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Human Resources Department

Commission on the Status of Women

Commission on Status of Women Meeting 

Date: May 12, 2022

Time: 6:00 - 7:59 p.m.

Address:

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Agenda

First District: Jan Blalock (Chair), Joanne M. Brown
Second District: Katie Gordon (Officer-at-Large), Caitlin Quinn
Third District: Lorena Barrera, Ofra Isler, Amber Lucas (On Leave of Absence)
Fourth District: Marta Cruz, Angelica Nunez
Fifth District: Jessica Wood (Vice-Chair)

Staff: Meira Bowcut, Administrative Aide

1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL

2. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Commission on the Status of Women of Sonoma County recognizes that we are on the ancestral lands of the Pomo, Wappo, and Coast Miwok, who are the original stewards of this land. We further acknowledge that the office of the Commission on the Status of Women resides on Southern Pomo land in Santa Rosa. We respect and honor the past, present, and future generations, and are grateful for the opportunity to give our respect to the first inhabitants.

 3. OPEN TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

At the beginning of each Commission meeting, any member of the public may address the Commission concerning any item not on the Commission's agenda. Speakers will be limited to three (3) minutes unless otherwise specified by the Chair or the Presiding Officer. The public will be given an opportunity to speak on each business item at the time it is called. The Commission may discuss and/or take action regarding any or all of the items listed below.

4. APPROVAL OF MARCH 10, 2022 and APRIL 28 2022 MEETING MINUTES

5. OFFICER REPORTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES

Officers and Staff to discuss administrative-related matters including, but not limited to, field trip ideas and speaker coordination.

  1. HR has submitted documents and requested a budget increase to $20,000 ea for CSW and CHR! The Board will decide at the June 2022 budget hearings. The Board is having Budget workshops in April so NOW is the time for us to advocate to our Supervisors the importance of this budget increase!
  2. We will have a booth and participate in parade for Pride, June 4 11am-5pm. Who will participate? Set up? Break down?
  3. We are tabling at Wednesday Night market August 24.
  4. Start thinking about ad hoc projects for 2022/2023
  5. New website
  6. Update on Voices Project Grant

6. COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Commissioners to provide any commission-related announcements, report on communications with supervisors, and also announce any tabling opportunities.

7. OPENINGS AND APPOINTMENTS

Chair will report out on current openings.

  1. We currently have openings in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th districts.
  2. Commissioner MacDonald has resigned from the Commission in order to focus on her campaign for Santa Rosa City Council election in November. Commissioner Barrera has resigned due to increased work responsibilities and inability to attend meetings.
  3. Discussion on recruitment efforts- Discovery of applications and letter to BOS.

8. BUSINESS ITEMS

  1. Chair Blalock will read the descriptions of the Officer roles
  2. Nominations and vote for Chair, Vice Chair and Officer at Large
  3. Discussion and possible vote on delaying Strategic Planning meeting to August to give the BOS time to appoint new Commisisoners
  4. Discussion and possible vote regarding holding in person/hybrid meetings

9. AD HOC COMMITTEE AND PROJECT COMMITTEE UPDATES 

Commissioners to provide reports and/or updates from the work being done by their ad hoc committee(s) and/or project committee(s).

  1. CSW Monthly Radio Project
  2. Impact of COVID-19 on Women in the Workforce
  3. Junior Commission on the Status of Women
  4. Sonoma County Spirit Award Project
  5. Voices of Sonoma County Women: COVID-19 Pandemic Edition
  6. Gender Equity ad hoc- CEDAW Resolution

10. COMMUNITY ISSUES, LIAISONS, AND COORDINATORS

Commissioners to provide brief updates or ideas on the following:

  1. Association of California Commissions for Women (ACCW)
  2. Human Trafficking Task Force
  3. Legislative Advisory Group
  4. National Association of Commissions for Women (NACW)
  5. YWCA

11. AGENDA ITEMS FOR JUNE 9, 2022 COMMISSION MEETING

Proposal, discussion, and possible action items for next Commission meeting. (No action required by commissioners for this section) 

12. ADJOURNMENT

 

Meeting Documentation

May 12, 2022 Minutes

Changes to the Brown Act authorized by Governor Newsom in response to Covid-19

In accordance with AB 361, Governor Newsom’s March 4, 2020 State of Emergency due to COVID-19 pandemic, Sonoma County Public Health Officer’s Recommendation for Teleconference Meetings, and the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Resolution 21-0399,the Commission on the Status of Women meetings will be held virtually.

Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 361 (AB 361) on September 16, 2021, which amends the Ralph M. Brown Act to provide additional provisions that allow meetings of legislative bodies to continue to be conducted via teleconference. This Resolution makes the findings to confirm the current conditions allow teleconference meetings pursuant to AB 361 for the Board of Supervisors and on behalf of all of the Commissions and Committees created by the Board of Supervisors pursuant to Government Code Section 54952(b). This will allow members of the public to safely observe and participate in local government meetings during the continued pandemic.

The following are key provisions of the Executive Order with the substantive changes from the prior order identified in bold below:

  • Allows public agencies to hold public meetings via teleconference and to make the meeting accessible electronically or telephonically to all member of the public seeking to attend and address the Board.
  • The requirement that each teleconference location be publicly accessible is suspended.
  • The requirement to post agendas at all teleconference locations and notice each location where the member is calling in from is suspended.
  • The requirement that at least a quorum be present in the boundaries of the jurisdiction is suspended.
  • Notice must still be given 72 hours in advance for regular meeting and 24 hours in advance for special meetings.
  • Local Agencies may hold meetings via teleconferencing and allow the public to observe and address the meeting telephonically or otherwise electronically. (NOTE: the prior order required at least one physical location be open for the public to observe and address the meeting. A physical location for observing the meeting is no longer required.)
  • If meeting is held telephonically or otherwise electronically, agencies must implement a procedure for receiving and swiftly resolving requests for reasonable modification or accommodations from individuals with disabilities, consistent with the ADA. The procedure must be advertised each time notice of the meeting is given.
  • Agencies are encouraged to use sound discretion and to make reasonable efforts to adhere to the Brown Act as closely as possible.

Agendas and Materials

Agendas and Materials: Agendas and most supporting materials are available on the Commission’s website.

Due to legal, copyright, privacy or policy considerations, not all materials are posted online.

NOTE: Due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, materials that are not posted will be available directly from the Commission at sococsw@sonoma-county.org

Disabled Accommodation

If you have a disability which requires an accommodation, an alternative format, or requires another person to assist you while attending this meeting, please contact CSW at socoscw@sonoma-county.org, as soon as possible to ensure arrangements for accommodation.

For auxiliary aids or services or other reasonable accommodations to be provided by the County at or before the meeting please notify the Commission at least 3 business days in advance of the meeting date. If the County does not receive timely notification of your reasonable request, the County may not be able to make the necessary arrangements by the time of the meeting.

Notification List

To sign up to receive automatic notifications regarding meetings and agendas, please visit the County's website: Sign Up for Email Updates

Approval of the Consent Calendar

The Consent Calendar includes routine financial and administrative actions that are usually approved by a single majority vote. There will be no discussion on these items prior to voting on the motion unless Commission Members or the public request specific items be discussed and/or removed from the Consent Calendar.

Public Comment

Any member of the audience desiring to address the Commission should wait to be called upon via the online meeting method. In order that all interested parties have an opportunity to provide comments, please be brief and limit your comments to the subject under discussion. (Please note that your comments will be read during the appropriate time in the meeting.)

Each person is usually granted 3 minutes to speak but in this case, the comments should be typed and the comments will be timed to the three (3) minute mark as they are read by the one of the officers.

Please note that while members of the public are welcome to address the Commission, under the Brown Act, Commission members may not deliberate or take action on items not on the agenda, and generally may only listen.

Commitment to Civil Engagement

All are encouraged to engage in respectful dialog that supports freedom of speech and values diversity of opinion. Commissioners, Staff, and the public are encouraged to:

  • Create an atmosphere of respect and civility where Commissioners, County Staff, and the Public are free to express their ideas within the time and content parameters established by the Brown Act and CSW's standard Parliamentary procedures (Robert’s Rules of Order);
  • Establish and maintain a cordial and respectful atmosphere during discussions;
  • Foster meaningful dialogue free of attacks of a personal nature and/or attacks based on age, (dis)ability, class, education level, gender, gender identity, occupation, race and/or ethnicity, sexual orientation;
  • Listen with an open mind to all information, including dissenting points of view, regarding issues presented to the Commission;
  • Recognize it is sometimes difficult to speak at meetings, and out of respect for each person's perspective, allow speakers to have their say without comment or body gestures, including booing, whistling or clapping;