To view graphic version of this page, refresh this page (F5)

Skip to page body

September 21, 2009

San Francisco Youth Commission

Minutes, Full Commission Meeting of Monday, September 21, 2009

5:30-8:00pm

City Hall, Room 416

There will be public comment on each item.

1. Call to Order

Chair Quesada called the meeting to order at 5:34pm.

Commissioners present: Marshall-Fricker, Liang, Jones, Carlson, A. Chan, Hirano, Escamilla, Williams, Guerra, Quintero, LaCroix, Davidson, Quesada, Hernandez, Ellington.

Commissioners excused: Deng, J. Chan

Staff Present: Mario Yedidia, Christine Revelo-Lee (Intern)

2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)

Ellington moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Hernandez. The agenda was approved unanimously by acclamation.

3. Approval of Minutes (Action Item)

Hirano moved to approve the minutes, seconded by Escamilla. The minutes were approved unanimously by acclamation.

4. Public Comment on Items not on Agenda

Chair Quesada’s call for public comment yielded no response.

5. Staff Report

Christine Revelo-Lee (a former Commissioner and current intern) gave an update on the work she’s spearheading to coordinate a statewide network of Youth Commissions or similar institutions. She invited the Commissioners to the Tuesday, October 13th meeting of the Berkeley Youth Commission.

6. New Business

A. Presentation on the Transitional Age Youth Initiative of San Francisco (TAY-SF) (Discussion and Possible Action)

Diana Pang and Iqra Anjam, staff at TAY-SF (and former Commissioners!), gave a power point presentation on what their organization does.

To summarize: TAY-SF was created after the 2005 Youth Commission passed a resolution calling for a citywide planning body that would focus on improving the outcomes of the most disconnected transitional age youth (the acronym is "TAY")—i.e., young people between the ages of 16-24 who are involved in systems like juvenile justice, foster care and public housing. After this resolution passed, Mayor Newsom created a task force on transitional youth that came up with a number of key findings and recommendations for City government and service providers that would improve the outcomes of disconnected TAY. TAY-SF works to ensure the implementation of the recommendations of this task force.

Diana and Iqra said there were 3 main areas where the Youth Commission and TAY-SF could work together this year:

1. Budgetary and policy advocacy: The Youth Commission and TAY-SF can work together to ensure that there is enough funding for TAY service providers, especially in the coming legislative battles over (a) the mid-year budget cuts and (b) next year’s budget (i.e., fiscal year of 2009-2010).

2. Youth Commissioners could help represent "city wide youth voice" within the TAY-SF Initiative, by attending meetings and staying in contact with Iqra and Diana.

3. Youth Commissioners could attend and participate in the monthly "young adult advocate trainings" that TAY-SF hosts. (The next such training will be on Thursday, October 8 at 4pm at DCYF. Commissioners Hernandez and Quesada said they would attend this training.)

B. Project RIDETobacco Presentation (Discussion and Possible Action)

Young advocates from Project RIDE—Paul Escobar, Arthur, Andrew, Chris, John, Jonathan—explained their organization’s current objective of having the Board of Supervisors pass an ordinance that would prohibit non-profit organizations that receive city funding from also taking money from tobacco companies.

The advocates explained that they are going to ask a Supervisor to introduce the ordinance after they get support from stakeholders and other concerned institutions like the Youth Commission!

Commissioner Marshall-Fricker motioned to support sending this issue to the Health and Wellness Committee, seconded by Davidson. This motion was unanimously approved by acclamation.

C. Williams vs. California and the Equity in Education Project (Discussion and Possible Action)

Caitlin Camody, staff at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, will briefed the Commission on the Education Equity Project (EEP), which helps students, teachers, and parents make positive change in their schools by using the legal tools of Williams v. California. This case created minimum standards for facilities, teachers, textbooks, and restrooms, and the EEP helps people make sure those standards are met.

D. Referred Legislation from Board of Supervisors: Proposed resolution File Number 091045 [Requesting suspension of conversion of natural fields to artificial surfaces - Recreation and Park Department] (Discussion and Possible Action)

This resolution would stop the Rec and Park department from converting grass playing fields to artificial turf until a the state releases a report on the environmental impact of artificial turf playing fields.

Commissioner Quesada and Commissioner Marshall-Fricker explained (and read aloud) the Planning, Land Use & City Services Committee’s statement concerning this proposed resolution. Basically, when this committee discussed the proposed resolution last week, the committee was itself divided about the issue.

There were a lot of unanswered questions concerning this referred legislation. Commissioners wondered, among other things, How many playing fields have already been converted to artificial turf? How many playing fields would be converted to artificial turf if this resolution didn’t pass? What other kinds of artificial turf—i.e., not the "FieldTurf" brand that Rec and Park is using—are out there that are more environmentally friendly? Will Rec and Park workers lose their jobs because of this conversion?

Despite these unanswered questions, Commissioner Quesada moved to have the Commission vote on supporting the proposed resolution with the following recommendations: that the Board consider (a) what other environmentally friendly turfs could be used; (b) how Rec and Park jobs will be affected by the conversion to "FieldTurf" or any other kind of artificial turf; (c) how the communities of San Francisco can be included in the decision-making process of what playing fields are going to be converted; and (d) that the Board not lose sight of the real issue at hand—whether youth athletes in San Francisco have safe fields to play on. Commissoiner LaCroix seconded this motion.

The motion passed by the following 11-4 vote: Ayes: Liang, Jones, A. Chan, Hirano, Escamilla, Guerra, Quintero, LaCroix, Davidson, Quesada, Ellington; Nays: Marshall-Fricker, Carlson, Williams and Hernandez.

E. Resolution of Commendation of Hidden Villa Summer Camp, Commissioner Hernandez (Discussion and Possible Action) (See attached documents D)

Commissioner Hernandez explained his proposed resolution commending Hidden Villa Summer Camp for its long history of social justice programming.

Commissioner Hirano motioned to support this proposed resolution, seconded by Jones. The resolution was unanimously passed on first reading by acclamation.

7. Old Business

A. Presentation on the Geneva Car Barn(Discussion and Possible Action)

Chinaka Hodge, Program Director of the Geneva Car Barn, presented on the Car Barn, which will provide San Francisco's under-served youth with job skills and a community center in the heart of the Excelsior/OMI neighborhoods. (Last year’s Commission supported the work of the Car Barn.)

Chinaka invited Commissioners to two upcoming community meetings—on October 14th & November 4th—and a number of Commissioners, spearheaded by Guerra, said they’d go.

 

B. Continued from last week: School Board resolution concerning public school discipline policies, introduced by Board members Jane Kim, Kim-Shree Maufus and Sandra Fewer (Discussion and Possible Action) (See attached document F)

Commissioners Ellington and Hirano said they are taking on the task of following up with Jane Kim on how to support and shape her proposed resolution.

8. Announcements (This includes Community Events)

9. Adjournment

Chair Quesada adjourned the meeting was adjourned at 7:46pm

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 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 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

 

 

 

Last updated: 10/7/2009 10:51:09 PM