Commission Meeting Minutes June 26 2018

Commissioners Present:

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

Staff Present: Tracy Cunha, Deputy Clerk

* Commissioner Kerosky arrived at 5.35PM, Commissioner Sapper arrived at 5.40PM.

Call to Order – Mission Statement – Introductions – Jones
Meeting called to order at 5.33PM.
Approval of the June 26, 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 6-26-18 Agenda as amended – move regular calendar item #3 to the #2 position

Motion: Commissioner Patterson Ayes: 9 Noes: 0
Second: Commissioner Ross Absent: 2 Abstained: 1
Commissioner Sapper was absent. Commissioners Bjorkquist and Estrin abstained due to absence. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair.

The motion passed.
Approval of the May 22, 2018 Draft Minutes – Jones
(pgs 5-10)

Motion to approve the 5-22-18 Draft Minutes

Motion: Commissioner Patterson Ayes: 7 Noes: 0
Second: Commissioner Ross Absent: 1 Abstained: 3

Commissioner Sapper was absent. Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair.
The motion passed.
Openings & Appointments – Jones
- Chair reported there being one opening in each of the 2^nd, 3^rdand 4^th Districts
Public Comment on Non-Agendized Items – Jones – 15 Minutes
- No members of the public addressed the Commission
Regular Calendar – Jones
1. Guest Speaker – Kathleen Finigan, Homeless Action – Smith
  Kathleen Finigan of Homeless Action presented an update on the issues, and alleged human rights violations, faced by the Sonoma County homeless community. Her presentation included the following related documents:
  - County of Sonoma Agenda Item Summary Report from the Community Development Commission (CDC) – The Sonoma County Homeless System of Care: Best Practices for Maximizing Exits from Homelessness into Permanent Stable Housing
  - Outline of Systemic Violation of Human Rights of Homeless Individuals in Sonoma County
  - Presentation: Systemic Violation of Human Rights of Homeless Individuals in Sonoma County
  - Addendum to Homeless Action Presentation: Analysis of CDC Summary by Dr. Carolyn Epple
  Discussion points following the presentation included:
  - Bjorkquist: Concerns about ADA accommodations being met and ability to confirm number of beds available
  - Sapper: What can the Commission do? How many members of homeless community undocumented – can’t be determined because question is not asked.
  - Jones: Suggests having a conversation with the Board of Supervisors, the Community Development Commission, the Santa Rosa City Council to receive more education, ways to work together to find solutions
  - Smith: Proposed forum – homeless advocates, Supervisors, Gregory Katz from San Francisco. Round table on what’s working, what’s not.
  - Smith: Are the actions taken by Catholic Charities really working? Should they continue to be the center of resources and organization.
  Motion to extend time 10 minutes
  
  Motion: Commissioner Meraz Ayes: 11 Noes: 0
  Second: Commissioner Smith Absent: 0 Abstained: 1
  Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair.
  
  The motion passed
  - Meraz: Has spoken with Mayor Coursey. Coursey said City is overwhelmed, wants to work with CHR, but asked to push it off a month. Coursey indicated there is a program being developed.
  - Finigan/Homeless Action requested that the Commission agendize the resolution so that work on this issue can begin now
  - Patterson: What are the proposals for encampments?
  - Scott Wager/Homeless Action: Proposals have been put forth that provide a suite of services. Even a bare bones menu of services is mandated by law. Wagner broke it down into three levels ranging in cost per person from $300 to $600 per month
  Public Comment on this item:
  - Jennifer Wortz
  Chair Jones asked Commissioner Kalia about plans in the works or suggestions on how to address this or who best to speak with. Kalia suggested Catholic Charities Director of Shelter – Jennielynn Holmes, City of Santa Rosa Planning & Economic Development Director – David Guhin, and someone from the Community Development Commission.
  
  Jones asked if any Commissioners would like to take this offline and flesh out what could be put together to address the issue. Commissioners Akash, Ross, Sapper, and Smith agreed.
  
  Public Comment on this item:
  - Unidentified female
2. The Guerneville LGBTQ Community Experience – Jones
  Taylor Poff, a member of the Guerneville community provided a presentation on the experience of the LGBTQ community, especially as it involves alleged threatening and hateful behavior. This has included the continuous removal and destruction of the rainbow flag, and alleged assaults against a community member.
  
  The District Attorney, the Sheriff’s Office, and Supervisor Hopkins are all working with members of the community to resolve the matter. Poff wants to see the Sheriff’s Office engage in community policing.
  
  Discussion points included:
  - Meraz: Another Pride event to bring together straight & LGBTQ community, celebration of the history of the Russian River area
  - Patterson: Suggested the Commission hold a public meeting in Guerneville, Meraz indicated the Community Advisory Council would want to participate in such a meeting
  - Poff: Round-table workshop on diversity. Should be part of a healing process – not a town hall to vent and air complaints. Suggested time line for meeting.
  - Smith: Sonoma County Tourism heavily promotes Guerneville as an LGBTQ-friendly destination and hosts events that bring in large revenues to the County. Smith encouraged the Commission to stay abreast of this.
  - Meraz: Suggests ride-along with Guerneville Sheriff’s Deputy
3. Separation of Families at the Border – Kerosky, Smith
  The Commission was addressed by Elaine Holtz – President of the Sonoma Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) – on the actions being taken by the Federal Government at the US-Mexico border in the separation of immigrant children from their families. Holtz asked Commissioners to consider a statement of condemnation. Holtz indicated former Congresswoman and former Commission on the Status of Women Commissioner Lynn Woolsey sent a message urging the Commission to protest any efforts to dismantle the Commission. Holtz reported she would be seeking a Gold Resolution on the issue from the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.
  
  Holtz invited Ana Salgado to address the Commission and speak about her own experience.
  
  Public Comment on this item:
  - Unidentified woman & child
    - Brought child’s own toys to give to children at the border
  Discussion points included:
  - Smith: Know a medical professional traveling to the border and will deliver toys to her
  - Smith: Taking children away from parents is part and parcel of the American story. As American as apple pie -- to include indigenous people, people of color, and the Japanese during the internment
  - Sapper: Holds thousands of year of persecution in his soul. Others need to see the lights are still on in America
  - Kerosky: Read draft statement of condemnation
  - Kerosky: Reported that those who are seeking asylum are fleeing horrific circumstances and are not being allowed due process
  - Jones: Added language related to ???
  Motion to extend time 10 minutes
  Motion: Commissioner Smith Ayes: 11 Noes: 0
  Second: Commissioner Meraz Absent: 0 Abstained: 1
  Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair.
  
  The motion passed
  - Smith: Blames the previous administration for not ratifying the Convention of the Child. Reads statement read by Junior Commissioner Casey Dai.
  Motion to accept statement of condemnation as amended
  Motion: Commissioner Meraz Ayes: 10 Noes: 1
  Second: Commissioner Kerosky Absent: 0 Abstained: 1
  Commissioner Patterson opposed. Jones abstained as Chair.
  
  The motion passed
  Commissioner Ross asked who would receive the statement. Commissioner Meraz suggested sending it to the California Association of Human Relations Organizations (CAHRO) for distribution among members. Commissioners Kerosky and Smith to work on distribution list and press release.
  Related documents from Elaine Holtz:
  - Request from Elaine Holtz
  - Press release from Senator Mike McGuire – Statement on Trump Administration’s Immigration Policy Separating Children from Families
  - Statement from Human Rights Junior Commissioner, Casey Dai
  - United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child
  - Proposed Statement of Condemnation by Commission
  Recess at 7.55PM. Reconvened at 8.12PM.
4. Change in Administrative Support of the Commission – Jones, Staff
  The 2018-19 County budget approved by the Board of Supervisors eliminated the position of support for the Commissions on Human Rights and the Status of Women. Chair Jones announced that Deputy Clerk Tracy Cunha would be leaving the position as a result of the elimination. Following statements and accolades by various Commissioners directed at Cunha, Jones discussed the need for having a strategic planning session in July.
  
  Jones described a proposed structure with one-third of Commissioners supporting the Junior Commissioner Project; one-third working on outreach; and one-third working on legislative issues.
  
  Discussion points included:
  - Could both Commissions pool funding for a part-time administrator
  - Sapper: Can volunteers and/or interns be demanded; can we organize and approach the Board of Supervisors? This is a devaluation of all we do.
  - Meraz: Might result in more coordination and collaboration with the Commission on the Status of Women
  - Smith: Cannot run Junior Commission without staff support. Spends 100 hours per year on her own. Youth need to have hope that they can truly make a change. Smith asked Commissioners to step up to the plate and mentor a JC ad hoc committee.
  - Bjorkquist: What other comparable bodies are there for people with grievances to go to in the community? Views this as a devaluation of the Commission’s work.
  Public Comment on this item:
  - Elaine Holtz
  - Scott Wagner
  - Susan Lamont
  - Kathleen Finigan
  - ??? Gentlemen from Peace & Justice Center
  Related documents included:
  - Letter from Christina Cramer, Director, County of Sonoma Human Resources Department
  - Impact of this loss of support on the functions and priorities of the Commission
  - Interim and long term structures
  - Date of July strategy planning session
5. Elections of Officers for 2018-2019 – Jones
  
  The Chair read the duties and qualifications of Chair, Vice Chair, and Officer-at-Large. Jones reminded the Commission that there were two nomination on the table – himself as Chair, and Commissioner Smith as Vice Chair. The Chair asked if there were any additional nominations for those two positions. There were none.
  
  Commissioner Kalia nominated Commissioner Sapper for the position of Officer-at-Large. Sapper accepted.
  
  The slate of Commissioner Jones as Chair, Commissioner Smith as Vice Chair, and Commissioner Sapper as Officer-at-Large passed unanimously.
6. Administrative Report – Jones, Staff
  - Review of Final 2017-18 Commission Budget
  Motion to move $498.63 from General Funds to the Junior Commissioner Project Funds
  Motion: Commissioner Akash Ayes: 11 Noes: 0
  Second: Commissioner Sapper Absent: 0 Abstained: 1
  Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair.
  
  The motion passed
  - Determination of future storage needs and costs
  Motion to approve the increase in rates from StoragePro to an annual expense of $918
  Motion: Commissioner Patterson Ayes: 11 Noes: 0
  Second: Commissioner Kalia Absent: 0 Abstained: 1
  Commissioner Jones abstained as Chair.
  
  The motion passed
Ad Hoc, Liaison, Project Updates – All – When Applicable – 15 Minutes
1. Ad Hoc Committees
  - Immigrants’ Rights – Cervantes, Estrin, Kerosky, Meraz, Rodriguez – nothing to report
  - LGBTQI – Jones, Meraz – Tabled at Pride festival in Santa Rosa
  - Outreach – Estrin, Kalia, Ross, Sapper – Shirts have been ordered
  - People with Disabilities – Sapper – Working with a 4^th District constituent at the request of that office
2. Liaisons & Projects
  - Homeless liaison – Bjorkquist, Kalia – Presentation covered topic
  - Independent Office of Law Enforcement & Outreach liaison – Cervantes, Meraz – Report sent electronically to Commissioners
  - Junior Commissioner Project – Smith, Rodriguez – Reported out on graduation and incoming needs
  - Legislative Affairs liaison – Patterson – Announced that his last meeting would be in July as he is relocating to Wisconsin
  - Sonoma County Racial Justice liaison – Smith – Retooling legislation for SB75
Commissioner Announcements/Communications with Supervisors/Tabling Opportunities – All - 5 Minutes
1. Tabling Opportunity
  - Families Belong Together Rally in Courthouse Square on June 30, 2018, 10.00AM to 12.30PM
2. Commissioner Rocio announced she this was her last meeting; resigning to pursue her graduate degree at Columbia University
Additional Agenda Items for Next Commission Meeting - Jones
None were requested
Adjournment
Meeting adjourned by the Chair at 9.30PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Tracy Cunha, Deputy Clerk