Commission Meeting Minutes August 22, 2017
Commissioners Present
First District: Terrence-Christopher Patterson, Howard Sapper*, Dmitra Smith (Vice Chair)
Second District: J. Kevin Jones (Chair), Faith Ross
Third District: Akash Kalia (Officer-at-Large), Carol McHale
Fourth District: Adam Basler*, Carmen Cervantes, Rocio Rodriguez
Fifth District: Marti Estrin, Christopher Kerosky, Ramon Meraz
Commissioners Absent
Second District: Rachel Judkins*
Third District: Alana Marie Bjorkquist (Officer-at-Large)
Staff Present: Tracy Cunha, Deputy Clerk
* Commissioner Sapper arrived at 5.45PM, Commissioner Basler arrived at 6.10PM, Commissioner Judkins on leave of absence.
- Call to Order – Mission Statement – Introductions – Jones
Meeting called to order at 5.35PM.
- Approval of the Agenda – Jones
Motion to approve the 8-22-17 Agenda as amended: move the fundraising component of Regular Calendar Item #4 to precede III/Openings & AppointmentsMotion: Commissioner Kalia
Second: Commissioner Patterson
Ayes: 10
Noes: 0
Absent: 4
Abstained: 1Commissioners Basler, Bjorkquist, Judkins (LOA), and Sapper were absent. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair. The motion passed.
- Openings & Appointments – Jones
- Staff administered the Oath of Office to 5th District Commissioner Christopher Kerosky on his reappointment. 3rd District Commissioner Alana Bjorkquist was absent and will take the Oath of Office for her reappointment at the September 22, 2017 meeting.
- Consent Calendar – Jones
- Approval of the June 27, 2017 Draft Minutes
- Public Comment on Consent Items
- Public comment is limited to three minutes per topic, unless otherwise noted.
- Vote on Consent Calendar
Motion: Commissioner Kalia
Second: Commissioner Patterson
Ayes: 11
Noes: 0
Absent: 2
Abstained: 2Commissioner Bjorkquist and Judkins (LOA) were absent Commissioner Ross abstained due to absence. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair. The motion passed.
- Public Comment on Non-Agendized Items – Jones
- Roxanne Gruschner
- Regular Calendar – Jones
Discussion and possible action expected on items 4 through 8.- Outreach Updates – Estrin – 30 Minutes
(Estrin, Kalia, Ross, Sapper)Update on the outreach, marketing, and fundraising plans
This item was moved up in the agenda to immediately precede III Openings & Appointments.
Christina Cramer, Director of the County of Sonoma Human Resources Dept. and Sylvia Lemus, Human Resources Program Manager (HR Management) addressed the Commission on the matter of the Commission’s request to receive authorization from the Board of Supervisors to engage in fundraising activities for the purpose of promoting the Safe Sonoma County Public Service Announcement (PSA).
Cramer and Lemus explained the process for submitting a Board item; suggested the Commission create a “one-sheet” document that memorialized all of the efforts undertaken to promote the PSA to date; and encouraged Commissioners to reach out to their individual Supervisors in advance of submitting the Board item. Commissioners asked questions of clarification to ensure a comprehensive understanding of what was required before moving forward with a second Board item.
Following the 40 minute discussion, the Commissioners returned to the top of the agenda to III Openings & Appointments
Ten minute recess; reconvened at 6.38pm.
Commissioners discussed how to address the feedback from HR Management.
Discussion on outreach ideas, to include: creation of resource list with individual Commissioners contributing; creation of a template with a schedule of annual community events providing tabling opportunities; creation of content and event calendar; screening at remaining “movies in the park” events held in towns and cities in Sonoma County.
Commissioner Sapper discussed the potential launch event at Sonoma Mountain Village for the “Safe Sonoma County” PSA. Potential corporate interest in providing donations to help underwrite the event, possibly at Sally Tomato’s.
Commissioner Ross spoke about the Petaluma Community Relations Council desire to participate in a travelling Commission meeting.
Commissioner Sapper to present outline of potential launch event at Sonoma Mountain Village for the “Safe Sonoma County” PSA
- Committees and Liaison Structure – Jones – 15 Minutes
Chair Jones talked about the structure of the ad hoc committees and liaisons and called into question the need for all of them to remain under the ad hoc umbrella without having specific projects underway. Further discussion to be placed on September agenda. - Immigration Initiative Community Meetings – Jones – 20 Minutes
Chair Jones lead a discussion on the Commission’s participation in the series of community meetings being held by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. Discussed were what items would be most beneficial to have on the table at the events. Info sheet with details on how to get involved, how to request a translator, etc. Staff to research if County has a bilingual phone tree set up. - Potential Collaboration with Sonoma State University: Reclaiming California’s History – Smith – 15 Minutes
Commissioner Smith provided more information on a project under development that is focused on bringing marginalized or suppressed California history to the public. Possible
additional partners include the Center for Community Engagement. Target audience primarily academic: developers of curriculum of K-12, student groups, community organizations specializing in educational field.
- Outreach Updates – Estrin – 30 Minutes
- Administrative Items – Jones, Staff – 10 Minutes
Staff may provide an update on various county-based, commission-related projects, as well as review other administrative and budgetary items, as needed.- Social Media Policy – Chair Jones outlined a proposed policy for Facebook. Item was table pending further research on administrative logistics.
- Agenda submittal process and protocol – Staff reminded Commissioners about the agenda submittal process.
- Ad Hoc Committees &Liason Updates – Jones -10 Minutes
- Immigrants’ Rights – Kerosky, Cervantes, Estrin, Meraz, Rodriguez
- Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review & Outreach (IOLERO) – Cervantes, Meraz
Motion: Commissioner Rodriguez
Second: Commissioner Kerosky
Ayes: 11
Noes: 0
Absent: 2
Abstained: 2Commissioner Bjorkquist and Judkins (LOA) were absent, Commissioner McHale abstained. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair. The motion passed.
- Homelessness in Sonoma County – Kalia, Bjorkquist
- Junior Commissioner Project – Smith, McHale, Rodriguez
- Legislative Affairs – Patterson, Basler
- LGBTQI Task Force – Jones, McHale, Meraz
- People with Disabilities – Basler, Sapper
- Sonoma County Racial Justice – Liaison – Smith
- Volunteer Coordinator – Bjorkquist, McHale
- Commissioner Announcements/Communications With Supervisors/Tabling Opportunities - All - 5 Minutes
Kerosky: A new installment of My American Dreams to be broadcast October 15, 2017.
- Additional Agenda Items fpr Next Commission Meeting - Jones
- Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 8.50PM.