Commission on Human Rights Meeting

Agenda

First District: Howard Sapper (Officer-At-Large), Dmitra Smith (Vice Chair)
Second District: J. Kevin Jones (Chair), Faith Ross
Third District: Alana Bjorkquist, Akash Kalia
Fourth District: --
Fifth District: Christopher Kerosky, Tamara Murrell

1. Call to Order – Mission Statement – Introductions – Jones
   Each Commissioner will be invited to introduce themselves and to share an act of kindness that they offered in the past week or will commit to in the coming week.
2. Approval of the April 24, 2019 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.
3. Approval of the January 22, 2019 Draft Minutes – Jones
   NOTE: The February meeting of the Commission was canceled due to storms and flood warnings; the March meeting was not able to convene due to lack of quorum. Scheduled speakers (the Junior Commission and SoCo Interfaith Council) and members of the public were in attendance and were acknowledged with any requests deferred until the Commission was able to convene in April. Commissioners in attendance: Jones, Smith, Sapper and Murrell.
4. Openings & Appointments – Jones
   • Openings in 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th (3), and 5^th
5. Public Comment on Non-Agendized Items – Jones – 15 Minutes
   • Members of the public are invited to comment on items not on the agenda. Due to Brown Act restrictions, Commissioners will be able to ask clarifying questions but will not be able to take specific action until a future date, if and when, the topic is added to a regular agenda.
6. Regular Calendar – Jones – 90 Minutes
   
   1. Speaker - Carol Gorenberg Family Law - Smith - 30 minutes
      Attorney Carol Gorenberg will provide perspectives on family court in Sonoma County from a human rights perspective.
   2. Speaker - Sanford Horowitz - Sapper - 30 minutes
      Attorney Sandy Horowitz will discuss his elder abuse and his work in defending the human rights of the elderly, and changes in the law he has been advocating.
   3. Update from Unofficial Discussion in March - Jones - 15 minutes
      Junior Commission Presentations (Human Trafficking Backpack Drive; Poverty/Food Security Food and Hygiene Drive…)
      
      Interfaith Council Request CHR support for Declaration for "Sonoma County-United in Kindness" campaign (see attachments). Anticipated vote for CHR participation.
   4. Budget request - Jones - 15 minutes
      1. Recommendation to allocate $1,000 to the Jr. Commission’s mural project, and underwrite and shortfall in fundraising efforts to ensure the mural’s completion (Smith)
      2. Recommendation to fund the printing of Welcome* posters (Smith)
         *(English and Spanish): We Welcome All Races, All Religions, All Countries of Origin, All Sexual Orientations, All Genders, All Abilities.
      3. Update and possible recommendation for funding to support Indigenous Peoples Day Project (Smith)
      4. Update and possible recommendation for funding on bus backs (Jones)
   5. Administrative Items - Jones - 15 minutes
      • Officer nomination and election process
        
7. Ad Hoc, Liaison, Project Updates – All – When Applicable – 15 Minutes
   1. Ad Hoc Committees
      • Immigrants' Rights – Kerosky
      • LGBTQI – Jones
      • Outreach – Kalia, Ross, Sapper
      • People with Disabilities – Sapper
   2. Liaisons and Projects
      • Homelessness liaisons – Bjorkquist, Kalia
      • Independent Office of Law Enforcement & Outreach liaisons – OPEN
      • Junior Commissioner Project – Smith
      • Legislative Affairs liaison – OPEN
      • Sonoma County Racial Justice liaison – Smith
8. Commissioner Announcements / Communications with Supervisors / Tabling Opportunities – All – 5 Minutes
9. Additional Agenda Items for Next Commission Meeting – Jones
10. Adjournment
    Meeting adjourned.