Commission Special Meeting Minutes March 27, 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),
Fifth District: Tamara Murrell, Christopher Kerosky, Jerry Threet

Regrets:
Second District: Zahrya Garcia (call dropped due to technical issues)
Fifth District: Christopher Kerosky (call dropped due to technical issues)

Call to Order – Mission Statement – Introductions – Smith
The meeting was called to order at 2:03pm
Approval of the March 27, 2020 Agenda – Smith
Commissioner Ross moved to approve the agenda as presented.
Commissioner Threet seconded.
There was no discussion.

All in Favor: Ross, Sapper, Threet
Abstaining: Smith (as Chair)

MOTION CARRIED
Approval of the March 20, 2020 Minutes – Smith
Approval of the January 28, 2020 Minutes – Smith
Commissioner Ross moved to approve the Minutes as presented.
Commissioner Threet seconded.
There was no discussion.

All in Favor: Ross, Sapper, Threet
Abstaining: Smith (as Chair)

MOTION CARRIED
Public Comment on Non-Agendized Items – Smith
- Member of the public, K. Rhinehart, attended and expressed gratitude and support for the work of the Commission during such challenging times.
- Member of the public, J. Talaugon, attended and expressed interest in applying for 1st district position. Chair Smith connected her with Supervisor Gorin’s office and provided application.
Regular Calendar – Smith
Discussion and Possible Action to Follow on Items Below:
1. Sonoma County Human Rights Visibility Project — ALL
  Project Purpose:
  - Give visibility to human rights issues that might not have adequate visibility during Covid-19
  - Give voice to frontline/most vulnerable communities and allow people to tell their stories
  - Allow service orgs to report for those without access to computers/internet
  - Support partner orgs in advocacy for client demographics with evidence based data
  - Allows the Commission to share statistical data with the BOS and service partners to unequivocally support the need for institutional, equity-based, systemic change post-outbreak, echoing Supervisor Gore.
  - Allows service orgs and county agencies to review, analyze data, identify problem areas and address them proactively, reducing liability, identifying service gaps that may infringe on civil rights and increasing protections for residents.
  Method: Track human rights problem areas and/or violations by type and severity with public comment by year, aids in reports to BOS and helps partner orgs in advocacy for funding and policy at the local, state and federal level.
  
  Timeline: Launch by April 15th(sooner if possible)
  
  Research: reviewed existing human rights trackers and others, examples:
  
  Stop AAPI Hate Covid-19 Website
  Hatewatch
  
  Data Collection System: Survey Monkey vs Google Forms
  
  Quick table comparison here
  
  Prefer Survey Monkey--used before on the school climate survey-- more options, better graphics/design options, speaks 55 languages.
  - Commissioner Threet agreed with simple reporting method similar to Stop AAPI Hate website and suggested drop down boxes with commentary.
  - Commissioner Ross likes the look of the AAPI format and the ease of access.
  - Commissioners prefer Survey Monkey both for confidentiality and Wordpress compatibility.
  - Website will be designed by Technology High student and Junior Commissioner Idan Kashani who designed the SocoImm.org site.
  Data Organization:
  
  Organize survey by HR areas reported to the Commission by the public and service orgs, using UDHR articles as a guide. There will be crossover--Example: a hospitality worker reporting sexual assault might choose Employment and Labor or Personal Safety.
  
  Before clicking topics, survey asks if the participant to identify the following:
  
  Are you: experiencing homelessness?—a member of the LGBTQ community? -- Trans or gender non-conforming? -- currently incarcerated? -- a member of an indigenous tribal group? A person with disabilities? -- undocumented or DACA recipient? -- reporting on behalf of someone else?
  
  Liability/Confidentiality Protection:
  
  Personal information is requested but not required. Splash page clearly states that information is to be used for data, education and awareness and information will not be shared. Splash page states that the Commission can not respond to entries, and advises anyone in personal danger to call 911. Modeled closely on Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council language(Stop AAPI Hate website).
  
  Proposed reporting area boxes and sub sets to check (all include Other as well):
  
  Criminal Justice System (DA, Criminal Court, Police Departments, Sheriff Patrol, Probation, Attorney General)
  
  Employment and Labor: Wage Violations/Job Health and Safety/Worker Organizing
  
  Education: School Climate/Civil Rights Protections/Special Education/Accessibility
  
  Family Courts: Child Custody/Divorce and Separation
  
  Health Care: Access/Availability/Denial of Care
  
  Homelessness: Access to Services/Shelter Conditions/Quality of Supports
  
  Housing: Evictions/Rental Conditions/Landlord Harassment
  
  Immigration: ICE/County Systems/Exploitation
  
  Incarceration: Solitary Confinement/Abuse in Detention/Access to Medical Care/
  
  Law Enforcement: Use of Force/Profiling/Inaccurate reporting
  
  LGBTQ+ Rights: Discrimination/Family/Courts/LE/Trans Rights/Crackdown on Activism
  
  Mental Health: collaborating with Sean Bolan, Wellness and Advoacy Center Goodwill Redwood Empire on topics
  
  People with Disabilities: Bullying/LE interaction/Need for services/Housing/Employment
  
  Personal Safety: Child Abuse/Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault/Human Trafficking/Elder Abuse
  
  Include but not required:
  
  Date, time, place of occurrence, etc.
  
  Witnesses, if any, willing to be identified
  
  Perpetrator, offenders impacting the complainant's Human Rights.
  
  Additional comment section for all areas
  
  Ask permission to share information with referral agencies if needed for further assistance.
  
  Questions/Feedback:
  
  CHR will review and refine, and share the survey with frontline community partner orgs before launch.
  
  Budget:
  
  Chair Smith reviewed current budget balance as of 3/25/20, adding in recent expenses submitted to county, Coffee funds etc. Chair reviewed Survey Monkey plans with Commissioners and identified most affordable plan that includes multiple languages for non-profit/educational use.
  
  Chair Smith entertained a motion to approve $1,188.00 for 12 months of Survey Monkey, with Commission to vote yearly on extending the plan for another 12 months as needed.
  
  Commissioner Threet so moved.
  Commissioner Sapper seconded.
  There was no discussion.
  
  All in favor: Ross, Sapper, Threet
  Abstaining: Smith(as Chair)
  
  MOTION CARRIED.
Ad Hoc, Liaison, Project Updates – All – When Applicable
ALL REGULAR AD HOC COMMITTEES, LIAISONS AND PROJECTS CURRENTLY MOVED TO 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
Additional Agenda Items For Next Commission Meeting – Smith
Next meeting Friday April 3rd via Zoom, agenda to be submitted to County ASAP.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 3:25pm