I Want To Departments & Agencies
News Events Employment Language

Human Resources Department

Commission on Human Rights
County Of Sonoma › Administrative Support & Fiscal Services › Human Resources › Boards, Commissions and Committees › Commission on Human Rights › Commission Meeting Minutes October 26 2021
Commission on Human Rights

Commission Meeting Minutes October 26, 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), Isabel Lopez
Fourth District: Paulina Lopez, Rosa Reynoza
Fifth District: Lyndsey Burcina  (Office-at-Large)

Commissioners Absent:
Second District: Isai Garcia

Staff: Meira Bowcut, Admin Aide

*Commissioner Reynoza arrived approximately at 5:46pm.

Meeting held through publicly available link via Zoom Meeting 

  1. CALL TO ORDER - MISSION STATEMENT - ROLL CALL - PHILLIPS
    Meeting called to order by Chair Phillips at 5:33PM. 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 OCTOBER 26, 2021 AGENDA - PHILLIPS
    Motion: Commissioner Sapper Ayes: 6 Noes: 0
    Second: Vice Chair Escalante Absent: 2 Abstained: 3
     
    Commissioner Garcia was absent. Commissioner Reynoza was late. Commissioner Finigan and Paz abstained. Chair Phillips abstained as Chair.
    Motion passed.
  3. APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 MINUTES - PHILLIPS
    Motion: Commissioner Sapper Ayes: 5 Noes: 0
    Second: Commissioner Isabel Lopez Absent: 2 Abstained: 4

    Commissioner Garcia was absent. Commissioner Reynoza was late. Commissioner Finigan, Paz and Madrigal abstained. Chair Phillips abstained as Chair.
    Motion passed.

    Public Comment on this item
    • Phyllis Tajii
  4. OPENINGS & APPOINTMENTS - PHILLIPS
    The Chair reported there were four openings – one in the Third District, one in the Fourth District, and two in the Fifth District.

    Oath of office was administered by staff for Commissioner Paz and Commissioner Finigan.
  5. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS - PHILLIPS
    No members of the public addressed the Commission
  6. REGULAR CALENDAR
    Discussion and possible action on items below
    1. Vote on DeCarbo's Resolution
      Chair Phillips asked for a motion to pass Lisa DeCarbo's Resolution.

      Motion: Commissioner Burcina Ayes: 7 Noes: 0
      Second: Commissioner Madrigal Absent: 1 Abstained: 3

      Commissioner Garcia was absent. Commissioner Finigan and Paz abstained. Chair Phillips abstained as Chair.
      Motion passed
    2. Recognize Filipino American History Month
      Vice Chair Escalante read the resolution to recognize October as Filipino American History Month. The public provided additional information of the presence of Filipinos in Sonoma County and overall in the United States. Commissioners voiced their appreciation to Vice Chair Escalante for bringing this resolution forward. A motion was brought forward to acknowledge October as Filipino American History Month.

      Motion: Commissioner Paulina Lopez Ayes: 9 Noes: 0
      Second: Commissioner Sapper Absent: 1 Abstained: 1
       
      Commissioner Garcia was absent. Chair Phillips abstained as Chair.
      Motion passed.

      Public Comment on this item
      • Leo Tacato
      • Michael Viloria
      • Jeannette Anglin 
    3. ALMAS and North Bay Jobs With Justice   
      Members from ALMAS and North Bay Jobs with Justice brought their resolution on the dignity and health safety of Sonoma County Immigrants to the Commission. Individuals from these organizations shared their experiences and asked the support of the Commission. Commissioners voted to support the resolution on the dignity and health safety of Sonoma County immigrants.

      Motion: Commissioner Sapper Ayes: 9 Noes: 0
      Second: Commissioner Finigan Absent: 1 Abstained: 1
       
      Commissioner Garcia was absent. Chair Phillips abstained as Chair.
      Motion passed.
    4. Community Spotlight
      This month’s feature guest was Ron Rogers from “3 Seconds in October”. Ron Rogers shared his experience making the film. Discussion arose in regards to Andy Lopez shooting. Chair Phillip read the resolution honoring his courage in transparency on behalf of the public. A motion was made to pass the resolution.

      Motion: Commissioner Finigan Ayes: 9 Noes: 0
      Second: Commissioner Paulina Lopez Absent:2 Abstained: 1
       
      Commissioner Garcia was absent. Commissioner Isabel Lopez was not present during roll call voting. Chair Phillips abstained as Chair.
      Motion passed.

      Public Comment on this item
      • Jerry Threet
    5. JACL Letter and Endorsement Request  
      Vice Chair Escalante read a letter from JACL and asked the Commission for their endorsement for condemning use of racist caricatures at Petaluma Veteran’s Day Parade. Images of the racist caricature were presented and a motion to endorse the letter was made.

      Commissioner Reynoza requested to copy cities when emailing the letter. This would make more people aware and to prevent future incidents to reoccur.

      Motion: Commissioner Sapper Ayes:8 Noes: 0
      Second: Commissioner Absent Absent: 1 Abstained:2


      Commissioner Garcia was absent. Vice Chair Escalante and Chair Phillips abstained.
      Motion passed.

      Public Comment on this item
      • Phyllis Tajii
  7. ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING - PHILLIPS
    1. Vice Chair Escalante and Commissioner Reynoza agreed to consider a response to Windsor High School for the lack of protection for LGBTQ students
    2. Commissioner Paz would like a discussion on future projects, ad hocs, committees, etc
    3. Commissioner Paulina Lopez suggested creating a community resources guide
    4. Vice Chair Escalante would like to bring forth former D’Mitria Smith’s Resolution on Recognition of Indigenous People
    5. Discussion of in-person meetings
    6. Increasing the Commissions’ appearance in the public eye - get the press to cover meetings
  8. ADJOURNMENT
    The meeting adjourned at 7:30PM

    Motion: Commissioner Paz Ayes: 9 Noes: 0
    Second: Vice Chair Escalante Absent: 1 Abstained: 1

    Commissioner Garcia was absent. Chair Phillips abstained as Chair.
    Motion passed.