San Francisco Youth Commission
Minutes, Monday, January 4, 2010
5:30-8:00pm
City Hall, Room 416
There will be public comment on each item.
1. Call to Order
Chair Quesada called the meeting to order at 5:31pm.
Commissioners present: Deng, Marshall-Fricker, Liang, J. Chan, Jones, Hirano, Guerra, Davidson, Quintero, Quesada, Ellington (arrived at 5:40pm).
Commissioners absent: Carlson, A. Chan, LaCroix, Escamilla, Williams
2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)
Chair Quesada moved to place item 6A before the staff report, seconded by Commissioner Jones. This motion was approved unanimously by acclamation.
Commissioner Hirano moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Marshall-Fricker. This motion was approved unanimously by acclamation.
3. Approval of Minutes (Action Item)
Commissioner Hirano moved to approve the minutes of the meeting of December 21, 2009, seconded by Marshall-Fricker. This motion was approved unanimously by acclamation.
4. Public Comment on Items not on Agenda
There was none.
5. New Business
A. Discussion and Possible Action: A Presentation on the Student Assignment System in San Francisco Public Schools(Orla O’Keefe, Gentle Blythe, Heidi Anderson) (Document A)
Orla O’Keefe, Special Assistant to the Superintendant of the San Francisco Unified School District, explained the SFUSD’s desire to redesign the District’s student assignment process. To quote from the SFUSD’s website that describes this project:
“In response to the concerns about the current student assignment system, and as part of implementing its Strategic Plan, the San Francisco Board of Education established three priorities for a new student assignment system and established measures for evaluating different options.
The Board’s Priorities are: 1) Reverse the trend of racial isolation and the concentration of underserved students in the same school; 2) provide equitable access to the range of opportunities offered to students; and 3) provide transparency at every stage of the assignment process.”
Commissioners Hirano, Jones, Guerra, and Ellington asked clarifying questions.
B. Discussion and Possible Action: Update on San Francisco Wellness Initiativeand the City Budget (Stacey Blankenbaker) (Document B)
Stacey Blankenbaker, manager of the Wellness Initiative, explained to commissioners the history of the Wellness Centers—behavioral health clinics currently located in 15 SFUSD middle and high schools. The Centers grew out of youth advocacy by organizations like Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth and the Youth Commission of the late 1990s.
Stacey also explained that the City funds up to 5 Wellness Centers through monies set aside through the Public Education Enrichment Fund (also known as Proposition H), a fund created by San Francisco voters in 2004 to give money to the School District. Unfortunately, these 5 Wellness Centers are at risk of closing—perhaps not next academic year, but the following one—because of the City’s budget deficit.
Commissioners Jones, Quintero and Marshall-Fricker asked questions regarding, respectively, federal funding, Wellness Centers at middle schools and the need to urge the City to continue supporting Wellness Centers with Proposition H money.
C. Discussion and Possible Action: Update on HOPE SF(Kaila Price) (Document C)
Kaila Price was not present.
D. Discussion and Possible Action: How does environmentalism relate to juvenile justice? A Presentation from Bay Localize
Kirsten Schwind, Program Director of Bay Localize, an environmental justice-focused nonprofit, argued that climate change and youth justice are closely related. She mentioned and provided commissioners a copy of Bay Localized’s “Community Resilience Toolkit.”
Commissioners Ellington and Jones asked clarifying questions.
E. Discussion and Possible Action: Resolution Urging the San Francisco Unified School District to Adopt New Lunch Policies for High Schools (Commissioner Jones) (Document D)
Commissioner Jones read his resolution into the public record. It calls on the SFUSD to allow students time to eat their breakfast and lunch during the first periods immediately after those meals.
After some conversation, Commissioner Jones said that he would be forwarding his resolution to the Education and Employment committee for redrafting.
6. Old Business
- Discussion and Possible Action: Update on Supervisor Eric Mar’s ordinance prohibiting Owner-Move-In Evictions of Families (Commissioner LaCroix)
In Commissioner LaCroix’s absence, Chair Quesada explained that the ordinance that the Commission voted to support on August 17, 2009 was finally going back to the full Board of Supervisors after many amendments in committee.
7. Announcements (This includes Community Events)
Mario Yedidia explained that the Youth Commission would be having its midyear retreat this coming weekend, January 16-17, at Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth in the Excelsior District of San Francisco, 459 Vienna Street, San Francisco, CA.
Chair Quesada encouraged people to come to the School of the Arts’ media night on Thursday and Friday, January 14 and 15—where his video art and that of Commissioner Hirano would be shown.
8. Adjournment
Chair Quesada adjourned the meeting at 7:26pm.
Supplemental documents for agenda items are available for review at City Hall Room 345. Minutes are also available on the Youth Commission Website at www.sfgov.org/youth_commission
ACCESSIBLE MEETING POLICY
The Youth Commission meeting will be held in City Hall Room 416. The formal address of City Hall is 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA. The closest accessible BART station is the Civic Center Station at the United Nations Plaza and Market Street. Accessible MUNI lines serving this location are: MUNI Metro Lines J-Church, K-Ingleside, L-Taraval, M-Oceanview, N-Judah, and T-Third Street at Van Ness and Civic Center Stations; 9-San Bruno, 19-Polk, 47-VanNess, and 71-Haight Noriega. For information about MUNI accessible services call 923-6142.
The Commission meeting room is wheelchair accessible. Accessible curbside parking spaces have been designated on the corners of McAllister and Polk, and Grove and Polk. There is accessible parking available within the Civic Center Underground Parking Garage at the corner of McAllister and Polk Streets, and within the Performing Arts Parking Garage at Grove and Franklin Streets.
If you require the use of an American sign language interpreter, a sound enhancement system, or a reader during the meeting, calendars and minutes of the meeting in alternative formats; such arrangements can be made by calling Mario Yedidia at (415) 554-6446, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. Late requests will be honored if possible.
Individuals with severe allergies, environmental illness, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities should call our accessibility hotline at (415) 554-8925 to discuss meeting accessibility. In order to assist the City’s efforts to accommodate such people, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products. 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 public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people’s business. The 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 by mail: Administrator, Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, City Hall Room 224, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102; by phone at (415) 554-7724; by fax at (415) 554-7854; or by e-mail at sotf@sfgov.org.
Citizens interested in obtaining a free copy of the Sunshine Ordinance can request a copy from the Administrator, Sunshine Ordinance Task Force or by printing Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code on the internet, at http://www.sfgov.org/bdsupvrs/sunshine.htm