San Francisco Youth Commission
Youth Justice Committee
Minutes
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
4:30-6:15pm
City Hall, Room 345

There will be public comment on each item.

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

The meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m. Committee members present: Commissioner Ontiveros, Commissioner Carrion, Commissioner Holloway, Student Advisory Council member Portillo, Transitional Age Youth Initiative Young Adult Advocate Shereff. There was quorum. Committee members absent: Student Advisory Council members Li and Dailey. Staff present: Truong, Yedidia.

2. Approval of Agenda (Action Item)

Commissioner Carrion, seconded by Commissioner Ontiveros moved to approve the agenda. This motion was approved unanimously by acclamation.

3. Approval of Minutes (Action Item)

A. January 4, 2012

Commissioner Carrion, seconded by Commissioner Holloway moved to approve the minutes to the meeting of January 4, 2012. This motion was approved unanimously by acclamation.

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

There was none.

5. Business (All Items Below Discussion and Possible Action)

A. Presentation and request for input on Human Rights Commission’s educational efforts regarding criminal background checks from employers and landlords
Presenter: Zoe Polk, Policy Analyst, Human Rights Commission

Ms. Polk gave an introductory overview on her work in providing educational workshops to businesses and landlords in the community regarding discrimination based on arrest and conviction record.

Ms. Polk then informed members that she will be organizing a hearing to get the community’s perspective on criminal background checks from employers and landlords. She invited the committee to contact her if they want to be involved.

Committee members asked clarifying questions and provided some feedback. There was no official action taken.

B. Update on status of Police Department’s implementation of General Order 7.01 and improving youth-Police relations
a. Upcoming joint hearing with Police Commission! (Possible dates: Wednesday, February 15th at 5:30pm or Wednesday, March 7th at 5:30pm. The Police Commission meets on the first, third, and sometimes fourth Wednesdays of the month.)
b. Update on meetings with members of Board of Supervisors regarding bringing Lisa Thurau (www.strategiesforyouth.org) to train Police Department on youth interactions
Presenters: Commissioners Ontiveros, Carrion

Commissioner Ontiveros and Carrion gave some background information on the meetings with members of the Board of Supervisors regarding Lisa Thurau, a trainer specialized in training police departments on de-escalation tactics and positive police and youth interactions.

Commissioners Ontiveros then shared with members his plans on holding a joint hearing with the Police Commission to get feedback from the community and youth on current police and youth interactions. Members all agreed that a joint hearing would be a fruitful effort.

Committee members chose March 7th, 2012 as a tentative date to hold the hearing. Youth Commission staff will get back to commissioners on the final date.

Commissioner Ontiveros then urged committee members to be proactive with the outreach and planning for the joint hearing.

Sharon Meadows, Professor of Law, at the University of San Francisco, joined the meeting at 5: 07 p.m. Ms. Meadows introduced herself to committee members and shared that she was there to observe the committee meeting as a member of the public.

C. Update on conversations with Juvenile Probation Department regarding use of recreational yard at Juvenile Hall
Presenters: Commissioners Ontiveros, Carrion, Holloway

Commissioners Ontiveros, Carrion, and Holloway updated the committee on the status of their research regarding the Juvenile Probation Department and the use of the recreational yard at Juvenile Hall.

Staff Yedidia stepped in to brief all members on his meeting with Juvenile Probation Chief Siffermann, who had also provided comment and feedback on the committee’s memo and draft resolution.

Commissioner Ontiveros then had committee members pair up and read through the memo and draft resolution together. Committee members then engaged in a lively discussion on the overall goal of making the recreational yard available for use and planned for next steps. Members then worked together to make edits to the draft resolution in order to include some of the Chief’s comments.

Committee members decided to introduce the draft resolution to the full Youth Commission meeting on February 6, 2012.

Committee members asked Ms. Meadows for feedback. Ms. Meadows advised the committee to look into getting a public records request to get additional information on the outdoor recreation area. Ms. Meadows also recommended the committee prepare questions to ask the Chief and do more research on what is actually required for there to be access to the outdoor recreation area.

Ms. Meadows thanked the committee for their hard work and offered her support and help.

D. Update from Student Advisory Council members on possibility of using Proposition H dollars to fund a full-time librarian at Juvenile Hall and Log Cabin Ranch
Presenters: SACers Hannah Li, Maria Portillo

Commissioner Ontiveros provided a brief introduction on this item and asked that Student Advisory Council member Portillo look into Prop H funds with Student Advisory Council member Li. Commissioner Ontiveros stated that will look into asking the library on the possibilities of funding a full time librarian.

E. Update on completing budget priorities (deadline: March 23, 2012)—are 2 meetings enough time to complete the budget priorities?
Presenter: Youth Commission Staff

Ms. Truong reminded members of the deadline for the committee’s budget priorities. Members agreed to plan for additional meetings before the March 23, 2012 deadline. The next committee meeting will take place on February 9, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. in the Youth Commission office.

F. Proposing dates to visit the San Bruno Jail Resolve to Stop the Violence Project
Presenter: Commissioner Carrion

Commissioner Carrion provided a brief introduction on the Resolve to Stop the Violence Project at the San Bruno Jail. Carrion urged committee members to plan a field trip to San Bruno Jail to see the workshops firsthand. Since the RSVP workshop takes place every Wednesday at noon, committee members are going to look into their Spring Break schedules and propose some dates to Mr. Yedidia. No official action was taken.

6. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 6:27 p.m.

Any materials distributed to the members of the Youth Commission within 72 hours of the meeting or after the agenda packet has been delivered to the members are available for inspection—along with minutes of previous Youth Commission meetings and all supplementary information—at the Youth Commission office during regular office hours (9am to 6pm, Monday—Friday). The Youth Commission office is located at:
City Hall, Room 345
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 554-6446, Fax: (415) 554-6140
Email: youthcom@sfgov.org
www.sfgov.org/yc

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 decisions in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people’s business. This 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 THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE TASK FORCE, please contact:
Sunshine Ordinance Task Force
City Hall, Room 244
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102‐4689
Phone: (415) 554‐7724, Fax: (415) 554‐5784
E‐mail: sotf@sfgov.org
Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance can be obtained from the Clerk of the Sunshine Ordinance
Task Force, at the San Francisco Public Library, and on the City’s website at
http://www.sfgov.org.

The ringing and use of cell phones, pagers, and similar sound‐producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. The Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound‐producing electronic device.

In order to assist the City’s efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illnesses, multiple chemical sensitivity, or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical‐based products. Please help the City accommodate these individuals.

To obtain a disability‐related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services, to participate in the meeting, please contact Mario Yedidia, Youth Commission Director [phone: 415-554 6254; email: mario.yedidia@sfgov.org] at least 48 hours before the meeting, except for Monday meetings, for which the deadline is 4:00 p.m. the previous Friday.