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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 November 23 2021
Commission on Human Rights

Commission Meeting Minutes November 23, 2021

Commissioners Present:
First District: Howard Sapper (Officer-at-Large), Kathleen Finigan, Second District: Elizabeth Escalante (Vice Chair), Iliana Madrigal Third District: Katrina Phillips (Chair), Isabel Lopez
Fourth District: Rosa Reynoza, Paulina Lopez
Staff: Meira Bowcut

Commissioners Absent:

First District: Omar Paz Jr.
Fifth District: Lyndsey Burcina (Officer-at-Large)

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 Sapper

    Ayes: 7

    Noes: 0

    Second: Vice Chair Escalante

    Absent: 2

    Abstained: 1


    Commissioner Paz and Burcina were absent. Chair Phillips abstained as Chair. Motioned passed.
  3. APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 26, 2021 MINUTES – PHILLIPS

    4. Motion: Commissioner Sapper

    Ayes: 7

    Noes: 0

    Second: Commissioner Madrigal

    Absent: 2

    Abstained: 1


    Commissioner Paz and Burcina were absent. Chair Phillips abstained as Chair. Motioned passed.

  4. OPENINGS & APPOINTMENTS – PHILLIPS

    5. The Chair reported there were four openings –one in the Third District, one in the Fourth District, and two in the Fifth District.
  5. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS – PHILLIPS

    6. No members of the public addressed the Commission
  6. REGULAR CALENDAR

    7. Discussion and possible action on items below

    1. December 28, 2021 Meeting
      Chair Phillips lead the discussion to have the December 28, 2021 meeting as scheduled. Commissioner Sapper supports having the meeting. Commissioner Madrigal supports having the meeting via zoom due to the unknown of the pandemic. No motion was done for this item due to the support of keeping the regular scheduled meeting.
    2. Sponsorship for Human Trafficking Task Force Billboard Project
      Chair Phillips proposed a sponsorship of $350 for Human Trafficking Task Force Billboard. She described the billboard image. Commissioner Paulina Lopez asked if the billboard will have a hotline number. Chair Phillips confirmed that it will and it will also be translated in Spanish. Commissioner Finigan inquired of the location of the billboard and Chair Phillips informed her that it will be off of Highway 101 in between Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa. Motion to approve the $350 expenditure.
      • Public Comment

      3. Motion: Commissioner Reynoza

      Ayes: 7

      Noes: 0

      Second: Commissioner Paulina Lopez

      Absent: 2

      Abstained: 1

      Commissioner Paz and Burcina were absent. Chair Phillips abstained as Chair. Motioned passed.

    3. Copperwoman Presentation
      Commissioner Finigan introduced Copperwoman as a song catcher. Copperwoman sang a song for the Commission. The song described her living situation that she is currently experiencing. Permit Sonoma is requiring her to have a Septic tank for the water. It’s too costly to be hooked up to the tank. This will cause her to get evicted and lose her tiny house. She is asking to change the laws.

      4. Commissioner Finigan announced a fundraiser event that will be on December 12th at 1pm at Arlene Francis Center. The fundraiser is to help with the fines of the property where Copperwoman’s tiny house is located.

      Appreciation for the song was voiced by the commissioners.

    4. Dmitra Smith’s Resolution
      Vice Chair Escalante read the resolution. Discussion on writing a letter and bringing the resolution to the Board of Supervisors. Commissioner Reynoza brought up education as being the first step to changing the views on Indigenous history. Ethics studies is now required for high school students, but is not enough. Discussion on starting an ad hoc to educate the public of Indigenous people and invite the public to participate. Motion to speak further on establishing an ad hoc committee with Human Rights Commissioners and members of the public to participate in the elevation of Indigenous voices.

       

      Public Comment

        • Sarah
        • Evette Minor

      Motion: Commissioner Madrigal

      Ayes: 7

      Noes: 0

      Second: Commissioner Paulina Lopez

      Absent: 2

      Abstained: 1

      Commissioner Paz and Burcina were absent. Chair Phillips abstained as Chair. Motioned passed.

    5. Community Spotlight
      This month’s feature guest is Evette Minor. Vice Chair Escalante read the resolution for Evette Minor. Evette Minor is being recognized for her community involvement and remarkable compassion for Human Rights for marginalized communities in Sonoma County.

      6. Commissioners voiced their appreciation for Evette Minor.

        • No Public Comment

      Motion: Commissioner Sapper

      Ayes: 7

      Noes: 0

      Second: Commissioner Finigan

      Absent: 2

      Abstained: 1

      Commissioner Paz and Burcina were absent. Chair Phillips abstained as Chair. Motioned passed.

    6. Handling Complaints
      Commissioner Sapper lead the discussion on how to handle a complaint about rats in Sam Jones. Commissioner Finigan recommends to contact the city of Santa Rosa- city council and the Health Department. Commissioner Sapper and Finigan will draft a letter to address this issue. Chair Phillips and Vice Chair Escalante to get Staff and Officers approval and later present it to the Commission. Commissioner Paulina Lopez voiced that this is an immediate matter to wait until next month’s meeting. Motion for the Commission to approve the letter pending officer’s language approval.

      7. Motion: Commissioner Reynoza

      Ayes: 6

      Noes: 0

      Second: Vice Chair Escalante

      Absent: 3

      Abstained: 1

      Commissioner Paz and Burcina were absent. Commissioner Isabel Lopez left at 7PM. Chair Phillips abstained as Chair. Motioned passed.

  7. OFFICERS REPORTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES
    1. Reminder to take the Ethics in Public Service and Sexual Harassment Trainings
    2. Compile community resources through email and then create a Google Doc with the information
    3. Staff reminded the Commission about the budget. Brainstorm on how to spend the Funds.
  8. ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING – PHILLIPS
    1. Donate to Sonoma Act of Kindness
    2. Create a Scholarship for the Family Appreciation Night
    3. Emergency Request was addressed by Commissioner Finigan in regards to Sheriff Essick and Jerry Threet. A motion was done to request a special meeting for Monday, November 29, 2021.

      4. Motion: Commissioner Sapper

      Ayes:6

      Noes: 0

      Second: Commissioner Paulina Lopez

      Absent: 4

      Abstained: 0


    Commissioner Paz and Burcina were absent. Commissioner Isabel Lopez left at 7PM. Commissioner Madrigal left at 7:20PM. Motioned passed.
  9. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 7:34PM