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Commission on Human Rights
County Of Sonoma › Administrative Support & Fiscal Services › Human Resources › Boards, Commissions and Committees › Commission on Human Rights › Commission Meeting Minutes December 28 2021
Commission on Human Rights

Commission Meeting Minutes December 28, 2021

Commissioners Present:
First District: Howard Sapper (Officer-at-Large), Kathleen Finigan, Omar Paz Jr.
Second District: Elizabeth Escalante (Vice Chair), Iliana Madrigal
Third District: Katrina Phillips (Chair), Ana Horta Fourth District: Rosa Reynoza, Paulina Lopez
Fifth District: Lyndsey Burcina (Officer-at-Large)
 Staff: Meira Bowcut, Admin Aide

Commissioners Absent:
Third District: Isabel Lopez

*Commissioner Burcina arrived at approximately at 5:38PM

Meeting held through publicly available link via Zoom Meeting

  1. CALL TO ORDER – MISSION STATEMENT – ROLL CALL – PHILLIPS

    2. Meeting called to order by Chair Phillips at 5:35PM. Roll call was taken by staff. Spanish translation services were provided to members of the public by Oscar Cano, Managing Partner of The Grey Highlander Corporation.
  2. APPROVAL OF THE NOVEMBER 23, 2021 AGENDA – PHILLIPS

    3. Motion: Commissioner Paulina Lopez

    Ayes: 9

    Noes: 0

    Second: Commissioner Sapper

    Absent: 1

    Abstained: 1

    Commissioner Isabel Lopez was absent. Chair Phillips abstained as Chair. Motioned passed.

  3. APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 26, 2021 MINUTES – PHILLIPS
    Motion: Commissioner Sapper Ayes: 6 Noes: 0
    Second: Commissioner Madrigal Absent: 1 Abstained: 4

    Commissioner Isabel Lopez was absent. Commissioners Horta, Paz, and Burcina abstained. Chair Phillips abstained as Chair. Motioned passed.
  4. OPENINGS & APPOINTMENTS – PHILLIPS

    5. The Chair reported three openings –one in the Fourth District, and two in the Fifth District.

  5. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS – PHILLIPS

    6. Anita LaFollette

  6. REGULAR CALENDAR

    7. Discussion and possible action on items below

    1. Donation to Sonoma Act of Kindness
      Commissioner Paulina Lopez is requesting a donation for Sonoma Act of Kindness given the crisis with our homeless neighbors.
      Commissioner Madrigal asked about budget and Staff clarified that there’s $3,000 available because outreach and events haven’t occurred this fiscal year.

      Commissioner Finigan asked to see the Work Plan and staff will email it out once she retrieves it.

      2. Commissioner Reynoza proposed $1,000-$1,500 to donate. Commissioners Horta and Sapper agreed with the amount.
      Public Comment
      Anita LaFollette No action was taken.

    2. Donation to Everyone Is A Star Foundation
      Commissioner Sapper introduced Everybody Is A Star Foundation as a nonprofit with a goal to give special needs individuals of all ages the opportunity to express themselves through the arts. This organization takes individuals to a Warrior Game and give them a lifetime experience.
      3. Chair Phillips opened the discussion to proposed an amount for donation towards tickets for individuals to attend the Warriors Game. Commissioners suggested to increase their social media advertisement for this charity and that would increase the help. No amount was mentioned for donation.
      No Public Comment
      No action was taken.
    3. Community Spotlight
      This month’s feature guest was Annie Falandes. Commissioner Sapper introduced Annie Falandes as a champion for giving so much to the community. Annie shared her personal experience and her journey to helping the homeless population. She created her own non- profit, Homeless Action Sonoma. Commissioner Sapper wrapped up the community spotlight with reading a resolution in honor to Annie Falandes.
      4. Public Comment:
      Carol Allison
      Ken Brown
      Commissioner Finigan commented how Annie’s work is one of a kind.
      Chair Phillips and Commissioner Horta voiced their appreciation for Annie’s work. Motion to approve Annie Falandes’ Resolution.
      Motion: Commissioner Madrigal Ayes: 9 Noes: 0
      Second: Commissioner Paulina Lopez Absent: 1 Abstained: 1

    4. Panel of Sheriff Candidates
      Chair Phillip reported out that she has met with 2 sheriff candidates and will meet with 2 more after the New Year. She shared with the commission what she has been telling the candidates. Chair Phillips proposed a panel for the community via zoom.

      5. Commissioner Reynoza liked the idea of inviting the candidates, supported this idea, and was willing to help in any way possible.
      Commissioner Paulina Lopez asked for clarification on endorsement. Chair Phillips mentioned that the commission can’t endorse a candidate.
      Commissioner Paz supported this idea and he was excited for the collaboration with other community organization. He proposed a 2-3 month out event and commission and public submission questions.
      Commissioner Finigan supports this idea. No action was taken.  

    5. Creating an Indigenous People Ad Hoc
      Chair Phillip asked for volunteers for the indigenous people ad hoc.

      6. Commissioner Paz asked for a refresher for the intent of the ad hoc. Vice Chair gave a brief overview of the resolution and how they are attempting to invite community members on the creation of the ad hoc.
      Discussion on the technicalities of the type of the ad hoc.
      Commissioner Sapper reminded the commission that there is a group that D’Mitra helped set up. The ad hoc can use this committee.
      Discussion on taking D’Mitra’s resolution to the BOS.
      No Public Comment. No action was taken. 

    6. Sonoma Developmental Center Update
      Commissioner Sapper reported out on the Sonoma Developmental Center. He described the 3 proposed projects. Commissioner Sapper strongly believed that this land issue is the most important in Sonoma County. Commissioner Sapper proposed to write a statement.

      7. Discussion on how this is a District 1 issue, but Commission Paz suggested to write a statement involving all Districts. Commissioners Paz, Finigan and Horta offered their assistance on writing the statement with Commissioner Sapper.
      No Public Comment
      No motion was taken on this item.  

    7. Homeless Situation in Guerneville
      Commissioner Finigan reported out in regards to the homeless being out in the cold in Guerneville, but shifted her location to all Sonoma County. Sonoma County is expecting four freezing temperature days and she fears that many will die due to this.

      8. Commissioner Finigan asked the commission to approve a statement asking for shelters.
      Commissioner Madrigal commented that there’s no press release and no announcement of warm centers for 11 days.
      Commissioner Paulina suggested to add more pressure in the statement to get immediate results and Commissioner Horta recommended to ask for more outreach so the community know where the warming centers are located.
      Public Comment
      Anita LaFollette
      A motion to release an emergency statement in regards to opening up warming stations during these freezing temperatures once the approval from the officers.

      Motion: Commissioner Madrigal

      Ayes: 9

      Noes: 0

      Second: Commissioner Horta

      Absent: 1

      Abstained: 1

      Commissioner Isabel Lopez was absent. Chair Phillips abstained as Chair. Motioned passed.

  7. ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING – PHILLIPS
    1. To have concrete events for 2022 tabling
    2. ALMAS Resolution
  8. ADJOURNMENT

    9. The meeting adjourned at 7:58PM