Commission Special Meeting Minutes March 20, 2020

Zoom Teleconferencing Meeting ID: 565-877-267 Password: 580786

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

Junior Commissioners: Billotte, Garay, Kelleher, Makaryan

1. Call to Order – Mission Statement – Introductions – Smith
   The meeting was called to order at 3:03pm
2. Approval of the March 20, 2020 Agenda – Smith
   Commissioner Sapper moved to approve the agenda as presented.
   Commissioner Murrell seconded.
   There was no discussion.
   
   All in Favor: Garcia, Kerosky, Murrell, Ross, Sapper, Threet
   Abstaining: Smith (as Chair)
   
   MOTION CARRIED
3. Approval of the January 28, 2020 Minutes – Smith
   Postponed to next meeting. February meeting cancelled due to Covid-19 outbreak.
4. Public Comment on Non-Agendized Items – Smith
   • No public comment
5. Regular Calendar – Smith
6. Discussion and Possible Action to Follow on Items Below:
   1. Covid-19 Impacts and Support for Frontline Communities – 75 minutes
      Commission to hold discussion on current and developing issues and possible votes on actions to support front line communities and providers. Include communication with Supervisors and/or other elected officials.
      
      Chair Smith reported:
      
      
      • Situational awareness report and statistics from District 4 Supervisor James Gore and Latino Community Outreach meeting 3/20/20.
      • Current situation on unsheltered population and Covid-19 measures to address this population for at Los Guilicos, small encampments and individuals from 3/19/20 meeting with Chris Grabill.
        
        
      The Commission discussed Covid-19 impact, developing issues, service needs, and local, county, state and federal response, highlighted needs in frontline communities in the following areas:
      
      
      • Economic, Food Insecurity and Housing - All
      • Homeless individuals – Smith
      • Spanish speaking Immigrant community/Farmworkers -- Garcia/Kerosky
      • Incarcerated individuals/Law Enforcement – Threet
      • Mental Health and Seniors – Murrell
      • People with Disabilities – Sapper
        
      Based on the scope and emergency of the Covid-19 outbreak, and the Commission’s sense of urgency to provide a tangible service which could:
      
      
      • Give visibility to human rights issues that might not have adequate visibility during the outbreak
      • Give voice to frontline communities and allow people to tell their stories
      • Shine a light on human rights abuses during Covid-19 and ongoing
      • Support partner orgs in advocacy for clients
      • Provide statistical data to unequivocally support the need for institutional, equity-based, systemic change post-outbreak.
        
        
      Chair Smith noted the Commission attempted to create a similar reporting system several years back but the idea was tabled due to concerns about not being able to address each issue. And reinforced the need to clearly state the purpose of the website as a tracking and data collection tool.
      
      Chair entertained a motion to vote for an additional 20 minutes at 4:30pm.
      Commissioner Sapper so moved.
      Commissioner Murrell seconded. 
      There was no discussion.
      
      All in favor: Garcia, Kerosky, Murrell, Ross, Sapper, Threet
      Abstaining: Smith (as Chair)
      
      MOTION CARRIED
      
      Chair Smith entertained a motion to establish and develop a human rights incident reporting website and a full shift of commission focus to completing, launching and promoting it as soon as possible.
      
      Commissioner Threet moved to establish the project.
      Commissioner Ross seconded.
      There was no discussion.
      
      All in favor: Garcia, Kerosky, Murrell, Ross, Sapper, Threet
      Abstaining: Smith (as Chair)
      
      MOTION CARRIED
7. Ad Hoc, Liaison, Project Updates – All – When Applicable
   ALL REGULAR AD HOC COMMITTEES, LIAISONS AND PROJECTS CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON COVID-19 OUTBREAK UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
   1. Ad hoc and Standing Committees - All re-directed to Human Rights Reporting Project
      • Immigrants’ Rights – Kerosky
      • LGBTQ+ Rights – Murrell
      • Oral History Project – Ross, Smith, Threet
      • Outreach – All
      • Rights of People With Disabilities – Sapper
   2. Liaisons & Projects - re-directed to Human Rights Reporting Project
      
      • Homelessness Liaison – Threet
      • Independent Office of Law Enforcement & Outreach Liaison – Open
      • Junior Commissioner Project – Smith, Murrell
      • Racial Justice Liaison – Smith
8. Additional Agenda Items For Next Commission Meeting – Smith
9. Adjournment
   The meeting was adjourned at 4:50pm