San Francisco Youth Commission
Minutes
Monday, January 6th, 2014
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.

Nicholas Persky, Michelle Kong, Joshua Cardenas, DeAsia Landrum, Angel Van Stark,
Jina Bae, Anna Bernick, Sophie Edelhart, Monica Flores, Ramon Gomez, Michel Li, Lily Marshall-Fricker, Luisa Sicairos, Denesia Webb, Eric Wu, Joyce Wu, Ariel Yu

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

The meeting was called to order at 5:20 pm.

Commissioners present: Persky, Kong, Cardenas, Van Stark, Bae, Bernick, Edelhart, Flores, Li, Marshall-Fricker, Sicairos, Webb, E. Wu, J. Wu, Yu

Staff present: Allen Lu, Adele Carpenter.

There was quorum.

Commissioner Gomez noted present at 5:40 pm. Commissioner Landrum noted present at 6:20 pm.

2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)

Commissioner J. Wu, seconded by Sicairos moved to approve the agenda. There was no public comment. The motion was approved unanimously by acclamation.

3. Approval of Minutes (Action Item) A. December 16th, 2013 (Document A)

Commissioner Bernick, seconded by Commissioner Van Stark, moved to approve the minutes from December 16, 2013. There was no public comment. The motion was approved unanimously by acclamation.

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

There was none.

5. Consent Calendar (Action Item)

There was none.

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

There was none.

7. Presentations (All Items to Follow Discussion and Possible Action)

There were none.

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

A. [Second Reading] Resolution 1314—01 Urging Support of the California Homeless Bill of Rights
Sponsor: Commissioner Eric Wu; Presenter: Nicholas Kimura, San Francisco Coalition on Homelessness
(Document B)

Commissioner Eric Wu explained that this campaign seeks to stop criminalization as a solution to homelessness. We hope this will move forward from the youth commission to the Board of Supervisors in hopes they will adopt a similar resolution. Commissioner Wu read the resolution into the public record.

Commissioner Eric Wu thanked staff, YC interns, and the Coalition on Homelessness for their support researching the resolution. He thanked those who offered to be co-sponsors.

The following commissioners confirmed they would like to be listed as Co-sponsors: Edelhart, Van Stark, Sicairos, Webb, Li, Bernick, Cardenas, Persky, Kong, Flores, Yu, Joyce Wu, Bae.

Commissioner Flores explained that the state gets a lot of money from jails and prisons and that is a place to anticipate push back. She suggested being more clear about where the money to imprison people comes from to understand where our opposition may be.

Commissioner Kong suggested that on page 2 line 4 that the resolution use a statistic rather than 1 in 4. She also suggested having a “sponsor” line in the footer.

Commissioner E. Wu read the resolution into the public record.

Commissioner E. Wu motioned to approve the resolution. Commissioner Bernick seconded. There was no public comment. The resolution was approved by acclamation.

B. [First Reading] Resolution 1314—02 Urging Creation of a Youth Voice Policy
Sponsor: Commissioner Nicholas Persky
(Document C)

Vice Chair Kong explained that she would chair to allow Chair Persky to step back as chair during his item.

Commissioner Persky explained that while the Brown Act guarantees the pubilc’s right to attend and participate in meetings of local legislative bodies, it de facto does not apply to youth since they are required to be in school when most public meetings are held. The Board of Supervisors encourages public testimony before taking action, but youth—who already cannot vote—cannot provide public comment at times meetings are held, such as 10:00 am.

Commissioner Persky showed a graph with the number of youth public commenters at SFMTA board and BOS meetings regarding Free MUNI for Youth. At hearings held at or after 3:30 pm the number of youth speakers exponentially increased.

The resolution is meant to apply to the Board of Supervisors and youth-serving city commissions.

Commissioner Flores asked how the request to reschedule an item would occur. Would it be a form? Commissioner Persky explained the nature of the policy would be determined by the Board at the urging of the Youth Commission.

Commissioner Persky read the resolution in the public record.

Vice Chair Kong welcomed clarifying questions and concerns for the first reading and reminded commissioners that the item would be up for a second reading on February 3rd.

Commissioner Bernick clarified that the main point of the resolution was to make sure that meetings are scheduled at a time that youth can attend. Commissioner Persky affirmed.

Commissioner Van Stark asked a clarifying question about the clauses involving the time of day public comment was held during the Free MUNI for Youth hearings. Commissioner Edelhart asked whether the definition of youth was consistent all the way through as 18 and under. Commissioner Persky agreed he could be more consistent in the language concerning “youth.”

Commissioner E. Wu reminded commissioners that they had requested legislation referred to be scheduled after school hours once already during this term.

Commissioner Yu suggested specifying the time of day that is “youth friendly” such as 3:30 pm or 4:00 pm. Commissioner Persky reiterated that this is not meant to apply to all youth-related hearings, only those most important hearings that the Youth Commission specifically requests be scheduled later.

Commissioner Sicairos suggested that they reach out to other members of the Board of Supervisors. Commissioner Van Stark commended the writing and research in the draft resolution. Commissioner Persky clarified that a lot of the writing was done by 12-13 youth commissioner Paul Monge-Rodriguez.

Chair Kong called for public comment.

Adele Carpenter suggested that if passed, youth commissioners develop guidelines for when an item would be requested to be scheduled later and decide upon guidelines for what type of outreach to youth interested in the issue would be incumbent upon the youth commission if an item were requested to be scheduled later in the day.

4. General Public comment

Vice Chair Kong reopened general public comment.

Nick Kimura from the Coalition on Homelessness thanked Commissioners for their time and passage of the Homeless Bill of Rights resolution. Commissioner E. Wu asked for a campaign update. Nick K. said that Assemblymember Ammiano declined to sponsor the legislation right now because he is terming out. They are seeking another sponsor. The language is being written by a state-level advocacy group. There is a day of action coming up. It will be held Fri. Jan 17th from noon to 3pm in the Main Library basement. It will also serve as a Homeless Connect. There will be a march to the federal and state building at 3:00 pm and to the state building at 3:30 pm.

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

C. Motion of Support for BOS file no. 131219 Resolution supporting amendments to State Law to return local control over the Ellis Act to prevent the speculation and abuse of no-fault evictions.
(Document D)

The chair then resumed the normal order of the agenda. Commissioner E. Wu explained that the Ellis Act was originally used to help individual landlords leave the business. Now we see this law being used by large developers repeatedly buying up property and kicking out tenants.

This motion supports a BOS resolution calling on the state legislature to take action to stem the tide of no-fault evictions happening in San Francisco.

Commissioner Eric Wu read a resolution “The San Francisco Youth Commission strongly supports the resolution to amend state law to return local control over the Ellis Act to prevent the speculation and abuse of no-fault eviction” into the public record

Chair Persky invited clarifying questions. Commissioner Li asked what body in the City would be responsible for enforcing a stop to no-fault evictions. Commissioner E. Wu explained that this is seeking an amendment to state law. Staff member, Adele Carpenter, confirmed the specifics of how the policy would be shaped at the local level would depend on action happening at the state level first.

There was no public comment.

Chair Persky clarified the commission could take a position on a motion upon first reading.

Commissioner Eric Wu motioned to approve the basic motion. Commissioner Edelhart seconded. The motion was approved unanimously by acclamation.

D. Review and clarify revision made to 2013-2014 Youth Commission Bylaws on December 16th, 2013
Presenter: Commissioner Michelle Kong
(Document E)

Vice Chair Kong provided clarifying comments regarding the approved change to the attendance policy. The intention with the change in policy was for commissioners with greater family caretaking responsibilities to not be unequally affected by unauthorized absences.

Commissioner Marshall-Fricker suggested that she liked the old policy better and inquired about the rationale behind the change.

Chair Persky explained the youth commission could authorize three absences under the new policy. Commissioner Marshall-Fricker explained that missing six meetings did not show a strong commitment to the commission.

E. Outreach updates re: Youth Town Hall in District 8
Presenter: Commissioner Angel VanStark

Commissioner Van Stark requested to table the item until after his meeting with the District 8 office.

9. Staff Report (Discussion Only)

A. Programmatic updates

Allen Lu requested commissioners to help Eric Wu and Mia Tu Mutch to review the youth townhall report to submit to the Mayor’s office. Commissioners interested: Kong. The TL Boys and Girls club is going to have a Youth of Year celebration this Thursday, Jan. 9th at 4:30 pm. On Friday the 10th at 6pm there will be a community meeting following up on the police incident at Valencia Gardens. Commissioners interested: Edelhart, Flores, Van Stark. January 22nd Shape Up SF has a campaign kick-off at Golden Gate YMCA. Commissioners: Van Stark, Yu, Sicairos, Li were interested. There is a climate change and sustainable transportation summit Sat. Feb. 22nd, and you must RSVP by Jan 10th. Commissioners interested: Cardenas, Kong (interested in panel); Van Stark, Cardenas, Kong were interested in attending.

Adele Carpenter inquired which commissioner wanted to learn more about upcoming tenant summits. Commissioner interested in attending tenant summits: Edelhart, Van Stark, Sicairos, Webb, Landrum, Li, Kong, E. Wu.

B. Review midyear retreat agenda for January 11th-12th, 2014

Adele Carpenter gave updates regarding the mid-year retreat. Commissioners confirmed that 3 of them were vegetarian and one could not eat pork.

10. Committee Reports (Discussion Only)

A. Executive Committee, Chair Michelle Kong

Vice Chair Kong gave brief updates on the Mayor’s efforts to increase the minimum wage and increase affordable housing; A plastic water bottle ban introduced by Sup. Chiu; The loss of unemployment benefits by many San Franciscans. She congratulated commissioners on their recent birthdays.

B. Youth Justice Committee, Chair Sophie Edelhart

Commissioner Edelhart updated the commission that the committee discussed options for publicizing the MOU issue. It may be heard at Board of Education on January 14th.

C. Immigration & Employment Committee, Chair Michel Li

The committee researched the employment of undocumented youth in other states and received a presentation from the Chinese Progressive Association.

D. Education, Health & Wellness Committee, Chair Ariel Yu

The committee received a presentation from the SFUSD special education department and reviewed their priority regarding credit recovery.

E. TAY, Housing, and LGBT issues Committee, Chair Eric Wu

There had not been a meeting since last full YC meeting.

F. Our Children, Our City Stakeholder Council, Commissioner Eric Wu

There were no update besides the Thursday overview of the youth townhall results.

G. Youth Advisory Council, Representative Joyce Wu

There had not been a recent meeting.

11. Attendance Authorizations (Action Item)

A. Request for Approval of Upcoming Absences

i. Commissioner Joshua Cardenas, December 16th, 2013

Chair Persky confirmed the item was for previous absences as well. Commissioner Cardenas requested approval of the absence as he was home sick and informed staff. Commissioner Marshall-Fricker, seconded by Commissioner Yu to authorize Commissioner Cardenas’ absence. There was no public comment. The motion was approved by acclamation.

C. Explanation(s) of Past Absences

There were none.

12. Announcements (This Includes Community Events)

Commissioner Landrum reminded commissioners about youth advocacy day. Youth leaders will have a youth session on Saturday, February 15th and the evening of Tuesday, February 18th from 4:30-7:30 pm and must be committed to participating on Weds. March 19th.

Commissioners interested: Bernick, Cardenas, Persky, Kong, Van Stark.

Commissioner Van Stark invited commissioners to sign up and take a seat in a rent control workshop on Jan. 16th from 6:30-8:00 at Fort Mason.

13. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 6:56 pm.