The San Francisco Youth Commission
Minutes
DATE: Monday, December 6, 1999
TIME: 5:00 pm
PLACE: City Hall, Room 416
1. Call to Order and Roll Call: The meeting was called to order at 5:10 p.m. Commissioners Present: Arreguin, Barker, Barnes, Baxter, Bolden-Kramer, Bonilla, Castillo, Cottonham, Devine (tardy), Ervin (tardy), Geodzhayev, Pang, Strohlin (tardy), Talton-Alunan, Yee (15). Absent: Lau (1). Staff present: Susan Kim, Mario Balcita and Jessica Smith.
2. Motion to approve agenda: The agenda was approved.
3. Motion to approve minutes of November 15th meeting: Minutes were approved.
4. Public Comment: There was no public comment at this time.
5. Staff Report: The America’s Promise Liaisons will be Commissioners Baxter and Lau. An Arts and Music Task Force is being created to find sustainable funding, and they are requesting one Commissioner. Youth Making a Change is organizing a meeting with Deborah Alaverez-Rodriguez at the Department of Children, Youth, and their Families to discuss school-based health clinics, and they are inviting interested Youth Commissioners to attend. The Youth Commission is having a gathering for Youth Commissions throughout the Bay Area on Thursday, December 16th from 5:30-8 p.m. at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Staff received feedback that Commissioners would like meetings to be more productive action/working meetings, and the Executive Committee will take this into consideration in planning the next agenda.
6. Executive Committee Report: Commissioner Barnes requested forwarding interested people to staff for the current vacant Commissioner spot. Also, the Commission will hold an election for a new Media/Public Relations Officer at the next meeting, December 20th. Commissioners Geodzhayev and Baxter expressed interest. Commissioner Barnes also proposed that any items from outside groups that a requesting action on the part of the Commission contain a breakdown of responsibilities of both parties before the Commission could approve it, and the Commission agreed. Commissioner Barnes also reminded committees that conveners and committee members should be doing outreach and finding at-large youth for their committees, with help from staff and the Community Affairs Officer.
7. Committee Report Backs (updates from committee members).
A. Public Health, Social Services, and the Environment: Committee members have been working with the Department of the Environment on a Global Warming Art and Essay Contest. They have been setting age ranges, outreach strategies, timelines, and prizes.
B. Juvenile Justice and Public Safety: Committee members met and brainstormed ideas on who they can work with to do a public education campaign around juvenile justice issues; they want to work with many different groups.
C. Education and the Workforce: Committee members planned a meeting with members of the Student Advisory Council of the San Francisco Unified School District. They also brainstormed possible projects for the upcoming months. Finally, they gave feedback to a proposal from Commissioner Bonilla for a scholarship program for San Francisco high school students with economic need, which is still being developed.
D. Housing, Transportation, and Land Use: Committee members brainstormed projects, and decided to hold a city-wide hearing on housing and homeless issues, to give homeless youth and youth in low-income housing a chance to speak to Department Heads and representatives from non-profits. Through this hearing they hope to build relationships and eventually write a resolution.
A. Discussion and possible action re: Update on the LGBTQQ Youth Shelter in the Castro & Presentation by Bob Hartnagle, Legislative Assistant to Supervisor Mark Leno. Mr. Hartnagle explained the process of trying to create an LGBTQQ Youth Shelter during the past six months. Last year, $250,000 was allocated in the city budget for Queer Youth Shelter, and a temporary shelter was in operation at the Eureka Valley Recreation Center from March to May. However, there was controversy over the impact of the temporary shelter on the neighborhood, and the temporary project was ended. Then another $250,000 was allocated to find a permanent shelter, and an offer came from the private owner of a gym space on Market to use his space at no cost. A four month process was begun to help neighbors feel better about locating homeless services in their neighborhood, which was very successful, because it resulted in the creation of a program that works both for the youth and the residents. However, last week the owner took back his offer, so the project once again has no site. However, Metropolitan Church has agreed to house 10-15 queer youth this winter in Noe Valley, and Supervisors Leno’s office is working to overcome opposition from neighbors. Commissioner Bonilla asked if the hours at Recreation and Parks sites can be extended, and Bob replied that turning Recreation sites into shelters is problematic because the sites are intended for other purposes, but he’d be happy to work with Recreation and Parks. Commissioner Barnes asked if the money will roll over to the next year if it is not spent, and Bob said it would. Barnes also asked if the Arc of Refuge would again offer temporary shelter space this winter, and Bob said yes. Commissioners then discussed the possibility of having a hearing on the queer youth shelter, or incorporating these proposals into the larger housing hearing being planned by the Housing Committee. They agreed that these ideas could be addressed in a general housing hearing. Commissioner Ervin asked if there has been media coverage of this issue in school newspapers, and Bob replied that it was a great idea to get school papers to write about this issue. Commissioner Strohlin expressed interest in working with Bob on the issue, and Commissioner Barnes offered help with a media outreach campaign to increase community awareness.
B. Discussion and possible action re: Resolution supporting funding for art and music programs in public schools. Commissioners unanimously approved this resolution.
C. Discussion and possible action re: Resolution supporting the U.S. Census’ effort to outreach to youth. Commissioners unanimously approved this resolution.
D. Discussion and possible action re: Presentation by Department of Children, Youth, & Their Families on the Children Services Plan. Nani Coloretti presented the Children’s Services Plan for 2000-2002, which is the plan that sets out DCYF goals the criteria by which they will give out money from the Children’s Fund (a percentage of the property tax reserved for children’s services). For more information on the Plan you can contact Cathy Garza at 554-8415. Commissioners gave feedback on the Plan such as recommending that young people be included on the Blue Ribbon Task Force that will evaluate and help create a strategic plan. Also, Commissioners expressed that the document was not very user-friendly.
9. Setting next meeting’s agenda: Commissioner Barker requested that skate parks be placed on the agenda. She also expressed that all Commissioners should work on the housing issue, research and give our own analysis of city programs, and not just rely on the hearing testimony of others. Commissioner Arreguin requested that Real Alternatives Program funding be placed on the agenda, and Commissioner Castillo requested information in advance to know what’s been done. The Art and Essay Contest was requested for the agenda by Commissioner Arreguin, as was a mentoring/afterschool program in Noe Valley.
10. Announcements: Commissioner Strohlin announced the tentative Community Meeting schedule for the rest of the year: January 18th, Bayview Opera House; February 22nd, Ben Franklin Middle School; March 20th, Mission Community Recreation Center; April 17th, Philip Burton High School; May 22nd, West Portal Elementary School. Commissioner Strohlin also announced a Peer Resources Conference on Wednesday, December 8th at Fort Mason. Commissioner Barker announced a rally in Oakland on Saturday, December 11th for Mumia Abu-Jamal, and on Wednesday, December 15th in San Francisco, a direct action to defeat the Juvenile Crime Initiative. Commissioner Bolden-Kramer announced a free event on Friday nights for girls through the Center for Young Women’s Development. This Friday they will be going ice skating.
11. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 pm.