Commission Meeting Minutes November 28 2017

Commissioners Present

First District: Terrence-Christopher Patterson, Howard Sapper, Dmitra Smith (Vice Chair)
Second District: J. Kevin Jones (Chair)
Third District: Akash Kalia (Officer-at-Large), Carol McHale
Fourth District: Adam Basler, Carmen Cervantes, Rocio Rodriguez
Fifth District: Ramon Meraz*

Commissioners Absent:

Second District: Rachel Judkins*, Faith Ross
Third District: Alana Marie Bjorkquist (Officer-at-Large)
Fifth District: Marti Estrin, Christopher Kerosky
Staff Present: Tracy Cunha, Deputy Clerk

* Commissioner Meraz arrived at 6.08pm, Commissioner Judkins on leave of absence.

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

   Meeting called to order at 5.34PM.

2. Approval of the November 28, 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: Commissioner Patterson
     Second: Commissioner McHale
     Ayes: 8 Noes: 0
     Absent: 6
     Abstained: 1

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

3. Consent Calendar – Jones
   1. Approval of the September 26, 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 to include the August 22, 2017 Draft Minutes

      Motion: Commissioner Kalia
      Second: Commissioner Sapper
      Ayes: 6
      Noes: 0
      Absent: 6
      Abstained: 3

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

4. Public Comment on Non-Agendized Items – Jones
   
   • Dewayne Dewitt
5. Regular Calendar – Jones
   Discussion and possible action to follow on items 4 and 5.
   1. Post-Fire Commission Priorities – Jones – 90 Minutes
      The Commission will discuss perspectives on how the events surrounding the devastating fire and subsequent relief and rebuilding efforts can and should impact our work over the coming 12-18 months, with a particular focus on the needs of communities who were at the margins or vulnerable prior to the fire, such as people living without shelter, people with food security issues, people living with disabilities, elderly, undocumented, and others whose voices are not always heard.

      The discussions raised several points, questions, concerns, and ideas:

      • Confirmation of where funds being raised by various entities are actually going
      • Suggestion on the reduction of impact fees paid by developers for affordable housing units
      • Invite SR City Manager, Permit Sonoma Director, Community Development Manager from the Community Development Commission, and housing advocates to a future meeting discuss and educate on housing policy and how its formulated
      • Fact-finding required to ensure no duplication of efforts within the community

      The Chair suggested a review of district by district to determine who were the heroes out there providing services to be used as resources for the Commission’s SafeSonoma resource page in progress.
      Other action items to be undertaken and reported out on at December 19, 2017 meeting:

      • Basler: Potential of inmates receiving expedited training in the building trades
      • Meraz: Fact-finding on duplication of efforts within the community
      • Sapper: Details on number of cases of price gouging
      • All Commissioners: Suggestions on other potential educational speakers
   2. Administrative Items – Jones, Staff – 10 Minutes
      • Holiday Social (December or January) – Staff to send out a Doodle survey to determine a January date for a social gathering
      • Storage Unit Organization – Disposition of Safe Sonoma County t-shirts – Officers to convene at a future Officers Meeting to assist in organization efforts
      • Reminder: December meeting 12-19-17
6. Ad Hoc Committees & Liason Updates – Jones -15 Minutes
   • Immigrants’ Rights – Kerosky, Cervantes, Estrin, Meraz, Rodriguez
   • Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review & Outreach (IOLERO) – Cervantes, Meraz
     Invitation to participate in conversations with the Sheriff’s Office and the Community Advisory Council of IOLERO concerning law enforcement’s role in addressing homelessness and immigrants’ rights. Meetings to take place on December 4, 2017 and January 8, 2018.
   • 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
7. Commissioner Announcements/Communications With Supervisors/Tabling Opportunities - All - 5 Minutes
8. Additional Agenda Items fpr Next Commission Meeting - Jones
   Chateau St. Jean Fundraiser – Sapper
9. Adjournment
   Meeting adjourned at 8.05PM.