Commission Meeting Minutes December 19 2017

Commissioners Present

First District: Howard Sapper, Dmitra Smith (Vice Chair)*
Second District: J. Kevin Jones (Chair)
Fourth District: Carmen Cervantes, Rocio Rodriguez
Fifth District: Marti Estrin, Christopher Kerosky, Ramon Meraz

Commissioners Absent:

First District: Terrence-Christopher Patterson
Second District: Rachel Judkins*, Faith Ross
Third District: Alana Marie Bjorkquist (Officer-at-Large), Akash Kalia (Officer-at-Large), Carol McHale
Fourth District: Adam Basler
Fifth District: Marti Estrin, Christopher Kerosky
Staff Present: Tracy Cunha, Deputy Clerk
* Commissioner Smith arrived at 5.45pm. Commissioner Judkins on leave of absence.

Call to Order – Mission Statement – Introductions – Jones
The meeting was called to order at 5.38pm.
Approval of the December 19, 2017 Agenda – Jones
- Due to Brown Act requirements, only changing the order of, or deletion of items may be allowed. New items may not be added.
  Motion to approve the 12-19-17 Agenda as amended to move the report out on homelessness (liaison update) to the top of the regular calendar.
  Motion: Commissioner Kerosky Ayes: 7 Noes: 0
  Second: Commissioner Meraz Absent: 7 Abstained: 1
  Commissioners Basler, Bjorkquist, Kalia, McHale, Patterson, and Smith were absent. Commissioner Judkins on a leave of absence. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair.
  
  The motion passed.
Consent Calendar – Jones
1. Approval of the November 28, 2017 Draft Minutes
2. Vote on Consent Calendar
  
  Motion to approve the November 28, 2017 Draft Minutes
  Motion: Commissioner Meraz Ayes: 4 Noes: 0
  Second: Commissioner Sapper Absent: 7 Abstained: 4
  Commissioners Basler, Bjorkquist, Kalia, McHale, Patterson, and Smith were absent. Commissioner Judkins on a leave of absence. Commissioners Estrin, Kerosky, and Ross abstained due to absence. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair.
  
  The motion passed.
Public Comment on Non-Agendized Items – Jones
- No members of the public addressed the Commission.
Regular Calendar – Jones
1. Report Out On Homelessness/Liaison Update – Smith, Jones
  (moved from VI Ad Hoc Committees & Liaison Updates)
  
  Commissioners Jones and Smith provided details of a tour of Camp Michaela, a homeless encampment located in Roseland, they had taken earlier in the month. Jones and Smith went on the tour at the request of current and former residents.
  
  Smith reported that the Community Development Commission (CDC) informed her that they are landlords of the property but that the conditions therein are not under their domain, but under that of the agencies that provide services to the residents.
  
  Public Comment on this item:
  - Nicole Minnuci, Camp Michaela resident
  - D. Ka’ Lani Raposa, former Camp Michaela resident
  - Susan Choco
  - Tony Rodriguez, Camp Michaela resident and captain
  Recess called by the Chair: 6.35pm. Meeting resumed at 6.58pm.
  The Chair read an email message from Margaret Van Vliet, Executive Director of the CDC that was sent to the residents of Camp Michaela (at Supervisor Hopkin’s request) that there is not yet an established date for dismantling the encampments at Roseland Village, and that there won’t be one until they are comfortable they are able to point to appropriate alternatives. The message went on to further state that the CDC will be working with the City of Santa Rosa to provide a temporary navigation center staffed with qualified service providers. The Chair indicated CHR follow the progress of the navigator once in place. Please note: the written report can be obtained from the Commission office.
2. Post-Fire Commission Priorities & Potential Areas of Focus – Jones
  The Commission reported out on results of fact-finding action items assigned at November 28, 2017 meeting:
  - Potential of inmates receiving expedited training in the building trades (Basler): in Commissioner Basler’s absence, Chair Jones shared information about vocational education offered to support incarcerated students through the transition between jail, probation, and Santa Rosa Junior College programs and services.
  - Fact-finding on duplication of efforts within the community (Meraz): Commissioner Meraz had not yet confirmed presence, or lack of presence, of similar efforts within the community.
  - Details on number of cases of price gouging (Sapper): Commissioner Sapper reported he had not yet received word from the District Attorney’s Office.
  - Suggestions on other potential educational speakers (All): Commissioner Kerosky offered to reach out to a founding member of Luther Burbank Housing to come and address the Commission.
3. Collaboration with Petaluma Community Relations Council (PCRC) – Jones, Ross
  The Chair and Commissioner Ross outlined a proposal from the Petaluma Community Relations Council (PCRC) to hold a joint public forum on January 29, 2018 at the Petaluma Regional Library. The focus would be on the housing and homelessness issues in Petaluma. Other participants will include the Petaluma People Services Center and COTS (Committee on the Shelterless). It was decided that the Commission would conduct their business meeting at 5.30pm, have a speaker from Luther Burbank Housing address the attendees from 6.00 to 6.30pm, with the Petaluma housing portion of the meeting to follow.
  Motion to change the date and venue of the Tuesday, January 23, 2018 meeting at the County Administration campus to Monday, January 29, 2018 at the Petaluma Regional Library, to be followed immediately by a forum on housing issues.
  Motion: Commissioner Ross Ayes: 8 Noes: 0
  Second: Commissioner Rocio Absent: 6 Abstained: 1
  Commissioners Basler, Bjorkquist, Kalia, McHale, and Patterson were absent. Commissioner Judkins on a leave of absence. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair.
  
  The motion passed.
  Follow-up to motion: Commissioner Smith will research potential of holding a meeting in Sonoma Valley with education as the theme. Commissioner Kerosky will do the same for a potential meeting in the 5^th District. Smith to look into headsets for translation services.
4. Potential Participation in Fundraiser with Chateau St. Jean – Sapper
  Commissioner Sapper reported that original supporters had withdrawn a proposal to create a recovery-related fundraiser at Chateau St. Jean. It was initially thought the Commission could participate in the event.
5. Administrative Items – Jones, Staff
  Chair Jones and Staff reviewed the year-end attendance report and urged Commissioners to be mindful of the two-thirds requirement in the Commission’s bylaws.
Ad Hoc Committees & Liaison Updates – Jones
- Immigrants’ Rights – Kerosky, Cervantes, Estrin, Meraz, Rodriguez
- Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review & Outreach (IOLERO) – Cervantes, Meraz
- Junior Commissioner Project – Smith, McHale, Rodriguez
- Legislative Affairs – Patterson, Basler
- LGBTQI Task Force – Jones, McHale, Meraz
- Outreach – Estrin, Kalia, Ross, Sapper
- 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
No items were discussed or shared.
Additional Agenda Items for Next Commission Meeting - Jones
No items were brought forth.
Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 8.15pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Tracy Cunha, Deputy Clerk