Commission Meeting Minutes August 12, 2021
Commissioners Present:
First District: Jan Blalock (Chair), Joanne M. Brown, Dianna MacDonald
Second District: Trisha Almond, Katie Gordon (Officer-at-Large), Caitlin Quinn
Third District: Lorena Barrera, Ofra Isler
Fourth District:
Fifth District: Ariana Diaz De Leon, Jessica Wood (Vice Chair)
Commissioners Absent:
Third District: Amber Lucas
Fourth District: Marta Cruz-Conception, Leticia Padilla (On Leave of Absence)
Staff: No staff in attendance
Meeting facilitated virtually through Zoom.
- CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL
Meeting called to order at 6.01PM. Roll call was conducted by the Chair. - OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
No members of the public addressed the Commission. - APPROVAL OF JULY 8, 2021 MEETING MINUTES
Motion: Commissioner Brown
Second: Commissioner Almond
Ayes: 9 Noes: 0
Absent: 3 Abstained: 2
Commissioners Padilla (on leave), Cruz and Lucas were absent. Diaz de Leon abstained due to absence. Chair Blalock abstained as Chair.
Motion passed. - COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Commissioner Brown says “the crush” started in Sonoma.
- Commissioner Isler - created a google calendar - for the Commissioners to all use.
- Commissioner Gordon presented on the Voices project in a four day conference as an applied sociologist - she was provided with lots of good feedback.
- Commissioner Gordon to be re-appointed in October by Supervisor David Rabbit.
- Chair Blalock announced that we are not to be commenting on any matters as the Commission as a whole - but we are able to comment on the wonderful work that we are doing.
- OPENINGS AND APPOINTMENTS
- Chair reported there is one vacancy in the Fifth District
- Chair Blalock administers the Oath of Office to Commissioners Almond, Barrera and MacDonald.
- BUSINESS ITEMS
- Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the Sonoma County Spirit Award Project Work Plan
Being considered: Commissioner Quinn presented her Spirit of Sonoma Ad hoc work plan.
Discussion centered on what she has done with the project thus far and what she needs to finish up the project.
Motion to approve the work plan
Motion: Commissioner Gordon
Second: Commissioner Wood
Ayes: 10 Noes: 0
Absent: 3 Abstained: 1
Commissioners Padilla (on leave), Cruz and Lucas were absent, Chair Blalock abstained as Chair.
Motion passed.
Motion to approve the work plan budget
Motion: Commissioner Gordon
Second: Commissioner Isler
Ayes: 10 Noes: 0
Absent: 3 Abstained: 1
Commissioners Padilla (on leave), Cruz and Lucas were absent, Chair Blalock abstained as Chair.
Motion passed. - Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the CSW Monthly Radio Project Work Plan
Being considered: Commissioner Almond presented the work plan on the Radio show. Work Plan and Budget to be voted on.
Discussion centered around going over what they had done thus far and explained what will happen in the next following months. The Radio Show project will highlight speakers in each month that brings awareness for what that month is about. Ex) September is about Suicide awareness so they will have Guest Speakers speaking about suicide awareness for that month. Commissioners Nunez and Quinn are also in the ad hoc. They are open for suggestions for the last months in 2022 and would like Commissioners input and help.
Commissioner MacDonald suggests that the Radio Show do a 0-5 year show and focus on childcare and early learning again with it being such a hot topic and the importance of getting women back into the workforce.
Motion to approve the work plan and budget together
Motion: Commissioner Wood
Second: Commissioner MacDonald
Ayes: 10 Noes: 0
Absent: 3 Abstained: 1
Commissioners Padilla (on leave), Cruz and Lucas were absent, Chair Blalock abstained as Chair.
Motion passed. - Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the Impact of Covid-19 on Women in the Workforce Work Plan
Being considered: Commissioner Wood presented the work plan on The Impact of Covid-19 on Women in the Workforce Work Plan. Ask is to approve the work plan and budget to be able to do the work.
Discussion centered around the need for women to get back into the workforce and what a hot topic this work is right now in Sonoma County. Many conversations are being held and the idea and goal is to join with the Non-profits and stakeholders who will be working on a ballot initiative to help push this forward. The beginning will be gathering data and then the plan is to hold conversations with women in each district. They will also be training women in each district how to go forward and advocate for
more funding.
Commissioner Almond suggests to take the conversations with Women online due to Covid. Commissioner MacDonald gives feedback about the business community. There is a lack of childcare and families are not able to go back to work. Changing the conversation and focusing on the Fiscal and economic impact. Commissioner Gordon suggests that we try and access more money by the California Commission.
Suggestion is to table the budget for next month after finding out from county counsel the ability to provide gift cards or stipends to help with the training of advocates. Chair Blalock to get clarity from the County and Commissioner Wood to find out if a donation to 4C’s to do the same thing is possible.
Motion to approve the work plan.
Motion: Commissioner Quinn
Second: Commissioner Blalock
Ayes: 10 Noes: 0
Absent: 3 Abstained: 1
Commissioners Padilla (on leave), Cruz and Lucas were absent, Chair Blalock abstained as Chair.
Motion passed. - Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the Voices of Sonoma County Women - Covid-19 Pandemic Edition
Being considered: Chair Blalock presented The Voices of Sonoma County Women Covid-19 Pandemic Edition.
Discussion centered around going over what has been done and what will be done going forward. The idea for this ad hoc is to scale back instead of adding more work to their plan. They are figuring out whether and how to do the listening sessions with Covid. They had been considering making the ad hoc a standing committee but have decided against doing so.
Motion to approve the work plan and budget together
Motion: Commissioner MacDonald
Second: Commissioner Gordon
Ayes: 10 Noes: 0
Absent: 3 Abstained: 1
Commissioners Padilla (on leave), Cruz and Lucas were absent, Chair Blalock abstained as Chair.
Motion passed. - Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the Purchase of New CSW Shirt and/or Jackets - Vice Chair Wood
Being considered: Commissioner Wood presents the quotes she has gotten from two different vendors that the Commission has used in the past years. Commission to vote on shirts or shirts and jackets.
Discussion centered around pricing and preference on shirts. The jackets were very ricey. The suggestion is to purchase shirts only. 45 in total. The Commission suggests to bring the jackets back at the end of the fiscal year if we have money left over. The Commissioners would like to send in their shirt size and color to Vice-Chair Wood first. The total amount approved would be under $600.
Motion to approve purchase of shirts (45)
Motion: Commissioner Brown
Second: Commissioner Isler
Ayes: 10 Noes: 0
Absent: 3 Abstained: 1
Commissioners Padilla (on leave), Cruz and Lucas were absent, Chair Blalock abstained as Chair.
Motion passed.
- Discussion and Possible Action Regarding the Sonoma County Spirit Award Project Work Plan
- OFFICER REPORTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES
Officers and Staff to go over any administrative-related matters including, but not limited to, field trip ideas and speaker coordination.- Introduction of new Administrative Aide to the Commissions, Meira Bowcut
- postponed to next meeting
- Request for 2018-19 ad hoc (Empowering Women, Voices, Marketing, Jr Commission and Legislative Advisory Group) and 2019-20 ad hoc (Voices, Gender Equity, Covid-19, Jr Commission and LAG) overviews and accomplishments for Biennial report to BOS
- Chair Blalock reminds and asks that all Ad hoc chairs send three bullet points to Officers regarding the (1) ad hoc mission, (2) what your ad hoc did during the ad hoc term, and (3) future plans for the ad hoc, if applicable. This is due the following month so the Officers may submit the biannual report to the BOS.
- Introduction of new Administrative Aide to the Commissions, Meira Bowcut
- AD HOC COMMITTEE AND PROJECT UPDATES
Commissioners to provide reports and/or updates from the work being done by their ad hoc committee(s) and/or project committee(s).- COVID-19 Ad Hoc
no update - Gender Equity Ad Hoc
This ad hoc is dissolved - Junior Commissioner Project Committee
Commissioner Diaz de Leon reports that there are currently 16 Juniors. Chair Blalock attended to administer the Oath of office to Juniors and Vice-Chair Wood was there to observe. Next month the Juniors will be running for Office. The Jr. Commission is in need of Mentors and someone is needed to fill Commissioner Diaz De Leon’s spot when she finishes her term next May. - Radio Project
zero report - Voices of Sonoma County Women Ad Hoc
zero report
- COVID-19 Ad Hoc
- COMMUNITY ISSUES, LIAISONS, AND COORDINATORS
Commissioners to provide brief updates or ideas on the following:- Association of California Commissions for Women (ACCW)
zero report - Human Trafficking Task Force
zero report - Legislative Advisory Group
zero report - National Association for Women (NACW)
not attended zero money used out of the budget - YWCA
zero report
- Association of California Commissions for Women (ACCW)
- AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT COMMISSION MEETING
Proposal, discussion, and possible action items for next Commission meeting. (No action required by Commissioners for this section).- Vice-Chair Wood to add to agenda for Dr. Flyswithhawks to present or connect us with Land Acknowledgement training.
- ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 7:32PM