San Francisco Youth Commission
Minutes
Monday, December 5, 2011
5:15-8:00pm
City Hall, Room 416
There will be public comment on each item.
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Chair LaCroix called the meeting to order at 5:17p.m.
The roll was called. Commissioners present: Armstrong, Baer, Bonner, Brodwin, Chan, Holloway, LaCroix, Liang, Marshall-Fricker, Tu Mutch, Ontiveros, Persky, Shackelford, Yang. There was quorum. Commissioners tardy: Sun. Commissioners absent: Carrion. Staff present: Yedidia, Truong.
2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)
There was no public comment on this item.
Commissioner Armstrong, seconded by Commissioner Baer, moved to approve the agenda. The agenda was approved unanimously by acclamation.
3. Approval of Minutes (Action Item)
A. Monday, November 7, 2011 (Document A)
There was no public comment on this item.
Commissioner Persky, seconded by Commissioner Tu Mutch, moved to approve the minutes to the meeting of November 7, 2011. This motion was approved unanimously by acclamation.
4. Public Comment on Items not on Agenda (Discussion Only)
There were none.
5. Legislation Referred from the Board of Supervisors (All Items to Follow Discussion and Possible Action)
There was none.
7 . Youth Commission Business (All Items to Follow Discussion and Possible Action)
A. [First Reading] Resolution 1112—03—Making TAY a Priority Population
Sponsor and Presenter: Commissioner Baer
Additional presenter: Renee Willette, Mayor’s Budget Office
(Document G)
Chair LaCroix called item 7A out of order. Chair LaCroix then gave introductory remarks on Commissioner Baer’s resolution and laid out the format on how she would like commissioners and the public to proceed with this item. LaCroix also reminded everyone that this was a first reading with an additional presentation from Renee Willette from the Mayor’s Budget Office, and time for public comment.
Commissioner Baer gave additional background information on the resolution, and then read the resolution into the public record.
Renee Willette, of the Mayor’s Budget Office, introduced herself to Commissioners and gave some updates on how the Mayor’s Office has been talking about how to serve transitional aged youth (TAY). For instance, the Mayor’s Office has recently reached out to different departments, such as the Department of Children, Youth, and their Families (DCYF), the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), Adult Probation, Juvenile Probation, and the Mayor’s Office of Housing, to start the initial dialogue on how to create a TAY home. Ms. Willette states that the Mayor’s Office is looking forward to hear more about this resolution and is happy to work with the Youth Commission.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions.
Public Comment:
Allison Cohen, Project Manager of Transitional Age Youth-San Francisco (TAYSF), shared her feedback on the “Making TAY a priority population” resolution. Ms. Cohen suggested adding more statistics on transitional aged youth in San Francisco and offered TAYSF’s wealth of data and information on this population. She also suggested that the resolution acknowledge the Human Services Agency, Department of Public Health, Adult Probation, and Juvenile Probation’s current work with the TAY population.
Chair LaCroix thanked Renee Willette and Allison Cohen for their time, and invited everyone to bring suggestions to the Youth Commission’s Youth City Services committee as commissioners continue their work for transitionally aged youth.
6. Presentations (All Items to Follow Discussion and Possible Action)
C. Presentation and request for feedback on the America’s Cup Youth Involvement Plan
Presenter: Ariel Ungerleider, Community Outreach Manager, America’s Cup Event Authority (www.americascup.com)
(Document E)
Chair LaCroix called item 6C out of order as the presenters had another appointment at 6:30 p.m. LaCroix then welcomed Ariel Ungerleider, Community Outreach Manager, of the America’s Cup Event Authority; and Adam van de Water, Assistant Project Director – 34th America’s Cup, Office of Economic and Workforce Development, to the Youth Commission meeting.
Ms. Ungerleider started the presentation with some background and contextual information on the America’s Cup Youth Involvement Plan. The Youth Involvement Plan is a draft and noted that items included in the plan are still broad. Ms. Ungerleider stated that she looks forward to receiving feedback and having a more thorough response from the Youth Commission on the plan.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about transportation, youth employment, and collaboration with other city departments.
Ms. Ungerleider shared that the ACEA was working closely with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), Peter Albert, and looking at how to support transit services for both tourists and San Francisco residents attending the event. ACEA plans on leveraging existing programs in San Francisco to ensure outreach to all youth, and is working with a number of departments, including the Department of Children, Youth, and their Families. Ms. Ungerleider stated that she was not able to confirm what the funding would be like for youth related activities, as the ACEA was still going through an environmental review process, but she would note all feedback from commissioners.
Mario Yedidia, Director of the Youth Commission, asked for an estimated dollar amound associated with the America’s Cup.
Mr. van de Water stated that based on an economic study commissioned last July and given the history of the America’s Cup events at other cities, the estimated economic impact was $1.4 billion dollars and create an estimated 8800 jobs which includes construction of the venue, event production, sponsorship, caterers, tourism, etc.
Public Comment
Raquel Medina, Mission SF Federal Credit Union’s New Economic Rights for ALL (New ERA),asked commissioners to think about the ways that the ACEA would market the different job opportunities within the city given the economic environment of the city.
Jocelyn Aldana suggested to the ACEA that the job applications be distributed online and offline.
Jessica, a participant of Youth Making a Change (YMAC), asked youth commissioners to make sure the Youth Involvement Plan will prioritize the employment needs of youth from working class backgrounds.
Mari Villaluna, Youth Making a Change (YMAC) staff and a former Youth Commissioner, shared with commissioners her concerns about ACEA. She asked commissioners to think about how the America’s Cup event will impact the lives of youth, such as the increase of police presence at the event. Ms. Villaluna suggested that any classes offered at the event be free for youth and urged commissioners to thoroughly read through the Youth Involvement Plan and respond accordingly.
Jeron Martin, Juma Ventures staff, gave some background information about Juma Ventures, an organization that employs and works with youth in college preparation, financial skill building, and success. Mr. Martin shared with commissioners that he looked forward to the opportunities offered by this event, but suggested that the ACEA look into the scheduling of the event and how it will affect youth who are in school.
Bryant Tan, Youth Empowerment Fund Manager, Department of Children, Youth, and their Families, stated that as DCYF is the primary funder of youth activities and programs in San Francisco, they currently do not have a budget allocated at this time for any youth related activities during the America’s Cup. Mr. Tan welcomed commissioners to speak with him on any issues around jobs and opportunities for youth.
Winston Parsons, Presidio YMCA Bicycle Program, asked that the ACEA make the event a bicycle friendly event.
Chair LaCroix then opened up the floor for discussion amongst her colleagues on the commission.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions on the America’s Cup expected economic impact that will be spent on the city. Commissioner Ontiveros stated that for the America’s Cup to be a real youth friendly event, the additional police officers expected to be hired at this event, should be trained properly on how to work with youth.
Chair LaCroix thanked both Ariel Ungerleider, Community Outreach Manager of the America’s Cup Event Authority and Adam van de Water, Assistant Project Director of 34th America’s Cup, Office of Economic Workforce and Development, and invited commissioners to attend the Youth Employment Committee meeting on Tuesday, December 6th, where members will be reading through and writing a response to the Youth Involvement Plan.
A. Presentation and request for endorsement on Youth Advocacy Day
Presenter: Nayad Abrahamian, Youth Advocacy Coordinator, Department of Children, Youth and Their Families’ Youth Empowerment Fund
(http://yefsf.org/youthadvocacyday.html)
(Document B)
Chair LaCroix welcomed Nayad Abrahamian, Youth Advocacy Coordinator from the Department of Children, Youth and their Families’s Youth Empowerment Fund and gave brief background context about Ms. Abrahamian’s interest in asking for the Commission’s endorsement of the 3rd annual Youth Advocacy Day.
Nayad Abrahamian introduced herself as the Youth Advocacy Coordinator from the Department of Children, Youth, and their Families and thanked Commissioners for their time. Ms. Abrahamian started the presentation by stating the main theme of the event which is to bring youth voice to city government. The youth led event is set for Thursday, March 12, 2012. In past Youth Advocacy Days, the Youth Commission has always been a strong partner.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions.
Chair LaCroix shared with her commissioners that an Ad Hoc Committee should be set up for commissioners interested in helping to plan Youth Advocacy Day. Commissioners interested in joining the committee include Bonner, Shackelford, Chan, Tu Mutch, Ontiveros, Holloway, Armstrong, Liang, LaCroix.
Commissioner Bonder, seconded by Commissioner Marshall-Fricker moved to endorse the Youth Advocacy Day. The motion to endorse the Youth Advocacy Day passed by the following roll call vote: Ayes (15)-Armstrong, Baer, Bonner, Brodwin, Chan, Holloway, LaCroix, Liang, Marshall-Fricker, Tu Mutch, Ontiveros, Persky, Shackelford, Sun, Yang.
B. Presentation and request for endorsement on Mission SF Federal Credit Union’s New Economic Rights for All (New ERA)
Presenters: New ERA participants
(Documents C, D)
Chair LaCroix welcomed participants from Mission SF Federal Credit Union’s New Economic Rights for All program and thanked them for coming to the Youth Commission meeting.
The participants started their presentation by giving some background context as this particular group of students marked the 2nd generation of New ERA participants. New ERA participants consisted of high school students joined together on mission to motivate economic mobility and promoting financial stability to communities of color.
The major goals of educating financial literacy to communities who were negatively impacted by pay day lenders. Strategies included providing workshops to inform teens and adults about pay day lenders, creating a warning label to help limit the use of pay day lenders, and to continue to research the city of San Francisco’s policies on pay day lenders. New ERA participants then lead commissioners on a detailed mini workshop on what pay day lenders are, the debt cycle of low income communities, and the negative impacts.
At the end of the presentation, Commissioners asked clarifying questions and commended the New ERA participants for their work.
Commissioner Bonner, seconded by Commissioner Baer moved to endorse the Mission SF Federal Credit Union’s new Economic Rights for All program. The motion to endorse the Mission SF Federal Credit Union’s new Economic Rights for All passed by the following roll call vote: Ayes (15)-Armstrong, Baer, Bonner, Brodwin, Chan, Holloway, LaCroix, Liang, Marshall-Fricker, Tu Mutch, Ontiveros, Persky, Shackelford, Sun, Yang.
8A Staff Report (Discussion Only)
Chair LaCroix called item 8A out of order as the presenters for item 6D had not arrived yet.
Youth Commission Director Yedidia informed the commissioners of the Board of Supervisors’ Government Audit and Oversight Committee meeting set for Thursday, December 8th, 2011 at 10AM; where there will be hearings where public comment on Free MUNI for Youth would be appropriate. Mr. Yedidia shared that he and Ms. Truong will be video recording public comment from any commissioners interested in providing commentary at the meeting.
Mr. Yedidia reminded Commissioners to complete the Sexual Harassment training required by the Department of Human Resources. The deadline to print out and turn in the certificate of completion to Youth Commission staff was December 16th, 2011.
Mr Yedidia also reminded Commissioners of the upcoming mid year retreat set for the weekend of January 21st and 22nd, 2012, from 9am-6pm. Ms. Truong passed out fliers to the upcoming Out of Site Youth Arts Summit to commissioners to distribute at their schools.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the mid year retreat.
9A Committee Reports (Discussion Only)
Chair LaCroix called item 9A out of the order as the presenter for item 6D had not yet arrived.
A. Executive Committee; next meeting: Wednesday, December 21, 4:00pm-6:00pm, City Hall, room 345A
Vice Chair Yang reminded her colleagues on the Commission to check the Youth Commission’s Facebook page for Commissioner Bonner’s work on reading and posting the Legislation Introduced; and to respond to emails from Commissioner Brodwin with regards to the Community Outreach plan; and to continue to follow through with Commissioner Tu Mutch’s Media and Public Affairs plan.
B. Youth Justice Committee; next meeting: Wednesday, December 7, 2011 4:30-6:15pm, City Hall, room 345
Commissioner Ontiveros shared with his colleagues the committee’s work with the Community Youth Center’s Bayview Youth Advocates on a resolution; and the committee’s planned field trip to Log Cabin Ranch set for Thursday, December 8th, 2011.
C. Youth Immigration Committee; next meeting: Wednesday, December 14, 2011, 3:30-4:30pm, City Hall, room 345
Commissioner Yang updated her colleagues on her November presentation to the Board of Education about the Immigrant Youth Summit and the Youth Immigration Committee’s plans and goals.
D. Youth City Services Committee (Housing, Transportation and Recreation); next meeting, Wednesday, December 14, 2011, 4:30-6:30pm, City Hall, room 345
Commissioner Baer updated his colleagues on plans to continue work on the TAY resolution and shared that Allison Cohen, Project Manager at TAY will be attending the committee meeting to help out with the resolution.
E. Youth Employment Committee; next meeting, Tuesday, December 6, 2011, 4:45pm, City Hall, room 345.
Commissioner Armstrong updated her colleagues on the last committee meeting and urged commissioners to join the next meeting as members will be looking over the America’s Cup Youth Involvement Plan.
F. Student Support, Health and Facilities Committee; next meeting: Friday, December 9, 2011, 5:30-7:00, 555 Franklin St., 3rd Floor
Commissioner Bonner shared that she will be attending the next meeting.
G. School District Curriculum and Class Time Issues; next meeting: Tuesday, December 6, 5:30-7:00, 555 Franklin St., 3rd Floor
H. Youth Advisory Council
Commissioenr Persky updated his peers on the last Youth Advisory Council meeting and shared that he and his fellows YACers on the commission have noted all commission business and will be sharing them as “bring backs” at the next Youth Advisory Council meeting.
10. Attendance Review (Action Item)
A. Commissioner Brodwin, Monday, November 7, 2011
Commissioner Brodwin stated that she had a family emergency at the last Youth Commission meeting and was not able to attend.
Commissioner Ontiveros, seconded by Commissioner LaCroix moved to authorize the absence of Commissioner Brodwin on November 7th, 2011. The motion to authorize the absence of Commissioner Brodwin on November 7th, 2011 passed by the following roll call vote: Ayes (15)-Armstrong, Baer, Bonner, Brodwin, Chan, Holloway, LaCroix, Liang, Marshall-Fricker, Tu Mutch, Ontiveros, Persky, Shackelford, Sun, Yang.
Director Yedidia then shared with Commissioners a message Commissioner Carrion requested to be read into the public record:
Dear fellow Youth Commissioners, Phimy, and Mario:
I am sorry to let you know that I will not make it to tonight’s meeting (12-5-2011). I have my finals coming up and it is imperative to my success, as well as my future, that I accomplish my work excellently. I have some projects that I want to get out of the way and I will use 1 of my 3 allowed, excused absences to do so.
I am well aware of the fact that most of us on the commission, if not all of us, also have finals this week or the next, and thus might feel bothered about my absence. Nevertheless, I am deeply apologetic for this but it is in my best interest that I use my absence wisely.
-Thank you all and hope to see you soon!
11. Announcements (This Includes Community Events)
Commissioner Tu Mutch invited her colleagues to an event she is planning called “Homo for the Holidays” at the LGBT Center on December 20th, 2011 from 5:00-8:00p.m. There will be food, prizes, and raffles. The event is free and for youth up to age 24.
Commission Chan shared with her colleagues the Falling Whistles campaign to raise awareness on the war in Congo. She asked commissioners to look up more information on it and become involved. Commission Chan also invited commissioners to the upcoming School of the Arts choir concert on Friday, December 9th, 2011.
Mr. Yedidia shared with commissioners that the office has received COMP tickets to a show at the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre; these tickets are a gift to the Youth Commission from the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, who would like to encourage more youth attendance at their shows. However, Mr. Yedidia will have to check with the City Attorney first to see if it clears the statement of incompatible activities before handing them out to commissioners.
Chair LaCroix then called the meeting to recess at 7:23 p.m.
Chair LaCroix called the meeting back to order at 7:30 p.m.
6. Presentations (All Items to Follow Discussion and Possible Action)
D. Presentation and request for endorsement of the Monster March Against Bullying
Presenter: Christi O’Connor, Youth Voice (http://www.youthvoicetv.com/)
(Document F)
The presenters for item 6D had arrived and Chair LaCroix welcomed Christi O’Connor of the Monster March Against Bullying to the Youth Commission meeting.
Christi O’Connor gave some background information on YouthVoice, a teen to teen broadcast network, set in Santa Rosa, to train teenagers on media and interview skills, to work with teens on issues that affect self esteem. Ms. O’Connor shared with commissioners that the teen network is run by teen for teens. She explained that the Monster March Against Bullying campaign came about because the topic of bullying became the biggest issue teens called in to Youth Voice about. She shared that in the last three years, about 68 students have committed suicide in the U.S. Youth Voice then decided to get involved and start a campaign against bullying, with an invitation to the celebrity Lady Gaga to attend the Monster March Against Bullying.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions on the level of involvement requested from the Commission, to the main goals of the event and campaign.
Ms. O’Connor shared that she would love to learn more about how the Commission interfaced with youth, as outreach to youth, through the internet from now until the event in June, would be best. Youth Commissioners can also join one of the committees to help organize the march. Ms. O’Connor would be sending emails out to all commissioners with more information on how to join the committees.
Ms. O’Connor stated that the ultimate goal is to march along downtown San Francisco with teens raising awareness about bullying along the route. The goal is to gather thousands of solutions from teens on how to stop bullying and pitch the ideas to President Obama; and for the event to encourage youth to be the key critical part of solving their own issues.
Commissioners continued to ask clarifying questions of the event and discussed amongst each other the importance of whom and what they choose to endorse, as well as their level of involvement after an endorsement. Commissioners debated on how effective this event would be on raising awareness around bullying, when there was no information on plans to work on policy work around teen bullying after the event.
Commissioner Shackelford shared with her colleagues that the event will continue with or without the Youth Commission’s support, and urged commissioners to support it so that they can include their own input and perspective to the event.
Ms. O’Connor offered her own personal experiences in putting together this campaign against bullying, and urged commissioners to support the campaign, as she relied on commissioner’s support to lead this movement. Ms. O’Connor welcomed feedback and suggestions from commissioners in planning this event.
Commissioner Shackelford, seconded by Commissioner Baer moved to support the Monster March Against Bullying with an amendment that the Youth Commission would continue to work with campaign and infuse the goals and values of the commission into the event.
Commissioner Tu Mutch, moved to support with an amendment that the Monster March Against Bullying include an anti bullying curriculum for teachers and students to use in schools, seconded by Chair LaCroix. This motion failed based on the following roll call vote: Ayes (7) –Chan, Holloway, LaCroix, Marshall-Fricker, Tu Mutch, Ontiveros, Yang. Nayes (8) – Armstrong, Baer, Bonner, Brodwin, Liang, Persky, Shackelford, Sun.
Chair LaCroix then called the basic motion to support the Monster March Against Bullying. This motion carried with the following roll call vote: Ayes (11)-Armstrong, Baer, Brodwin, Chan, Holloway, LaCroix, Liang, Ontiveros, Pesrky, Shackelford, Sun. Nayes (4)-Bonner, Marshall-Fricker, Tu Mutch, Yang.
12. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 pm.
Any materials distributed to the members of the Youth Commission within 72 hours of the meeting or after the agenda packet has been delivered to the members are available for inspection—along with minutes of previous Youth Commission meetings and all supplementary information—at the Youth Commission office during regular office hours (9am to 6pm, Monday—Friday). The Youth Commission office is located at:
City Hall, Room 345
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 554-6446, Fax: (415) 554-6140
Email: youthcom@sfgov.org
www.sfgov.org/yc
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 THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE TASK FORCE, please contact:
Sunshine Ordinance Task Force
City Hall, Room 244
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102‐4689
Phone: (415) 554‐7724, Fax: (415) 554‐5784
E‐mail: sotf@sfgov.org
Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance can be obtained from the Clerk of the Sunshine Ordinance
Task Force, at the San Francisco Public Library, and on the City’s website at
http://www.sfgov.org.
The ringing and use of cell phones, pagers, and similar sound‐producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. The Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound‐producing electronic device.
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.
To obtain a disability‐related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, to participate in the meeting, please contact Mario Yedidia, Youth Commission Director [phone: 415-554 6254; email: mario.yedidia@sfgov.org] at least 48 hours before the meeting, except for Monday meetings, for which the deadline is 4:00 p.m. the previous Friday.