Commission Meeting Minutes January 29 2018

Commissioners Present

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

Commissioners Absent:

First District: Terrence-Christopher Patterson
Second District: Rachel Judkins*
Third District: Alana Marie Bjorkquist (Officer-at-Large), Carol McHale  
Fifth District: Christopher Kerosky

Staff Present: Tracy Cunha, Deputy Clerk

* Commissioner Estrin arrived at 5.43. Commissioner Judkins on leave of absence.

1. Call to Order – Mission Statement – Introductions – Jones
2. Approval of the January 29, 2018 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 1-29-18 Agenda as amended to remove item V(2) Know Your Rights due to the absence of Commissioner Kerosky

     Motion: Commissioner Smith          Ayes: 7            Noes: 0   
     Second: Commissioner Ross          Absent: 6         Abstained: 2

     Commissioners Bjorkquist, Estrin, Kerosky, McHale, and Patterson were absent. Commissioner Judkins on a leave of absence. Commissioner Basler abstained. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair.
     
     The motion passed.

3. Approval of the December 19, 2017 Draft Minutes – Jones   
    
   

   Motion to approve the 12-19-17 Draft Minutes

   Motion: Commissioner Smith             Ayes: 5            Noes: 0
   Second: Commissioner Sapper          Absent: 6         Abstained: 4

   Commissioners Bjorkquist, Estrin, Kerosky, McHale, and Patterson were absent. Commissioner Judkins on a leave of absence. Commissioners Basler, Kalia, and Ross abstained due to absence. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair.
   
   The motion passed.
4. Public Comment on Non-Agendized Items – Jones
   
   • No members of the public addressed the Commission.
5. Regular Calendar – Jones
   1. Ad Hoc, Liaison & Project 2018 Updates – Jones   
      

      The Chair will ask each ad hoc, liaison, and project committee to provide no more than a two minute status update.

         

      Ad hoc committees:

      • Immigrants’ Rights – no update provided
      • LGBTQI – no update provided
      • Legislative Affairs – no update provided
      • Outreach – no update provided
      • People with Disabilities – Commissioner Sapper met with Supervisor Gore to discuss full inclusion playgrounds.
       

      Liaisons & Coordinators:

      • Homelessness – Commissioner Smith reported out on her meeting with Supervisor Hopkins to discuss the Roseland encampment.
      • Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review & Outreach – Commissioner Meraz reported that the Community Advisory Council of IOLERO is putting together a list of recommendations to present to the Sheriff’s Office. Commissioner Cervantes submitted meeting notes (attached).
      • Sonoma County Racial Justice – Commissioner Smith working with a group “Save Your VI,” a campaign to end racial harassment in schools.
      • Volunteer Coordinator – no update provided.
       

      Project committees:

      • Junior Commissioner Project – Commissioner Smith reported on the various community service projects the Juniors are working on.

   2. U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) Raids/Know Your Rights – Kerosky – 3 Minutes – Removed from agenda.

      Commissioner Kerosky will provide some information related to the legal rights of those potentially detained during an ICE raid.
   3. Administrative Report – Jones, Staff
      No administrative report was needed. The screening of the Commission’s Safe Sonoma County Public Service Announcement was played for the audience.
6. 6:00pm: Forum: Petaluma Housing Crunch   

   The Petaluma Community Relations Council (PCRC) teamed up with the Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights (SCCHR) and hosted a two-hour public forum addressing Petaluma’s Housing crisis.

   The meeting also included a representative from North Bay Organizing Project (NBOP), Gabriela Orantes, who facilitated the Question & Answer of the forum.

   The speakers included:

   • “James,” a former member of the homeless community who shared some challenges he and others face regarding housing.
   • Mike Johnson, Chief Executive Officer – COTS (Committee on the Shelterless) spoke about his past experiences as a homeless individual, and discuss the needs for the nearly 10% of Petaluma’s population who live in poverty. He also addressed the stigma attached to being “poor.”
   • Jane Hamilton, Executive Director – Rebuilding Together Petaluma addressed the challenges facing seniors in Petaluma and reported that there were 60 projects per year that over 600 volunteers are currently working on.
   • Elece Hempel, Executive Director – Petaluma People Services Center spoke  about Community Development funding and Fair Housing issues.
   • Sue Castellucci, Housing Coordinator, Housing Division – City of Petaluma, talked about Block Grant Funds, and the city’s status as an “Entitlement Community,” and shared stories of public/private partnership successes in the past.
   • David Rabbitt, 2^nd District Supervisor – Sonoma County Board of Supervisors – representing Petaluma, Cotati, a portion of Rohnert Park, as well as the unincorporated communities of Penngrove, Two Rock, Bloomfield, and a portion of the unincorporated community south of Sebastopol – addressed the current housing climate, what the County is planning, and what he knows some of the problems and obstacles to be.
    
   • Gabriel Orantes – North Bay Organizing Project (NBOP) spoke about Just Cause Eviction.
7. Commissioner Announcements/Communications With Supervisors/Tabling Opportunities - All  
   None were reported.
8. Additional Agenda Items for Next Commission Meeting - Jones  
   1. Future forum topics
9. Adjournment
   

   Meeting was adjourned at 7.50PM.
   Respectfully submitted,
   Tracy Cunha, Deputy Clerk