Commission Meeting Minutes May 23, 2017

Commissioners Present

First District: Terrence-Christopher Patterson, Howard Sapper*, Dmitra Smith (Vice Chair)
Second District: J. Kevin Jones (Chair)
Third District: Alana Marie Bjorkquist (Officer-at-Large), Akash Kalia
Fourth District: Carmen Cervantes, Rocio Rodriguez*
Fifth District: Marti Estrin, Christopher Kerosky*, Ramon Meraz (Officer-at-Large)

Commissioners Absent:

Second District: Rachel Judkins, Faith Ross
Third District: Carol McHale
Fourth District: Adam Basler,

Staff Present: Tracy Cunha, Deputy Clerk

* * Commissioner Sapper arrived at 5.55PM ; Commissioner Rodriguez was sworn in after the approval of the agenda; Commissioner Kerosky arrived at 6.05PM.

1. Call to Order – Mission Statement – Introductions – Jones

   Meeting called to order at 5.35PM.

2. Approval of the Agenda – Jones
   Approval of the May 23, 2017 Agenda
   • Motion to approve the 5-23-17 Agenda as amended to move the film screening to follow the presentation by The Living Room
     
     

     Motion: Commissioner Smith
     Second: Commissioner Meraz
     Ayes: 7
     Noes: 0
     Absent: 6
     Abstained: 1

     Commissioners Basler, Judkins, Kerosky, McHale, Ross, and Sapper were absent. Commissioner Rodriguez was not yet sworn in. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair. The motion passed.

3. Openings and Appointments – Jones
   • Staff administered of Oath to 4th District Appointee, Rocio Rodriguez
   • The Chair reported that with the addition of Commissioner Rodriguez, the positions in each District were filled.
4. Consent Calendar – Jones
   
   1. Approval of the April 25, 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: Commissioner Patterson
      Second: Commissioner Borkquist
      Ayes: 5
      Noes: 0
      Absent: 6
      Abstained: 4

      Commissioners Basler, Judkins, Kerosky, McHale, Ross, and Sapper were absent. Commissioners Kalia, Rocio, and Smith abstained due to absence. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair. The motion passed.

5. Public Comment on Non-Agendized Items – Jones
   
   • Nicolette McGowan
6. Regular Calendar – Jones
   Discussion and possible action to follow on items 4 through 9
   
   4. Guest Speaker – Cheryl Parkinson, Executive Director, The Living Room – Estrin – 30 Minutes

      Commissioner Estrin introduced Cheryl Parkinson from The Living Room, the only day center in Sonoma County specifically serving homeless and at-risk women and their children. Ms. Parkinson, members of her staff, and recipients of the services offered by The Living Room addressed the Commission on the critical need for day programs in the context of the “housing first” model.

      Motion to extend time 10 Minutes

      Motion: Commissioner Meraz
      Second: Commissioner Sapper
      Ayes: 10
      Noes: 0
      Absent: 4
      Abstained: 1

      Commissioners Basler, Judkins, McHale, and Ross, were absent. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair. The motion passed.

   5. Junior Commissioner Project – Smith – 20 Minutes – This item was moved up.
      Commissioners screened “Strong Survival,” the Human Trafficking Documentary produced by Junior Commissioner Shynie Lu.
   6. Outreach Update – Estrin – 15 Minutes (Estrin, Kalia, Ross, Sapper)
      

      Commissioner Estrin provided an update on the efforts and activities surrounding the outreach campaign of the “Indivisible” Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign. Commissioner Kalia waiting on a bid from a social media consultant on social media infrastructure. Other ideas discussed: how boosting Facebook likes could aid in raising funds; volunteers could potentially build event and awareness calendar.

      Motion to extend time 10 Minutes

      Motion: Commissioner Smith
      Second: Commissioner Bjorkquist
      Ayes: 10
      Noes: 0
      Absent: 4
      Abstained: 1

      Commissioners Basler, Judkins, McHale, and Ross, were absent. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair. The motion passed.

      When discussing remaining funds, Commissioner Smith brought up an outstanding invoice for the editing services for the Junior Commissioner human trafficking video.

      Motion to use remaining balance of $713.26 in the Junior Commissioner Project funds to pay for editing services so that the film can be used for educational purposes.

      Motion: Commissioner Patterson
      Second: Commissioner Kalia
      Ayes: 10
      Noes: 0
      Absent: 4
      Abstained: 1

      Commissioners Basler, Judkins, McHale, and Ross, were absent. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair. The motion passed.

      Motion to extend time 10 Minutes

      Motion: Commissioner Meraz
      Second: Commissioner Bjorkquist
      Ayes: 10
      Noes: 0
      Absent: 4
      Abstained: 1

      Commissioners Basler, Judkins, McHale, and Ross, were absent. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair. The motion passed.

      Outreach will request email lists from Community Engagement organizer for the purpose of distributing the PSA. Commissioner Bjorkquist reminded Commissioners to refer to the Commission as CHR and not HRC.

      Motion to purchase URL/Domain SafeSonomaCounty.org

      Motion: Commissioner Bjorkquist
      Second: Commissioner Kerosky
      Ayes: 10
      Noes: 0
      Absent: 4
      Abstained: 1

      Commissioners Basler, Judkins, McHale, and Ross, were absent. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair. The motion passed.

   7. Resolution in Support of CA AB1506 – Patterson – 7 Minutes

      Commissioner Patterson will present a proposed resolution in support of California State Assembly Bill 1506, An Act to Repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act. See link for review of the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act. Relevant materials included in agenda packet and available through the Commission office.Patterson reported he is working on a distribution list to include every member of the state assembly, the governor, lieutenant governor, and city councils. Commissioner Cervantes stated repealing the act in Contra Costa will be devastating. Commissioner Kalia stated that those impacted most by rent control are the mom and pop-type landlords.

      Motion to accept the Resolution in Support of the California State Assembly Bill 1056

      Motion: Commissioner Patterson
      Second: Commissioner Kerosky
      Ayes: 7
      Noes: 3
      Absent: 4
      Abstained: 1

      Commissioners Basler, Judkins, McHale, and Ross, were absent. Commissioners Bjorkquist, Cervantes, and Kalia voted in opposition. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair. The motion passed.

   8. Nominations for the 2017-2018 Officers – Jones – 15 Minutes

      The Chair will read the duties and qualifications of Chair, and nominations for the FY2017-2018 term, beginning July 1, 2017, will be taken from the floor. The same process shall be then followed for taking nominations for the Vice Chair and the two Officer-at-Large positions. Should there be more than one candidate for any position, each commissioner will be allowed three minutes to address the commission. The Chair will re-open nominations at the June 27, 2017 meeting, and then proceed with the election.

      Commissioner Kerosky nominated Commissioner Jones for Chair, Jones accepted.
      Commissioner Patterson nominated Commissioner Smith for Vice Chair, Smith accepted.
      Commissioner Kalia nominated Commissioner Bjorkquist for Officer-at-Large, Bjorkquist accepted.
      Commissioner Bjorkquist nominated Commissioner Kalia for Officer-at-Large, Kalia accepted.
      Commissioner Patterson nominated Commissioner Meraz

      Commissioners eligible for office:

      • Balser
      • Bjorkquist
      • Estrin
      • Jones
      • Kalia
      • McHale
      • Meraz
      • Ross
      • Smith
   9. Administrative Items – Jones, Staff – 5 Minutes

      Staff had nothing to report.

7. Ad Hoc Committees & Liaison Updates – Jones – 10 Minutes
   • Immigrants’ Rights – Kerosky, Cervantes, Estrin, Meraz
   • Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review & Outreach (IOLERO) – Cervantes, Meraz
   • Homelessness in Sonoma County – Kalia, Bjorkquist
   • Junior Commissioner Project – Smith, Judkins
   • Legislative Affairs – Patterson, Basler, Smith
   • LGBTQI Task Force – Jones, McHale, Meraz
   • People with Disabilities – Basler, Sapper
   • Sonoma County Racial Justice – Liaison – Smith
   • Volunteer Coordinator – Bjorkquist, McHale
8. Commissioner Announcements/Communications with Supervisors/Tabling Opportunities – All – 5 Minutes
   • Commissioner Meraz requested discussing reimbursement for a human rights conference he may attend while in Madrid.
9. Additional Agenda Items for Next Commission Meeting – Jones
10. Adjournment

    Meeting adjourned at 9.15PM.