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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.20.22 - Equity and Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes_City of South San Francisco Minutes of the Commission on Equity and Public Safety Monday, June 20, 2022 Zoom Teleconference Meeting 6:00 pm Committee Members: Present: Krystle Cansino, Dr. Jasmin Flores, Nancy Garcia, PaulaClaudine Hobson- Coard, Arnel Junio, Alan Perez, Carol Sanders Absent: None Staff Members: Present: Amy Ferguson, Management Fellow Maryjo Nuñez, Management Fellow Guests: Mayor Mark Nagales, Vice Mayor Nicolas, Councilmember Coleman, Councilmember Flores, City Manager Futrell, Assist City Manager Ranals, Police Chief Campbell, Fire Chief Magallanes, Human Resources Director Lockhart CALL TO ORDER This meeting was called to order at 6:00pm. AGENDA REVIEW No changes to the agenda. COUNCIL AND STAFF INTRODUCTIONS Remarks from Mayor Remarks from Vice Mayor Remarks from Councilmembers Coleman and Flores Remarks from City Manager Remarks from Police Chief Campbell and from Fire Chief Magallanes Remarks from Human Resources Director Lockhart PUBLIC COMMENTS No public comments were made. Matters for Consideration 1. Commissioner Introductions Nancy Garcia (she/her) shared that she is from Venezuela, came to US 23 yrs ago, married with 2 kids, housemaker, went to San Mateo Community College, and took classes in English and accounting. She also shared that she volunteers at Spruce Elementary, and part of All Souls Catholic Church’s ministry in charge of altar servers and ministry of mental health. She wants to do whatever the commission wants to achieve good, hope to bring a lot of help to the community of SSF, esp. regarding mental health, and would like to see the commission to be a voice for those who have mental health issues and who have been criminalized. Arnel Junio (he/him/his) shared that he is born in Daly City but raised in South San Francisco, military air force veteran, father to 2 kids, Filipino-American, Catholic; has a disability, is hardworking, dependable, resourceful, doesn’t mind asking for help, brings in civil servant expertise from working in helping businesses get licensed for providing alcohol, and will bring enthusiasm to the group. As part of commission, he wants to collectively enhance the quality of life of those in South San Francisco, regardless of race, color, religious preference, social status. Carol Sanders, (she/her/they), is queer, single, is also an air force veteran, software engineer, was in reserves after active duty, lived in many cities abroad (so she has a global perspective). She hopes to bring in an open mind and international experience to commission and city council; interested in sports and talking with Parks and Rec about amateur soccer, hopes to bring an open mind, they are also very analytical, applying to graduate school, hard to see what public areas for safe spaces look like (like parks), wants to create safe public environments. PaulaClaudine Hobson-Coard (she/her) is a child of military air force veterans, previous Cultural Arts Commissioner for about 8 years, is an artist, and comes from international and multi-ethnic family. She is open-minded and tolerant and has a local band. She wants to look at the community like art: each part comes together; she also has a global perspective, knows other languages, was a caretaker of her parents for about 10 years, so used that experience to navigate the health care system, nursing home, assisted living, etc., so, she wants to advocate for older adults and to make sure community knows where to get resources. Dr. Jasmin Flores (she/her) is a “realistic idealist,” also child of military parents and lived abroad growing up, leading her to also develop a global perspective; works as a clinician, medical scientist, and consultant for terminally ill patients; she leads the mental health ministry at All Souls Catholic Church, and she would like to see mental health training in the departments, specifically law enforcement, and wants to address the affordable housing crisis. Krystle Cansino (she/her/handsome) is Filipino-American, born in Daly City, moved to East Bay, then moved to SSF, has been working in mental health for over 20 years, works with Department of Public Health Crisis Services in San Francisco, works with SFPD and has CIT training from them, is a trainer for Disaster Mental Health and Psychological First Aid, and has good mental health relationship with them, and wants to bring in a perspective to have SSFPD and commission work together. Also an LGBTQ commissioner with the County, and part of the Filipino Mental Health Initiative. She also wants to have more people involved in creating City policies, including having people at meetings and open live communication. Alan Pérez (he/him/his) shared that he is of Mexican and El Salvadorean descent with working class parents, grew up in SSF, in Old Town and attended public schools, worked with Education and Policy Research, works at Public Policy Lab at Berkeley, hopes to bring his research background, and lived experiences including interactions with police and other public safety entities to commission. His goals for the commission include greater transparency, accountability, and higher public safety. 2. Background and Purpose of Commission Amy Ferguson shared the background and purpose of the commission, citing the history of the previous Mayor’s Commission on Racial and Social Equity. There were no questions or comments. 3. Brown Act Training – Claire Lai, Assistant City Attorney Assistant City Attorney Lai and Attorney Shandyn Pierce presented information on the Brown Act and trained the Commissioners. There was one question: Commissioner Arnel Junio asked if commissioners would receive @ssf specific emails. Sharon Ranals said that commissioners typically do not receive @ssf emails and that they sometimes create a separate commission email just for receiving city information like agendas or minutes. 4. Discussion of Protocol, Guiding Language, Meeting Structure, and Next Steps Guiding Language Amy Ferguson presented the Guiding Language from previous commission for current commission. Commissioner Cansino recommended doing a land acknowledgement in future meetings. Mission Commissioner Cansino wants more specific language on mental health and addiction services. Commissioner Dr. Flores wants housing listed. Commissioner Cansino wants language that specifically mentions people having a seat at the table. Commissioner Sanders questioned if commissioners can include/consider actions of businesses/how businesses affect the community and if that is within the purview to which Assist City Manager Ranals stated that City’s ability to influence company’s mode of operations is limited. Commissioner Sanders brought up the example of how they used to be able to drive up to Oyster Point, but private companies have inhibited in its accessibility but now very limited, now just for industry; few parking spaces for the trail; City Manager Futrell stated that the City does do a lot of zoning, requirements for development; now should have equity lens, and invites Commissioners’ input on this topic. Commissioner Junio stated that employment should be listed as well. Mayor Nagales stated to remove the Mayor’s commission in wording. Amy Ferguson will input the Commissioners’ comments and rework the Guiding Language. Commissioner Hobson-Coard would like to incorporate care for older adults. Assistant City Manager Ranals mentioned that the Commission can continue to rework these in the future. Vision Commissioner Cansino stated to provide training for governments and Community Based Organizations (CBOs), including SOGE training or training on race and equity. Commissioner Dr. Flores would like language on aging and ageism and gender. Commissioner Hobson-Coard would like to include language on more groups than just Black/Hispanic, or to just simply state “all residents of color.” Commissioner Perez stated that he would like language on greater accountability and transparency for government institutions. Group Agreements Commissioner Cansino recommended bringing up group agreements at the start of every meeting agenda. Commissioner Dr. Flores stated that the Commission needs to have a common call to action and recommended the creation of a spreadsheet with this that is subject to change as we go along. The spreadsheet could include near term, mid term, and long term goals, and a Gantt chart for reach action. Commissioner Cansino recommended language on “acknowledge intent, address impact.” Amy Ferguson stated that she plans to do training on systemic racism later. Guiding Principles Commissioner Dr. Flores stated that she is not comfortable with the word racism as a guiding language; she feels that including the word would pigeonhole commission because the focus is all oppressions, and recommended language to state “including but not limited to” racism, ageism, sexism. Commissioner Junio discusses removing “action” as a guiding principle, but Commissioner Sanders recommends a focus on action and change. Commissioner Dr. Flores also stated language for improvement for change, declaring that before change something needs to be improved. She stated that she values improvement in process and procedure towards change. Levers of change framework: Commissioner Cansino posed a question, “is there a list of agencies so that we know what agencies and resources are out there and utilize?” This could include City clinics and resources Commissioner Dr. Flores recommended language to include institution PROCESS and procedures Meeting Structure Timing: Vice Chair Junio recommended that the Commission meetings be limited to 2 hours max per meeting and would like more structure. Commissioner Dr. Flores stated she believes that longer meeting times better in beginning, than as get to know each other, can do short meetings. Commissioner Hobson-Coard said that the 6-8pm is an ideal time. Amy Ferguson questioned if a vote is required to implement these recommendations for timing, to which Assistant City Manager Ranals stated that suggestions so far are fine, so no voted needed unless changing the start time. Assist City Manager Ranals recommended to make the agendas short to minimize the length of meetings, should commissioners want a short meeting. Commissioner Cansino asked if will meetings be virtual? Amy Ferguson answered that all commissions virtual for now. Commissioner Cansino stated that she wants to invite a Police Lieutenant (works in SF, SSF resident) to speak at a future meeting and wants CIT training as a high priority. Commissioner Flores said that’s a high priority. Commissioner Perez stated that he interested in data, specifically at looking at emergency calls and police/fire interactions with people in the City with demographic information, including whether people are going through a mental health emergency. Commissioner Sanders wanted to hear from environmental experts to talk about fire and water safety and preservation and what SSF is doing to protect citizens and preserve environment. Commissioner Garcia stated that she would like to say thank you to Krystle and other folks that mentioned mental health because this is an important need; she encourages Latinos to get involved in positive ways, and she would like to see more research and more “experts.” Commissioner Flores mentioned inviting the San Mateo County Sheriff, Christina Corpus, including asking for her perspective on the criminalization of mental health, to a future meeting. 5. Action Item – Election of Officers Commissioner Cansino stated that she wants to be involved as much as possible, however, she wants to nominate Commissioner Garcia for position of Chair. Commissioner Garcia declined to accept this nomination. Commissioner Junio nominated Commissioner Hobson-Coard for Chair or Vice Chair due to her experience. Commissioner Hobson-Coard stated that she is interested in the Vice Chair position at this time. Commissioner Garcia nominated Commissioner Dr. Flores to the position of Chair, however, Commissioner Dr. Flores declined this nomination. Commissioner Cansino nominated Commissioner Garcia to the position of Chair, but Commissioner Garcia declined. Commissioner Garcia then nominated Commissioner Cansino for the position of Chair. Commissioner Hobson-Coard also nominated Commissioner Cansino for Chair. Motion to determine Commissioner Cansino as Chair are as follows: Commissioner Sanders: aye, Commissioner Perez: aye, Commissioner Junio: aye, Commissioner Hobson- Coard: yes, Commissioner Garcia: aye, Commissioner Dr. Flores: yes, Commissioner Cansino: aye. Motion to select Commissioner Krystle as Chair of Commission passes. Commissioner Hobson-Coard nominate Commissioner Arnel Junio as Vice chair, seconded by Commissioner Dr. Flores. Motion to determine Commission Junio as Vice Chair are as follows: Comissioner Cansino: aye, Commissioner Dr. Flores: yes, Commissioner Garcia: yes, Hobson-Coard: yes, Junio: aye, Commissioner Pérez: yes, Commissioner Sanders: aye. Motion to select Commissioner Arnel Junio as Vice Chair of Commission passes. Items from Commission: None. ITEMS FROM STAFF City Manager Futrell informed the Commission that this Saturday, the City will be soliciting feedback for the new aquatic center and that he recommends they join to offer an equity lens to this project. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 8:27pm.