San Francisco Youth Commission
Minutes
*Special Meeting*
Monday, July 11, 2011
5:15-7:00pm
City Hall, Room 416
There will be public comment on each item.
1. Call to Order
Youth Commission Vice Chair Liang called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
Vice Chair Liang then ceded the floor to former Youth Commission Chair Leah LaCroix, who went on to explain why Vice Chair Liang was chairing the meeting. LaCroix explained that the terms of the Youth Commission’s six Mayoral appointees for the 2011-2011 year had ended on June 30, 2011 (the last day of the fiscal year), and thus LaCroix was technically no longer a commissioner and would not be chairing—or even voting—during this evening’s meeting. LaCroix made clear, however, that with the Commission’s permission, she was committed to participating and offering input into the night’s proceedings.
There was a roll call. Commissioners present: Zukerman, Marshall-Fricker, Sun, Hewitt, Perez, Hirano, Beaulac, Yang, Liang
Commissioners absent: Fierro, Nauer.
Staff present: Yedidia, Truong, Covington (intern).
2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)
Commissioner Hirano, seconded by commissioner Yang, moved to approve the evening’s agenda. This motion was approved unanimously by acclamation.
3. Public Comment on Items not on Agenda
There was none.
4. Legislation Referred from the Board of Supervisors (Action Item)
A. Business and Tax Regulations Code - 0.50% Sales Tax Increase to Fund Public Safety Programs and Services to Children and Seniors (Mayor; Chiu, Cohen, Mirkarimi and Wiener)
Presenters: Jonathan Lyens, Aid , Mayor’s Budget Office
See Document A
Acting Chair Liang offered some introductory remarks regarding this proposed ordinance, a dedicated sales tax that the Mayor wishes to submit to the voters for the November, 2011 election. Then, she welcomed Jonathan Lyens, a Public Policy and Finance Assistant in the Mayor’s Budget Office.
Mr. Lyens then provided an overview of the proposed ordinance, going through a powerpoint presentation which was instructively titled the “Mayor’s State Sales Tax Reduction Mitigation Proposal.” The proposed ordinance would increase the local sales tax by .50%, raising approximately $60 million a year; the revenue raised by the tax would go to a dedicated fund, which be budgeted towards—as the ordinance’s title suggests—both public safety departments and services for youth and children. Mr Lyens made frequent reference to California’s persistent state budget shortfall, arguing that San Francisco has increasingly been receiving less revenue from Sacramento for social services (a trend which is projected to continue), while at the same time the state government has been expecting that counties like San Francisco to provide services that the state has historically funded. Mr. Lyens also explained that the state’s temporary 1% sales tax increase—which had put the total state sales tax at 9.5% for the past 2 years—had expired just two weeks earlier (at the end of the 2010-2011 fiscal year). The proposed ordinance before the Youth Commission would allow the City to locally restore collection of 0.50% of that increased sales tax in order to pay for City services.
Commissioners Zukerman, Yang and LaCroix asked clarifying questions of Mr. Lyens.
Commissioner Hirano moved to support this legislation, seconded by commissioner Yang. There was vigorous debate of this motion, with commissioner Marshall-Fricker dissenting against the motion.
This motion failed by the following 8-1 roll call vote: Ayes (8) – Zukerman, Sun, Hewitt, Perez, Hirano, Beaulac, Yang, Liang. No’s (1) – Marshall-Fricker.
There were attempts to reopen debate on this issue and general confusion regarding rules of order. Youth Commission Staff Yedidia requested that Youth Commissioners call a recess, such that there could be more clarity regarding the Commission’s rules of order. Commissioner Hirano motioned for a recess, seconded by commissioner Liang. This motion was approved unanimously by acclamation. Acting Chair Liang began the recess at 6:24 p.m.
Vice Chair Liang closed recess and reopened the meeting at 6:32 p.m. Staff Yedidia, with Rosenberg’s Parliamentary Rules of Order in hand, walked commissioners through “The Motion to Reconsider.” Yedidia underscored the importance of Youth Commissioners’ respecting the finality of motions.
Commissioners Zukerman and Marshall-Fricker continued to call for a reconsideration of the matter. There was persistent confusion.
Amidst this confusion, commissioner Marshall-Fricker moved for a recess, seconded by commissioner Yang. This motion was approved unanimously by acclamation. Acting Chair Liang began the recess at 6:44pm.
Vice Chair Liang closed recess and reopened the meeting at 6:50 p.m.
Commissioner Zukerman, seconded by commissioner Marshall-Fricker, moved for the Youth Commission to reconsider item 4A. The motion passed unanimously by the following roll call vote: Ayes (9)-Zukerman, Marshall-Fricker, Liang, Sun, Hewitt, Perez, Hirano, Beaulac, Yang.
After some brief discussion, Commissioner Zukerman, seconded by commissioner Marshall-Fricker, moved to support the intent of the proposed ordinance—namely, to support sending the ordinance before to the voters of San Francisco. This motion passed unanimously by the following roll call vote: Ayes (9)-Zukerman, Marshall-Fricker, Liang, Sun, Hewitt, Perez, Hirano, Beaulac, Yang.
Commissioners Yang, Zukerman, Marshall-Fricker and Acting Chair Liang offered to come into the Youth Commission office later in the week to work on crafting the memorandum summarizing the evening’s conversation, which would serve as the Youth Commission’s official response to this piece referred by the Board of Supervisors.
5. Announcements (This includes Community Events)
Staff Yedidia announced that the San Francisco nonprofit spoken word and literacy organization Youth Speaks, with which the Youth Commission had partnered on a forum regarding youth violence earlier in the 2010-2011 year, would be having its International Youth Poetry Slam Brave New Voices on July 23, 2011. He encouraged all commissioners to check their emails for more information on this event.
Commissioner Yang shared that was working on putting together a youth summit on issues affecting immigrant youth and that all commissioners interested in these issues should contact her.
6. Adjournment
Vice Chair Liang adjourned the meeting at 7:07 p.m.
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.