Committee to ask Ms. Casey for a copy of the document if they had additional questions
Committee Chair Valentine asked Committee staff and other members to bring [written] information or press releases about the shelters or other information to future Committee meetings for Committee members and the public.
No public comment
C. ADA/Elderly Access Subcommittee
Committee Member Iranyi said that Ms. Casey is still following up to determine
what allowances are being made under ADA [Americans with Disability Act] for mental health within the shelter system.
Committee Chair Valentine asked Ms. Case to follow up with the City Attorney's Office.
No public comment
D. Goals Subcommittee
Committee Chair Valentine said that the goals and the mission of the Committee would be the primary agenda item at the August retreat.
No public comment
VII. PUBLIC COMMENT
Larry Craig, a former resident of the Episcopal Sanctuary, said that he had presented the Committee with a courtesy copy of a letter at its June 7, 2006 Committee meeting. Mr. Craig said that he when he checked into Sanctuary staff required him to surrender his pocket knife. Mr. Craig asked for a receipt for his item. When he left the Sanctuary, he presented the receipt and asked for his pocket knife. The staff was unable to retrieve the item. Mr. Craig said that the knife had sentimental value as he had had the knife for over 15 years. He asked staff if the item would be replaced. Mr. Craig said he was informed that he would have to contact the Board of Directors. Mr. Craig said that he obtained a quote for the lost item and he and his social worker wrote two letters to Sanctuary and its Board and has not received a response.
Committee Member Iranyi said that the issue seemed to be a larger policy issue and the Committee should inquire what policies shelters had in logging and storing surrendered personal property.
Committee Member Ochoa said that clients could also pursue Small Claims Court.
Linzie Coleman from Sanctuary said that she had left several messages with Mr. Craig's social worker and no one had called her back. Ms. Coleman said that she was in charge of property complaints.
Committee Member Ochoa said that he would work with Ms. Casey to draft a follow up letter to Sanctuary regarding Mr. Craig's concerns.
Committee Chair Valentine said that the Committee's request for stipends had been placed into the budget under the Human Service Agency's budget although the request had requested the monies to be placed under the Department of Public Health.
Committee Member Nakanishi said that he and Ms. Casey would follow up with to find out how soon monies would be available.
Committee Chair Valentine asked if the legislation [the Shelter Monitoring Committee] would have to be changed.
Mr. Pilpel suggested following up with the City Attorney.
Committee Chair Valentine asked Ms. Casey to follow up with the City Attorney's Office.
Committee Chair Valentine welcomed new Committee members, Committee Member Kemp, Committee Member Ochoa, and Committee Member Smith.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 12:50 PM.
To obtain copies of the agenda, minutes, or any explanatory documents, please contact Bernice Casey at 415.255.3653 or Bernice.casey@sfdph.org 72 hours before the meeting.
To obtain a disability-related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services to participate in the meeting, please contact Bernice Casey at 415.255.3653 or Bernice.casey@sfdph.org at least two business days before the meeting.
25 Van Ness Avenue is accessible to persons using wheelchairs and others with disabilities. Assistive listening devices are available and meetings are open-captioned. Agendas are available in large print. Materials in alternative formats, American Sign Language interpreters, and other format accommodations will be made available upon request. Please make your request for alternative forma or other accommodations to the Shelter Monitoring Committee at 255.3642. Providing at least 72 hours notice prior to the meeting will help ensure availability.
The nearest BART station is Civic Center Plaza at the intersection of Market, Grove, and Hyde Streets. The MUNI Metro lines are the F, J, K, L, M, and N (Civic Center Station or Van Ness Avenue Station). MUNI bus lines serving the area are the 47 Van Ness, 9 San Bruno, and the 6, 7, 71 Haight/Noreiga. Accessible curbside parking is available on Oak and Hickory Streets.
The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers, and similar sound producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager or other similar sound-producing electronic devices.
In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illness, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees maybe sensitive to various chemical based scented projects. Please help the City to accommodate these individuals.
Know Your Rights under the Sunshine Ordinance(Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code)
Government's duty is to serve the public, reaching its decision in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people's business. This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people's review. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE, OR TO REPORT A VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE, CONTACT THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE TASK FORCE THROUGH:
Frank Darby, Administrator
Sunshine Ordinance Task Force
City Hall, Room 244
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102-4689
Phone 415.554.7584
Fax 415.554.5784
E-mail sotf@sfgov.org
Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance can be obtained from the Clerk of the Sunshine Task Force, the San Francisco Public Library, and on the City's website at www.sfgov.org.
Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Requirements
Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign & Governmental Conduct Code § 2.100] to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the San Francisco Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102; telephone (415) 581-2300; fax (415) 581-2317; web site: sfgov.org/ethics.
