San Francisco Youth Commission
Minutes
Monday, October 1, 2012
5:15pm-8:00pm
City Hall, Room 416
1. Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl.
San Francisco, CA 94102

There will be public comment on each item.

Mia Shackelford, Chair Nicholas Persky, Vice Chair, Paul Monge-Rodriguez, Co-Legislative Affairs Officer, Rachel Brodwin, Co-Legislative Affairs Officer, Vanessa Warri, Communications & Outreach Officer
Sarah Armstrong, Angel Carrion, Brian Chu, Kyron Covington, Ramon Gomez, Alex Guzman-Ramos, Christine Huynh, Lily Marshall-Fricker, Mia Tu Mutch, Vee Taumoepeau, Eric Wu, Ariel Yu

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

Chairperson Mia Shackelford called the meeting to order at 5:17 p.m.

The roll was called. Commissioners present: Sarah Armstrong, Angel Carrion, Brian Chu, Kyron Covington, Ramon Gomez, Iris Alejandra (Alex) Guzman-Ramos, Christine Huynh, Lily Marshall-Fricker, Paul Monge Rodriguez, Mia Tu Mutch, Nicholas Persky, Mia Shackelford, Veiongo (Vee) Taumoepeau, Vanessa Warri, Eric Wu, Ariel Yu. Commissioner absent: Rachel Brodwin.

There was quorum.

Staff present: Mario Yedidia, Phimy Truong.

2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)

There was no public comment on this item.

Commissioner Covington, seconded by Commissioner Marshall-Fricker, moved to approve the agenda. The agenda was approved unanimously by acclamation.

3. Approval of Minutes (Action Item)

A. September 17, 2012
(Document A)

There was no public comment on this item.

Commissioner Marshall-Fricker, seconded by Commissioner Chu, moved to approve the minutes to the meeting of September 17, 2012. The minutes were approved unanimously by acclamation.

4. Public Comment on Items not on Agenda (Discussion Only)

Leah LaCroix, former Chair of the Youth Commission, expressed support for commissioners and their work.

Max Rocha, introduced himself as the Deputy Director of the Department of Children, Youth, and their Families, and expressed his support of the Youth Commission.

5. Staff Report (Discussion Only)

Coordinator of Youth Development and Administration, Phimy Truong, provided brief programmatic updates related to Youth Commission business. The Tenderloin Housing Clinic’s new youth leadership program will be visiting the Youth Commission office on October 19th. Commissioners interested in speaking with the youth group include Commissioner Guzman-Ramos, Commissioner Huynh, Commissioner Persky, Commissioner Taumoepeau, and Commissioner Warri. Ms. Truong thanked commissioners who participated in the Controller’s Office and MUNI’s pilot outreach project for potential Transit Effective Project (TEP) changes on the 5 Fulton line. There will be a follow up focus group tentatively set for October 12, 2012. Ms. Truong then read a statement, emailed to staff by Commissioner Brodwin. Commissioner Brodwin asked for items 9C and 9D to be tabled, and would be following up with commissioners interested in her resolution soon.

There was no public comment on this item.

6. Legislative Affairs Officers Report (Discussion Only)

Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez gave a brief legislative affairs office report. He also updated commissioners on the City and School District Select Committee hearing on the status of updating the memorandum of understanding between the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD). Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez reminded his peers that he and Commissioner Brodwin will be making calls to check in with everyone on the commission in the coming weeks.

There was no public comment on this item.

7. Legislation Referred from the Board of Supervisors (All Items to Follow Discussion and Possible Action)

There were none.

Chair Shackelford explained that this was a standing agenda item.

There was no public comment on this item.

8. Presentations (Discussion Only)

A. San Francisco Public Defender’s Office: An Overview of the department with a special focus on the juvenile division
Presenter: Patricia Lee, Deputy Public Defender
(Document B)

Patricia Lee from the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, introduced herself to commissioners and commended them for their work as young leaders of San Francisco. Ms. Lee suggested that the Youth Commission should convene a meeting at the Juvenile Justice Center for the youth there. She then provided an overview of the Public Defender’s Office and the different programs and services it offers to the community.

Ms. Lee then made a few suggestions for the Youth Commission’s youth justice committee to work on. Suggestions include exploring mediation programs and youth courts as a type of restorative justice; increasing the distribution of Know Your Rights pamphlets to youth in an impactful and meaningful way; include youth in trainings about how to successfully leave the juvenile system; and work on creating outreach and linkage to the multitude of resources the city funds. Ms. Lee urged commissioners to look into mediation as a type of restorative justice, and invited commissioners to attend the next Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council.

Commissioners Carrion and Monge-Rodriguez then shared some of the priorities the youth justice committee was working on. Commissioners asked clarifying questions.

Chair Shackelford thanked Ms. Lee for her presentation.

There was no public comment on this item.

9. Youth Commission Business (All Items to Follow Discussion and Possible Action)

A. Youth Commission Communications and Outreach Affairs: Outreach Plan
Presenters: Communications and Outreach Officer Commissioner Vanessa Warri, Commissioner Christine Huynh

Communications and Outreach Affairs officer Warri and Commissioner Huynh provided commissioners with a detailed overview of their outreach plan.

Commissioner Warri asked for feedback throughout her presentation.

Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez suggested that Commissioner Warri start a S.M.A.R.T. (smart, measureable, attainable, relevant, and time based) chart detailing commissioners’ personal outreach goals. Commissioner Guzman-Ramos expressed her support for the plan, and asked to add language about the outreach plan to the Youth Commission bylaws to hold commissioners accountable. Commissioners asked clarifying questions.

Commissioner Warri stated that she would be working on a standard template of outreach documents and will be distributing them to her colleagues by the end of the week.

There was no public comment on this item.

B. [Second Reading] Resolution 1213—01—Following Through on Free Youth Transportation
Presenter and sponsor: Commissioner Nicholas Persky
(Document C)

Chairperson Shackelford reminded her peers of the process and expected outcome of a second reading of a resolution. Commissioner Persky would read the resolution into the public record and there would be time afterwards for clarifying questions, public comment, discussion, and a vote on the resolution.

Commissioner Persky prefaced the second reading of this resolution, with remarks on updating Youth Vote data used in the resolution, as suggested by his colleagues. He then provided some contextual information on the Youth Commission’s work on free transportation for youth, providing his peers with a one-page timeline. Commissioner Persky then read the resolution into the public record.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions.

Public Comment

Juana Teresa Tello, organizer from POWER, spoke on behalf of working class families across San Francisco. Affordable transportation is a crisis for working families, especially from the Southeast sector of San Francisco. Ms. Tello expressed support for Commissioner Persky’s resolution.

Darnell Boyd, an intern at POWER, wished all young people could ride public transportation for free, but starting with low income youth is a good start.

Ezekiel C. Osmond, a youth from POWER, voiced his support for free MUNI for youth in San Francisco.

Marissa Wong, a member of the Youth Empowerment Fund Advisory Board (YEFAB), worked on the free MUNI for youth campaign when she was a youth member at the Chinatown Community Development Center’s Adopt-an-Alleyway program. She spoke about being privileged enough to get a ride when she needed to travel, and understood the need for low income youth.

Antonio Amado Vaz, a member of POWER, would like to see the Youth Commission make a strong statement in support of free MUNI for youth. He urged commissioners to support the resolution.

Leah LaCroix, former Youth Commission Chair, commended Commissioner Persky on his work. LaCroix spoke about the importance of institutional memory and urged commissioners to support the resolution unanimously to send a strong a strong message.

Chair Shackelford thanked everyone for their public comment.

Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez asked representatives of POWER how the Youth Commission can best support some of the organizing and advocacy that has been happening on the ground.

Juana Teresa Tello stated that POWER will be having a community solidarity fair in the Bayview in the Fall, and will send the information out to the Youth Commission.

Commissioners interested include Commissioners Huynh, Shackelford, Monge-Rodriguez, Guzman-Ramos, Wu, Warri, and Carrion.

Commissioner Marshall-Fricker, seconded by Commissioner Armstrong, moved to adopt the resolution.

The resolution was then unanimously adopted by the following roll call vote: Ayes (16) – Armstrong, Carrion, Chu, Covington, Gomez, Guzman-Ramos, Huynh, Marshall-Fricker, Monge-Rodriguez, Tu Mutch, Persky, Shackelford, Taumoepeau, Warri, Wu, and Yu.

Commissioner Marshall-Fricker commended POWER for their advocacy on free MUNI for youth. Commissioner Persky thanked his peers for supporting his resolution. He will be following up with commissioners on how to stay involved in the issue. Commissioners interested in getting involved include: Armstrong, Chu, Gomez, Tu Mutch, and Yu.

Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez then updated his peers on the last free MUNI for youth coalition meeting.

C. [Second Reading] Resolution 1213—02—Youth Commission Establishment of SF Youth of the Year Awards and Award Ceremony
Presenter and sponsor: Commissioner Rachel Brodwin
(Document D)

Commissioner Marshall-Fricker, seconded by Commissioner Carrion, moved to table item 9C. This item was tabled unanimously by acclamation.

D. [Second Reading] Resolution 1213--03—Youth Commission Sponsorship of Redefining Education Project
Presenter and sponsor: Commissioner Rachel Brodwin
(Document E)

Commissioner Yu, seconded by Commissioner Tu Mutch, moved to table item 9D. This item was tabled unanimously by acclamation.

E. Adoption of 2012-2013 Youth Commission Bylaws (with technical amendments)
Presenters: Youth Commission staff
(Document F)

Ms. Truong provided some context and background on the Youth Commission bylaws with technical amendments.

Commissioner Warri asked her colleagues about adding Commissioner Guzman-Ramos’ suggestion of inserting communications and outreach expectations into the bylaws.

Commissioners Armstrong agreed with adding outreach expectations into the bylaws, but suggested keeping the requirements a bit more general to allow some flexibility for commissioners. Commissioners asked clarifying questions.

Commissioner Armstrong, seconded by Commissioner Marshall-Fricker, moved to adopt the 2012-2013 Youth Commission bylaws with technical amendments. The bylaws were adopted based on the following roll call vote: Ayes (16) – Armstrong, Carrion, Chu, Covington, Gomez, Guzman-Ramos, Huynh, Marshall-Fricker, Monge-Rodriguez, Tu Mutch, Persky, Shackelford, Taumoepeau, Vanessa Warri, Eric Wu, Ariel Yu.

There was no public comment on this item.

10. Agenda Feedback and Suggestion Form (Discussion Only)

Commissioner Warri explained what the Executive Committee had envisioned for this item: a tool for the Communications and Outreach Officer to receive feedback from commissioners on the outreach plan. Commissioner Warri was not able to provide a feedback form at this meeting and will be working on the form and other tracking documents for her outreach plan by the end of the week.

Commissioner Persky then gave a brief update on the suggestion form that was passed out at the last full Youth Commission meeting.

There was no public comment on this item.

11. Committee Reports (Discussion Only)

Executive Committee report was given by Commissioner Persky. Persky gave an update on the Bay Area Youth Summit which would be jointly hosted by the Oakland and San Francisco Youth Commissions. Commissioner Warri then asked for additional feedback for her outreach plan. Commissioners Tu Mutch and Monge-Rodriguez suggested Commissioner Warri look into best practices on how to run focus groups and asked for more clarity and examples in what outreach would look like.

Commissioner Chu then updated his colleagues on the Education Committee. The committee received a presentation from the SFUSD Associate Superintendant of Student Support Services, Kevin Truitt. Committee members had also reviewed data from the school district showing alarming trends in the achievement gap. At the next meeting, commissioner Chu reported, the committee would hear a presentation from staff and youth from Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth.

Commissioner Huynh provided an update on the work of the Employment Committee. At their last meeting, they heard from Glenn Eagleson from the Department of Children, Youth, and their Families and Alvin Woo, Youth Workforce Director at the Japanese Community Youth Council. The committee will be working on their goals and developing a timeline for their priorities.

Youth Justice Committee Chair Commissioner Angel Carrion updated his colleagues on the work of the Youth Justice Committee. Committee members met with Associate Superintendant Kevin Truitt last week in advance of the MOU hearing. Carrion spoke about the hearing on the MOU between the SFUSD and SFPD. Committee members will continue to work on improving recreation access for youth at juvenile hall.

Housing, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) and Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Committee Chair Commissioner Mia Tu Mutch provided her colleagues with an update on her committee, which met last week and received presentations from staff from the Mayor’s Office of Housing and the Chinatown Community Development Center. Commissioner Tu Mutch gave an overview of committee policy priorities for housing and 12N. Committee members will be working on their S.M.A.R.T. goals and priorities at the next meeting.

Public Comment

Leah LaCroix spoke to Commissioner Monge-Rodriguez’s suggestion that YCers create an alumni network.

12. Attendance Review (Action Item)

There were none.

There was no public comment on this item.

13. Announcements (This Includes Community Events)

Chairperson Shackelford announced that the Contemporary Jewish Museum (736 Mission st.) will be having a short-film night and teen photography exhibit this Thursday, October 4th, 2012 from 6-8pm.

14. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7:36pm.