San Francisco Youth Commission
Minutes
Monday, January 5, 2009
5:30-8:00pm
City Hall, Room 416
There will be public comment on each item.
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 5:35pm.
Commissioners present: Tsibulskaya, Marshall-Fricker, Gee, Lau, Jones, Erlikh, Frierson, Balcazar, Castaing, Davidson, Lunsford, Martinez, Quesada
Commissioners absent: Espanol, Lobo, Recinos, Oliva
Staff Present: Sabory, Lauterborn, Bogart
2. Approval of Agenda
Amended by Lunsford to move staff report to after business discussion. Seconded by Tsibulskaya. Motion to approve the agenda made by Marshall-Fricker and seconded by Erlikh with unanimous commission approval.
3. Approval of Minutes
Motion to approve the minutes was made by Tsibulskaya then seconded by Erlikh. Public Comment: David Pilpel asked that it be reflected that he was present at the last meeting in the Minutes from December 22nd. Approved.
4. Public Comment on Items not on Agenda
Daniel Landry of Brothers for Change in the Western Addition spoke about the crisis of black depopulation. He cited a report by SF State as he spoke about the many African American families that are leaving the city. He would like the issue of black depopulation in the city to be on the youth commission agenda. Landry requested the item be discussed soon, because it will take fast-paced motion to deal with the issue and suggested the commission have a hearing on the issue of depopulation of African Americans in San Francisco. He believes that we the community must discuss this profound demographic shift.
5. Staff Report
Meeting dates were set for all of the committees, including the executive committee, which will meet on January 26th to discuss budget strategies.
Julia Sabory, staff, also reported that Commissioner Oliva has resigned.
6. New Business
A. Presentation re: DCYF Community Needs Assessment, by Margaret Brodkin, Director of SF Dept. of Children, Youth, and Families.
Margaret said that the steps for providing future services are to look at the needs assessment, then use the information to create a child services allocation plan. September Jarrett took over the presentation. Youth employment and job readiness, violence prevention and response, and youth leadership were identified as priorities.
Commissioner Jones expressed concern that there was no youth involvement in the creation of the 5-year violence prevention plan. He asked how the plan was going to be connected to the youth. Jarrett said she would see how more youth can become involved and will get back to us. Jones also said there is a greater need for civic engagement programs in the schools, in addition to YouthVote.
Jarrett spoke about the Community schools movement and explained that it is part of the new strategic plan at the School Board to engage young people in the civic process. Brodkin hopes this is where the community schools will be a model.
Commissioner Martinez said that he wants to see ideas materialized and Jones suggested social marketing for further reaching impact of DCYF's programs. Brodkin said that she was excited to say that this is something that they have been looking into at DCYF.
Marshall-Fricker asked if there was significant input from the special needs and homeless community in forumalting the Community Needs Assesment. Jarrett said that there was a lot of attendance from members of these communities in the neighborhood meetings.
In discussions about employment, Commissioner Balcazar asked if youth job training out weighed the existing job opportunities. Jarrett explained that Youthworks opens to career paths& though they not be very high paying jobs. Jarrett said that the employemtn programs need to do two things differently. First ensure that people be paid as they travel a path for a meaningful job, and second that these pathways be to the gross sector, meaning sectors where there will be jobs in the future: construction, hospitality, retail, healthcare, IT/digital media, bioteech, transportation and logistics. She also highlighted the importance of connecting with the private sector, and working with schools to create more direct connections.
Commissioner Martinez asked when this will be implemented, in light of the budget struggles we are facing in SF? Brodkin said that planning takes a while, so probably in about 18months.
Lunsford suggests that in creating Community Needs Assessments, and reports of the like that instead of just saying who San Francisco's children are, look at where they are. She noted that is it especially important to pay attention to the Southeast sector. Jarrett said that she would send the percentages of children in each area.
Commissioner Jones, in regards to youth employment suggested tax breaks for first year businesses, or incentives for completion of business school to help those who might not have start up capital. He also suggested the government offer tax breaks to corps or businesses that employ youth and entrepreneur programs in public housing.
Julia Sabory noted that it is important that we look at race as we go through these conversations stating that YouthVote data has revealed a lot of different solutions to the same problems by members of different races. Brodkin said that she is very excited to utilize this data.
B. Presentation re: HOPE SF, by Sasha Huaswald and Kaila Price of HOPE SF and the Mayor's Office of Housing.
Price presented before the commission and welcomed questions throughout.
Commissioner Lunsford asked about the mixed income housing and Price responded that increasing density and creating mixed income housing allows for subsidies. Cost subsidizing occurs because the city is not receiving federal money and it uses sales proceeds as cost subsidies for the public housing. The idea is that this will help to transform areas of municipal neglect into places with opportunity and designing the land in a better way making it more accessible.
Commissioner Frierson asked about how increasing density would impact unit size, out of concern about shrinking living space, and asked about where current residents would go, expressing concerns about displacement. Price explained that there is a community input process that informs decisions around living space and unit provisions. Regarding displacement, Price explained that the buildings will likely be built in phases, and that since more units are being built than currently exist, residents would be relocated on site. This is true for all but Westside Courts, which is a smaller development that will likely not include an increase in the number of units. Price said that the community meetings were in need of more youth invovlement, and sought Youth Commission support for this endeavor. Price further explained that people involved with the HOPE SF projects want there to be"human captial development" and to give people opportunities.
Commissioner Jones asked if Citibuild has trained youth from the redevlopment sites, and Price explained the complexity of contracting with Citibuild, since requirements include a negative drug test and possession of a driver's license.
Commissioner Quesada asked if the planning processes outlined so far by Price applied to the Alice Griffith/Double Rock projects. Price explained that Lennar is footing the bill, so it is slightly out of the HOPE SF control and therefore has a different community input process, that she could not speak to.
Commissioner Frierson asked if there would be housing built for the TAY population and Prices said that the TAY population would not specifically be served, because there are already so many public housing residents with specific needs.
Commissioner Frierson also asked about eligibility, and how residents will know if they are eligible for the newly developed housing. Price explained that was why letter were sent to current residents telling them not to move. That was part of an effort to prepare people for the change. Part of this preparation is providing eviction prevention programs, back rent programs, making sure people are paying their rent and all the things they need to do to be eligible.
Price asked for the commission to help her to identify ways for more youth to become involved. Commissioner Castaing suggested confronting apathy, informing people that they are victims, and by illustrating problems to drive up support, specifically environmental justice. Friersonstated that hreats are something that all people respond to. Tell people what will happen if they aren't involved.
Hauswald inquired how YC could help to put the best services in the new developments? Sabory said that HOPE SF projects could be discussed in committee. Commissioner Lunsford suggested they look at DCYF needs assessment. Price said she would follow up with staff.
7. Old Business
A. Discussion and possible action re: Resolution urging SFMTA to issue youth rate passes for all high school students, presented by Commissioner Tsibulskaya.
Motion to adopt the resolution was made by Commissioner Erlikh, and seconded by Marshall-Fricker with unanimous approval for adoption.
8. Policy Report
9. Announcements (This includes Community Events)
Various Community announcements were made.
10. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:05pm.
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 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 Gillian Bogart 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 Frank Darby by mail to: 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) 554-5163; or by e-mail at frank.darby@sf.gov.org
Citizens interested in obtaining a free copy of the Sunshine Ordinance can request a copy from Mr. Darby or by printing Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code on the internet, at http://www.sfgov.org/bdsupvrs/sunshine.htm