Minutes February 8 2018
Commissioners Present:
First District: Jan Blalock (Chair), Carrie Castro
Second District: Trisha Almond (Officer-at-Large), Karen Langdon
Third District: Jennifer Whyte
Fourth District: Leticia Padilla
Fifth District: Lorena Barrera, Ariana Diaz De Leon (Vice Chair)
Commissioners Absent:
First District: Joanne M. Brown*
Second District: Barbara Badham*
Third District: Victoria Fleming, Jennielynn Holmes
Fifth District: Jessica Wood (Officer-at-Large)
Staff Present:
Tracy Cunha, Deputy Clerk
* On Leave of Absence
- Call to Order – Introductions – Blalock
Meeting called to order at 6:06PM. Chair called for introductions. - Approval of the Agenda February 8, 2018 Agenda – Blalock
Due to the requirements of the Brown Act, only changing the order of, or deletion of items may be allowed. New items may not be added. - Approval of the January 11, 2018 Draft Minutes– Blalock
Motion to approve the January 11, 2018 Draft Minutes
Motion: Commissioner Almond
Ayes: 6
Noes: 0
Second: Commissioner Diaz De Leon
Absent: 5
Abstained: 2
Commissioners Fleming, Holmes, and Wood were absent. Commissioners Badham and Brown are on leaves of absence. Commissioner Whyte abstained due to absence. Commissioner Blalock abstained as Chair. The motion passed. - Public Comment on Agendized Items – BLALOCK
- No members of the public addressed the Commission
- Commissioner Announcements/Communications With Supervisors/Tabling Opportunities – All – 5 Minutes
- Commissioner Langdon reported out on her meeting with Supervisor Rabbitt, who is in favor of meeting to align budgets and priorities
- Commissioner Padilla working with Supervisor Gore’s office on scheduling the Junior Commissioner presentations to the Board of Supervisor, and confirmed Gore will be at the May graduation.
- Chair Blalock reported it is time to look at seasonal market dates, including the Wednesday Night Market.
- Openings and Appointments– Blalock
- Staff administered the Oath of Office to 1st District Commissioner Jan Blalock, and 5th District Commissioner Ariana Diaz De Leon, who were both reappointed by Supervisors Gorin and Hopkins, respectively.
- The Chair reported that Commissioner Larson had resigned, and this leaves two vacancies on the Commission, both in the 4th District. Blalock also announced 2nd District Commissioner Barbara Badham had been approved for a two-month leave of absence.
- Public Comment on Non-Agendized Items – BLALOCK
- No members of the public addressed the Commission
- Regular Calendar Items
- Guest Speaker – Elizabeth Vasquez Quiroz – Blalock – Human trafficking and addiction survivor, and community advocate Elizabeth Vasquez Quiroz, shared her story with the Commission. Quiroz is a member of the Sonoma County Human Trafficking Task Force, a volunteer at Women’s Recovery Services, and serves as an Alcohol and Other Drug Studies (AODS) counselor at Turning Point, in Santa Rosa.
- Together at the Table – Blalock, Diaz De Leon – 5 Minutes Commissioners Blalock and Diaz De Leon discussed their upcoming participation in the Together at the Table program within the Sonoma County Library system, a federal program funded by the Library Services and Technology Act. Blalock and Diaz De Leon reported that it would be an opportunity to share the basic footprint of the Commission and bring attention to how CSW works to protect and support women’s rights. The Commissioners requested photos from ad hoc events, and a synopsis of ad hoc goals and activities. Dates: Sebastopol Library – Monday, March 12 at 7.00PM; Rincon Valley Library – Wednesday, April 18 at 6.00PM.
- Women’s History Month Events – Almond, Blalock, Staff – 5 Minutes
- Commissioner Almond reported on a potential collaboration with the Petaluma Community Relations Council (PCRC) to hold the March 8, 2018 Commission meeting in the 2nd District, with a program that celebrates Women’s History Month.
Motion to change the date of the March meeting to March 6, 2018 at 5.30PM at the B’nai Israel Jewish Center in Petaluma to work in collaboration with PCRC on Women’s History Month event.
Motion: Commissioner Almond
Ayes: 7
Noes: 0
Second: Commissioner Diaz De Leon
Absent: 5
Abstained: 1
Commissioners Fleming, Holmes, and Wood were absent. Commissioners Badham and Brown are on leaves of absence. Commissioner Blalock abstained as Chair. The motion passed. - Chair Blalock and Staff shared a tentative plan for the potential revival of a celebratory event to mark the 40th Anniversary of Women’s History Month receiving a national designation. Unofficial consensus of the Commissioners was to wait until 2019, the anniversary of the march, to hold an event due to lack of time and resources. No action was taken.
- Commissioner Almond reported on a potential collaboration with the Petaluma Community Relations Council (PCRC) to hold the March 8, 2018 Commission meeting in the 2nd District, with a program that celebrates Women’s History Month.
- Association of California Commissions for Women (ACCW) – Almond, Blalock, Diaz De Leon, Langdon
Commissioners reported out on the status of the March 23 & 24, 2018 event. No action was taken. - Affordable Child Care Ad Hoc Update – Diaz De Leon, Fleming, Wood – 5 Minutes
Commissioners reported that the catastrophic fires of Sonoma County has significantly impacted the home-based child care providers in the county. Commissioners are looking to partner with local organizations to train potential providers. No action was taken. - Intimate Partner Violence Ad Hoc Update – Blalock – 3 Minutes
Commissioner Blalock provide an update on the rescheduled screening of the film “Mask.” Screening will take place, in partnership with Guided to Safety and Verity, on April 11, 2018 at 7.00PM at the Boulevard 14 Cinemas in Petaluma. No action was taken. - Mental Health/Suicide Ad Hoc Update – Almond, Badham, Barrera, Langdon
Commissioner Barrera reported that they are close to completing the bookmarks, and are also looking at June 2 or June 9, 2018 to hold a Mental Health First Aid Training. Commissioner Langdon to work with Sonoma County Behavioral Health on potential partnership. Langdon to also draft letter for Commissioners to send to their Supervisors in opposition of the budget cuts and layoffs scheduled for the Department of Health Services. - Junior Commissioner Project – Castro, Padilla – 5 Minutes
Commissioner Castro shared her ideas for refining the Junior Commission so that it is more in alignment with the goals of the adult commission in future terms. Castro also recommended limiting the cohort to 15 members. Staff seconded the recommendation and stated a smaller group has worked best in the past. This year’s size has proved to be a great challenge.
Motion to extend time by five minutes
Motion: Commissioner Padilla
Ayes: 7
Noes: 0
Second: Commissioner Whyte
Absent: 5
Abstained: 1
Commissioners Fleming, Holmes, and Wood were absent. Commissioners Badham and Brown are on leaves of absence. Commissioner Blalock abstained as Chair. The motion passed. No further action followed this motion. - Legislative Affairs Report – Barrera, Brown, Diaz De Leon, Fleming – 5 Minutes
Liaisons provided updates on legislative issues they are monitoring and presented letters of support for:- In support of: U.S. S.1693 – Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act of 2017
Staff recommended Commissioners table this letter until March when they have all had the opportunity and time to review the opposing sides and views of this legislation. Commissioner Diaz De Leon to provide documentation of both proponents and opponents.
Motion to extend time by five minutes
Motion: Commissioner Barrera
Ayes: 7
Noes: 0 Second: Commissioner Castro
Absent: 5
Abstained: 1
Commissioners Fleming, Holmes, and Wood were absent. Commissioners Badham and Brown are on leaves of absence. Commissioner Blalock abstained as Chair. The motion passed. No further action was taken. - In support of: CA AB-1938 – Employment discrimination: familial status
Motion to approve the letter in support of CA AB-1938
Motion: Commissioner Barrera
Ayes: 7
Noes: 0
Second: Commissioner Whyte
Absent: 5
Abstained: 1
Commissioners Fleming, Holmes, and Wood were absent. Commissioners Badham and Brown are on leaves of absence. Commissioner Blalock abstained as Chair. The motion passed.
Liaisons also shared, for informational purposes, the final version of a letter to be sent to California Senator Bill Dodd in support of CA SB837 – Universal Preschool – previously approved by the Commission. Barrera looking into US S 1015 National Suicide hotline being converted to a 3-digit dialing code and will report out in March. No further action was taken.
- In support of: U.S. S.1693 – Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act of 2017
- Administrative Report – Staff – 5 Minutes
- No report presented.
- Community Issues, Liaisons, and Coordinators – 5 Minutes
Program development updates not included above.- Field Trip – Update from Commissioners managing specific field trips
- Human Trafficking Task Force – Blalock
- Speaker Coordinator – All
- Volunteer Coordinator – Vacant
- Agenda Items for Next Commission Meeting
Proposal, discussion, and possible action items for next Commission meeting. No specific items were addressed. - Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 7:40 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Tracy Cunha, Deputy Clerk
Motion to approve the February 8, 2018 Agenda
Due to the requirements of the Brown Act, only changing the order of, or deletion of items may be allowed. New items may not be added.
Ayes: 7
Noes: 0
Second: Commissioner Diaz De Leon
Absent: 5
Abstained: 1
Commissioners Fleming, Holmes, and Wood were absent. Commissioners Badham and Brown are on leaves of absence. Commissioner Blalock abstained as Chair. The motion passed.