Commission Special Meeting Minutes April 3, 2020

Zoom Teleconferencing Meeting ID: 909-735-5086 Password: 668390

Attending:
First District: Dmitra Smith (Chair), Howard Sapper (Officer-At-Large)
Second District: Faith Ross (Vice Chair),
Fifth District: Tamara Murrell, Jerry Threet

Regrets:
Second District: Zahrya Garcia 
Fifth District: Christopher Kerosky 

1. Call to Order – Mission Statement – Introductions – Smith
   The meeting was called to order at 4:34pm
2. Approval of the April 3, 2020 Agenda – Smith
   Commissioner Threet moved to approve the Agenda as presented.
   Commissioner Murrell seconded.
   There was no discussion.
   
   All in Favor: Murrell, Ross, Sapper, Threet
   Abstaining: Smith (as Chair)
   
   MOTION CARRIED
3. Approval of the March 27, 2020 Minutes – Smith
   Commissioner Threet moved to approve the Minutes as presented.  
   Commissioner Sapper seconded.
   There was no discussion.
   
   All in Favor: Murrell, Ross, Sapper, Threet
   Abstaining: Smith (as Chair)
   
   MOTION CARRIED
4. Openings & Appointments - Smith
   • District openings in 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd (3), 4^th (3)
   • Potential new commissioners in 1^st, 4^th districts
   • Chair Smith shared that 4th District has an applicant but appointment may be delayed due to Covid-19.
5. Public Comment on Non-Agendized Items – Smith
   No public comments.
6. Regular Calendar – Smith
7. Discussion and Possible Action to Follow on Items Below:
   1. Report back from commissioners on current and developing issues – 30 minutes
      
      Reports from all 5 districts, Supervisor communications, Latino Outreach, LE, Homelessness, Food, Housing, People with Disabilities, etc.
      
      Law Enforcement/County Jail:
      Commissioner Threet reported changes to criminal court proceedings including misdemeanor bail set to $0, pending releases, felony bail set to $5K, utilizing electronic monitoring bracelets and other cases not being booked in an effort to reduce jail population and spread of Covid-19. Noted Alameda County’s presiding judge also adopted these measures, though there are still issues within the probation department.
      
      Latino Outreach:
      Chair Smith reported updates on Sonoma Valley Food Distribution and request to the County for outreach to Latino markets not utilizing social distancing or displaying signage. County signs for businesses forthcoming in English/Spanish. Huge technology access issues for remote learning in all five districts.
      
      Communicated the urgent need to Supervisors Gorin, Gore and 4th District aide Jenny Chamberlain to issue a county health directive to all vineyards with health protection requirements for employers as well as social distancing and stop the spread guidelines for workers in Spanish, as vineyard compliance is not consistent as reported by Latino Outreach coalition members. Supervisor Hopkins is lead on Ag, Gorin indicated she would communicate.
      
      Homelessness:
      Commission discussed the idea of providing PPE to frontline homelessness advocates for distribution to homeless, to health care workers and farmworkers.
      
      Commissioner Sapper indicated he was organizing an order for 10,000 surgical masks through direct vendor relationship that could be donated to the Commission. Commissioner Smith shared numbers on an order of 1,000 3.3 oz bottles of hand sanitizer and 2,000 pairs of gloves for distribution to homeless individuals and those most in need.
      
      Housing:
      Commission discussed the lack of protection for renters in the current County eviction moratorium, which expects all back rent to be paid within 60 days of the stay at home order being lifted or face eviction. For most not working, the idea that back rent could be paid back within 60 days, even with a federal stimulus check and some unemployment is not sustainable.
   2. Sonoma County Human Rights Visibility Project - 60 minutes
      Commission to review progress on Socohrvp.org and provide input on survey layout/content:
      
      Commissioners proposed various changes to survey while viewing the beta site in a walk through via shared screen:
      
      1. Looking at the definitions of gender identity in different languages with regards to translation (Murrell)
      2. Adding a “describe the incident” box (Threet)
      3. Adding Health Facility and Business to reporting sites (Murrell, Ross)
      
      Commissioner Murrell asked about accessibility for those with technology limitations. For this reason, partnership with social service, non profit and grassroots orgs will be crucial and will give them a reporting tool to assist others who can not.
      
      Commissioner Threet suggests a staging process of CHR>Service partner org feedback>public launch
8. Ad Hoc, Liaison, Project Updates – All – When Applicable
   ALL REGULAR AD HOC COMMITTEES, LIAISONS AND PROJECTS CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON SCHR VISIBILITY PROJECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
   1. Ad hoc and Standing Committees
      • Immigrants’ Rights – Kerosky
      • LGBTQ+ Rights – Murrell
      • Oral History Project – Ross, Smith, Threet
      • Outreach – All
      • Rights of People With Disabilities – Sapper
   2. Liaisons & Projects
      
      • Homelessness Liaison – Threet
      • Independent Office of Law Enforcement & Outreach Liaison – Open
      • Junior Commissioner Project – Smith, Murrell
      • Racial Justice Liaison – Smith
9. Additional Agenda Items For Next Commission Meeting – Smith  
10. Adjournment
    The meeting was adjourned at 6:03pm