San Francisco Youth Commission
Minutes
*Special Meeting*
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
5:15-8:00pm
City Hall, Room 305
There will be public comment on each item.
1. Call to Order
Chair LaCroix called the meeting to order at 5:21pm.
Commissioners present: Zuckerman, Liang, Sun, Hewitt, Perez, Fierro, Hirano, Beaulac, Nauer, Yang, Benezra, LaCroix.
Commissioners tardy: Chan (arrived at 5:45pm).
Commissioners absent: Marshall-Fricker, Herzstein, Kaminsky, Lin.
Staff present: Mario Yedidia.
2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)
Commissioner Zuckerman, seconded by commissioner Yang, moved to approve the agenda. This motion was approved unanimously by acclamation.
3. Public Comment on Items not on Agenda
Mr. David Pilpel brought to the attention of the Youth Commission (in light of the commission’s demonstrated interest in state-level legislation regarding raves and electronic dance music) the fact that earlier today the City’s state legislation committee took up the amended version of the Assemblywoman Fiona Ma’s AB 74, initially entitled “The Anti-Raves Act of 2011.”
4. Legislation Referred from the Board of Supervisors (Action Item)
There was none.
5. Presentations (All Items to follow Discussion and Possible Action)
B. Presentation and request for support of San Francisco Community College District’s fee suspension for City College
Presenter: John Rizzo, President, City College Board of Trustees
Document C
Chair LaCroix called item 5B out of order.
John Rizzo, President of City College Board of Trustees, requested that the Youth Commission take action on the same issue about which he came to the commission at its previous meeting (April 4, 2011): namely, that the Youth Commission support the Board of Trustees’ attempt to get the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to suspend approximately $2 million worth of fees that City College pays to the City & County each year for services—all of this because of the state’s immense cuts to City College. Throughout his comments, President Rizzo frequently made mention of the fact that the City’s K-12 public school system (the San Francisco Unified School District) receives millions of dollars of funds each year from the City & County.
In her capacity as the Mayor’s advisor on Families and Children’s Services (though she is also the elected President of the Board of Education), Hydra Mendoza explained that most of the monies the City and County provides to the school district each year are transferred to the SFUSD because of voter-approved Charter amendments; she added, moreover, that other City monies that go to the SFUSD come from the Children’s Fund—which explicitly can only provide services for 0-18 year-olds. She reiterated the importance of City College and that the Mayor’s Office very much wants to build a stronger relationship between City College and the City & County. That being said, the City has a $300 million budget deficit for the coming fiscal year, which means that policymakers—like the Mayor—will have very difficult decisions to make.
Commissioners Hirano, Benezra and Zukerman asked clarifying questions.
Public Comment:
Jesus Ávila, a student at City College’s Mission Campus, explained that when he arrived in the U.S., he had many dreams, but got into an accident; however, even with his accident, his education at City College’s transitional studies program has been absolutely critical; he asked that the Youth Commission give City College its support.
Commissioners Hirano, LaCroix, Benezra and Fierro then engaged in a spirited discussion, which also involved questions fielded by Ms. Mendoza and President Rizzo.
Ultimately, Chair LaCroix motioned to support the resolution, seconded by commissioner Zuckerman.
This motion was approved unanimously by the following roll-call vote: Ayes (13) — Zuckerman, Liang, Sun, Hewitt, Perez, Fierro, Hirano, Beaulac, Nauer, Yang, Benezra, Chan, LaCroix.
A. Presentation & update on the Mayor’s Office of Housing Transitional Age Youth (TAY)
Presenter: Anne Romero, Mayor’s Office of Housing
Document A, B
Anne Romero, Project Manager at the Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH), presented the Youth Commission with an update on MOH’s Housing of Transitional Age Youth (TAY) plan. Broadly speaking, this plan involves providing 400 new units of housing by 2015, a few hundred of which are currently in the pipeline.
Dariush Kayhan, the Deputy Director of MOH, also participated in this presentation. Mr. Kayhan argued that San Francisco is doing more than any other city to increase permanent supportive housing. However, more needs to be done.
Commissioners Chan, Benezra, Zukerman and LaCroix asked questions and offered comments.
Chair LaCroix thanked Ms. Romero and Mr. Kayhan for their time.
A. Presentation and request for endorsement of the Bay Area Youth Summit
Presenter: Commissioner Zuckerman
Document E
Commissioner Zuckerman told commissioners about the upcoming Bay Area Youth Summit, set for this upcoming Saturday, which will involve 8 hours of workshops and community-building for queer young people and their allies.
Commissioner Hirano moved to endorse this summit, seconded by commissioner Chan.
This motion was approved unanimously by the following roll call vote: Ayes (11) — Zuckerman, Liang, Sun, Hewitt, Perez, Hirano, Beaulac, Nauer, Yang, Benezra, Chan, LaCroix.
6. Youth Commission Business (Unless otherwise noted, all items to follow involved Discussion and Possible Action)
A. Resolution urging the Mayor and Board of Supervisors to support Eddy Zheng’s right to remain in the United States (1st reading)
Presenters and sponsors: Commissioners Lin, Zuckerman
Document F
Commissioners Zuckerman and Lin read this resolution into the public record.
There was modest discussion, led by commissioner Hirano. Given that this was the first reading of the resolution, no official action was taken.
B. Youth Commission Budget Priorities for FY 2011-2012 (Discussion Only)
Presenter and sponsor: Executive Committee, Youth Commission Staff
Document G
Chair LaCroix and commissioner Hirano led the Youth Commission through a discussion of the commission’s budget priorities for the previous fiscal year (FY 10-11).
C. Update on Youth Commission Outreach Plan for 2011-2012 Application
Presenters: Executive Committee, Youth Commission staff
Mario Yedidia and commissioners Beaulac, Benezra and Fierro offered updates on the outreach conducted thus far.
7. Staff Report (Informational Item)
There was none.
8. Committee Reports: City & School; Arts, Culture, Recreation and Entertainment; Youth Justice (Informational Item)
There was none.
9. Attendance Review (Action Item)
10. Announcements (This includes Community Events)
11. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:11pm.
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 decisions 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 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.sfbos.org/index.aspx?page=4459.
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 device. (Admin. Code § 67A.1).
In order to assist the City’s efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illnesses, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical- based products. Please help the City accommodate these individuals.