San Francisco Youth Commission
Monday, November 2, 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 5:31pm.
Commissioners Present: Deng, Marshall-Fricker, Liang, Escamilla, Guerra, Quintero, LaCroix, Davidson, Quesada, Ellington
Commissioners Tardy: A. Chan (Arrived 6:27pm)
Commissioners Absent: J. Chan, Jones, Carlson, Hirano, Williams, Hernandez
Staff Present: Mario Yedidia, Julia Sabory
2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)
Commissioner Marshall-Fricker motioned to table items 6B, 6F and 7A (because both Linda Janourova-Tang of the Human Rights Commission and Commissioner Hirano were unable to attend tonight’s meeting). Guerra seconded this motion and it was approved unanimously by acclamation.
Commissioner Ellington motioned to approve the amended agenda, seconded by Guerra. The motion was approved unanimously by acclamation.
3. Approval of Minutes (Action Item)
Commissioner Ellington moved to approve the minutes, seconded by Marshall-Fricker. The motion was approved unanimously by acclamation.
4. Public Comment on Items not on Agenda
There was none.
5. Staff Report
Christine Revelo-Lee, a former Youth Commissioner and current Youth Commission intern, talked about her work building an informal, statewide California network of Youth Commissions and similar institutions.
Christine reported the Berkeley Youth Commission and Los Angeles Youth Council are working on legislation that is similar to that which the San Francisco Youth Commission has worked on—in particular, legislation relating to the relationship between undocumented youth and law enforcement.
Christine also announced that the first-ever Oakland Youth Commission meeting will be this Monday, November 9th at a time to-be-decided. Christine said she would email the members of the San Francisco Youth Commission as soon as this time was determined, so that those commissioners who wanted to attend the meeting in Oakland could do so.
6. New Business
A. Discussion and Possible action: Why Planning Matters
AnMarie Rodgers, Director of Legislative Affairs at the San Francisco Planning Department, provided a power-point presentation entitled “Yes We Plan!” and gave an overview of what the Planning Department does.
AnMarie noted that the Planning Department regularly releases policy reports through its City Wide Policy Division. She talked about the Eastern Neighborhoods Plan, a rezoning process passed by the Board of Supervisors in 2009 that involved participation by various stakeholders from the SOMA, Mission, and Potrero Hill neighbhorhoods. AnMarie explained how the Board of Supervisors is involved in the planning process.
An Marie acknowledged that there is a lot of controversy around development and change, and that the public meetings of the Planning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission and Board of Supervisors—and the existence of Neighborhood Planning Units—all provide an established process to voice community concerns around development and change.
Commissioners Marshall-Fricker, Ellington, LaCroix and Quesada asked AnMarie questions. Issues covered included how “culturally significant planning” occurs, how the Planning Department deals with the fact that planning is such a long process that sometimes people die in middle of a project, how to understand complicated Planning Department documents without being an expert, and why views from an apartment or house are not protected by City law.
AnMarie concluded by talking about the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, a City Department that has very unique power—and completely changed the City’s historically Black Fillmore neighborhood in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.
Finally, she invited the Commission and individual commissioner to come to the Planning Department for a more in-depth tour.
C. Discussion and possible action: The Youth Justice Committee's briefing letter to new Police Chief George Gascon
Commissioner Ellington explained the simple reasons he wrote this letter: after Ellington attended the Police Chief’s first community briefing in August, Ellington wanted the Commision’s Youth Justice Committee to meet with the Chief in order to establish a working relationship. At this meeting, the Youth Commission could inform Chief Gascon about our work on police relations with young people, especially Department General Order 7.01.
Commissioner LaCroix motioned to support the letter, seconded by Marshall-Fricker. The motion was approved unanimously by acclamation.
D. Discussion and possible action: Upcoming City budget processes
Julia explained the importance of the Youth Commission’s involvement in the budget process. Every year, she said, youth across San Francisco count on the Commission to advocate for their needs.
Commissioner Ellington underscored the need for the Commission to prepare for the budget process, and directed the Commissioner to read the attached document from the Controller’s Office that explains the budget process in simple language.
Finally, Julia and Commissioner Ellington reported that Supervisor Avalos, Chair of the Board of Supervisor’s Budget and Finance Committee, had asked the Youth Commission to cosponsor an upcoming hearing on the budget.
E. Discussion and possible action: Letter calling on the California State Attorney General’s Office to Drop the Charges Against Francisco Torres and End the Prosecution of the “San Francisco 8”
Since Commissioner Jones was absent, Commissioner Ellington moved to table this item, seconded by A. Chan. The motion was passed unanimously by acclamation.
G. Discussion and possible action: Legislation Referred from Board of Supervisors: File No. 091210 [Recreation and Park Department - Turf Athletic Fields] Ordinance repealing the portion of uncodified Ordinance No. 077-06 that authorizes the Recreation and Park Department (RPD) General Manager to accept future gifts of the synthetic athletic fields ("Turf fields") without the approval of the Board of Supervisors; and adding S.F. Park Code Section 3.21 to require RPD to submit an annual report on the Turf fields to the Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Mirkarimi presented. ASSIGNED UNDER 30 DAY RULE to City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee.
Chair Quesada opened discussion on this item by explaining the Board of Supervisors’ resolution 091045, also sponsored by Supervisor Mirkarimi, which called for the Recreation and Park Department to stop installing artificial “Fieldturf” turf on grass playing fields at neighborhood playgrounds throughout the City. This “FieldTurf,” it should be noted, was provided to the Recreation and Parks Department at a significant discount. The Commission voted to support this resolution on September 21, 2009.
Commissioner Liang motioned to support the proposed ordinance, seconded by Commissioner LaCroix.
The motion failed by the following 8-3 vote: Ayes—Liang, A. Chan, Guerra, Quintero, LaCroix, Davidson, Ellington, Quesada; No’s—Deng, Marshall-Fricker, Escamilla.
Commissioner Ellington asked those commissioners who voted against the motion to support this proposed ordinance to explain their vote.
Commissioner Deng explained that he was against inserting another bureaucratic step into the operations of the Recreation and Park Department.
Commissioner Ellington moved to move this item to the to Planning, Land Use and City Services Committee, seconded by Commissioner Deng. This motion was approved unanimously by acclamation.
H. Discussion and possible action: Attendance Policy for Youth Commissioners required by the City Charter and the Commission by-laws
Commissioner Ellington reminded the Commission of the time when meetings begin and the need for Commissioners to be present in order to accomplish Commission business. A new attendance policy will be added to the Commission bylaws and will be enforced, beginning at the next Youth Commission meeting.
7. Old Business
There was none.
8. Policy Report
9. Announcements (This includes Community Events)
Commissioner Escamilla urged her fellow Commissioners to come to the One Mission Peace March this Wednesday, November 4th.
Commissioner LaCroix reminded commissioners and the public that there is an election tomorrow, November 3, and that those who can should vote!
10. Adjournment
Chair Quesada adjourned the meeting at 7:10pm.
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 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 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.sfgov.org/bdsupvrs/sunshine.htm