Commission Meeting Minutes April 25, 2017

Commissioners Present

First District: Terrence-Christopher Patterson, Howard Sapper
Second District: J. Kevin Jones (Chair) , Faith Ross
Third District: Alana Marie Bjorkquist (Officer-at-Large), Carol McHale
Fourth District: Adam Basler, Carmen Cervantes,
Fifth District: Marti Estrin, Ramon Meraz (Officer-at-Large)

Commissioners Absent:

First District: Dmitra Smith (Vice Chair)
Second District: Rachel Judkins
Third District: Akash Kalia
Fourth District:Rocio Rodriguez
Fifth District: Christopher Kerosky

Staff Present: Tracy Cunha, Deputy Clerk

Junior Commissioners Present: Alana Cree, Elena Lev, Bella Nadler

1. Call to Order – Mission Statement – Introductions – Jones
2. Approval of the Agenda – Jones
   
   Motion to approve the 4-25-17 Agenda

   Motion: Commissioner Meraz
   Second: Commissioner Sapper
   Ayes: 9
   Noes: 0
   Absent: 4
   Abstained: 1

   Commissioners Estrin, Judkins, Kalia, Kerosky, and Smith were absent. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair. The motion passed.

3. Openings and Appointments – Jones
   • Staff administered the Oath of Office to 5th District Commissioner Ramon Meraz, who was reappointed for a two-year term.
   • The Chair reported there remained one vacancy in the 4th District.
4. Consent Calendar – Jones
   
   1. Approval of the March 28, 2017 Draft Minutes
   2. Public Comment on Consent Items
   • Public comment is limited to three minutes per topic, unless otherwise noted.
   3. Vote on Consent Calendar

      Motion to approve the Consent Calendar with the noted corrections to the March 28, 2017 Draft Minutes

      Motion: Commissioner Estrin
      Second: Commissioner McHale
      Ayes: 9
      Noes: 0
      Absent: 4
      Abstained: 1

      Commissioners Estrin, Judkins, Kalia, Kerosky, and Smith were absent. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair. The motion passed.

5. Public Comment on Non-Agendized Items – Jones
   
   • No members of the public addressed the Commission.
6. Regular Calendar – Jones
   Discussion and possible action to follow on items 4 through 8
   
   4. Junior Commissioner Project Updates – Smith – 20 Minutes
      Review highlights of the 2016-2017 Junior Commissioner term, including a screening of a video produced by the Human Trafficking ad hoc committee.

      
      Motion to table the Junior Commissioner Presentation to later in the agenda

      Motion: Commissioner Bjorkquist
      Second: Commissioner Meraz
      Ayes: 9
      Noes: 0
      Absent: 4
      Abstained: 1

      Commissioners Estrin, Judkins, Kalia, Kerosky, and Smith were absent. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair. The motion passed.

   5. Protocol for Responding to Concerns/Complaints Brought by the Community – Jones – 15 Minutes
      Chair Jones read a proposed response to members of the community who have reached out to the Commission to seek assistance with potential violations of human rights. Requested changes included adding additional information about Family Justice Center hours, address logistics, and a list of resources or link to website. Response also needs to be provided in Spanish. No action was taken.
   6. “Indivisible” Public Service Announcement (PSA) Campaign – Jones – 20 Minutes
      Commissioners discussed the next steps for the “Indivisible” PSA campaign including budgetary needs, social media platforms and needs, and other vehicles of promotion. Staff reported that the County Board of Supervisors would be unable to contribute any additional monies to the fund the promotion of the PSA.

      
      Motion for an extension of ten minutes

      Motion: Commissioner Sapper
      Second: Commissioner Meraz
      Ayes: 9
      Noes: 0
      Absent: 4
      Abstained: 1

      Commissioners Estrin, Judkins, Kalia, Kerosky, and Smith were absent. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair. The motion passed.

      Continued discussion included ideas to hold meeting in each district, or having one focused event.

      Motion for an extension of ten minutes

      Motion: Commissioner Sapper
      Second: Commissioner Meraz
      Ayes: 9
      Noes: 0
      Absent: 4
      Abstained: 1

      Commissioners Estrin, Judkins, Kalia, Kerosky, and Smith were absent. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair. The motion passed.

      Motion to allocate $8,500 of FY2016-2017 budget for Outreach package that will include social media, PSA promotion, marketing, graphic design on production of Sonoma County Transit busbacks, t-shirts, and related marketing materials subject to detailed proposals of expenditures for approval.

      Motion: Commissioner Sapper
      Second: Commissioner Meraz
      Ayes: 7
      Noes: 2
      Absent: 4
      Abstained: 1

      Commissioners Basler and Bjorkquist opposed. Estrin, Judkins, Kalia, Kerosky, and Smith were absent. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair. The motion passed.

      Recess at 7.10PM. Reconvened at 7.18PM.

      Return to Item # Junior Commissioner Project Updates
      In Commissioner Smith’s absence, Junior Commissioners Alan Cree, Elena Lev, and Bella Nadler presented updates on the 2016-2017 community service projects. No action was taken.

   7. Fundraising – Jones – 15 Minutes
      Prior to submitting a request to the Board of Supervisors for permission to raise funds, the Commission discussed the infrastructure and protocol required for a formal fundraising campaign. Commissioners Cervantes, Estrin, Meraz, and Sapper to work with the Chair on a plan prior to reporting to the Board on May 23, 2017. No action was taken.
   8. Administrative Items – Jones, Staff – 10 Minutes
      • The Chair presented the process and eligibility requirements for the FY2017-2018 Officer Elections
      • Staff presented the agenda submittal process
      • Staff presented the requirements on notifications of intended absences, and reviewed some basic protocols for Commission communications
      
      No action was taken.
7. Ad Hoc Committees & Liaison Updates – Jones – 10 Minutes
   • Immigrants’ Rights – Kerosky, Estrin, Meraz
     Cervantes to join ad hoc
   • Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review & Outreach (IOLERO) – Cervantes, Meraz
     Cervantes reported out. Homelessness in Sonoma County – Kalia, Bjorkquist
   • Junior Commissioner Project – Smith, Judkins
     no report
   • Legislative Affairs – Patterson, Basler, Smith
     Patterson reported out.
   • LGBTQI Task Force – Jones, McHale
     Jones reported out.
   • People with Disabilities – Basler, Sapper
     no report
   • Sonoma County Racial Justice – Liaison – Smith
     Smith absent
   • Volunteer Coordinator – Bjorkquist
     McHale to become second coordinator
8. Updates on Past Actions & Resolutions – Jones – 10 Minutes
   Commissioners to report out on items related to past actions taken by Commission, to include follow up to resolutions.
   • Commissioners to report out on items related to past actions taken by Commission, to include follow up to resolutions.
   • Resolution in Support of the Inalienable Human Rights of Residents of the Muslim Faith
   • Resolution Declaring Opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline, and Declaring Solidarity with the Stand Rock Sioux – Smith
   • Letter in support of CHAPP program regarding homelessness emergency declaration
   • Recommendations on steps to combat racism in schools – Smith
   • Resolution in Calling for the Protection of Human Rights of All Members of the Community
9. Commissioner Announcements/Communications with Supervisors/Tabling Opportunities – All – 5 Minutes
   
   • SRJC Petaluma We the Future Social Justice Conference, April 28, 2017; 9.00am Keynote Alicia Sanchez)
   • Commissioners Jones and Ross invited to present at Petaluma Community Relations Council May 3, 2017
   • Cinco de Mayo on May 5, 2017 – tabling opportunity
   • Petaluma Community Engagement Fair on May 7, 2017 – tabling opportunity
   • San Francisco Giants Appreciation Day for Families of People with Disabilities July 18, 2017
10. Additional Agenda Items for Next Commission Meeting – Jones
    No additional items requested.
11. Adjournment
    Meeting adjourned at 8.40PM.