Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.15.24 - Equity and Public Safety Commission Meeting MinutesCity of South San Francisco Minutes of the Commission on Equity and Public Safety Monday, April 15, 2024 City Hall: City Manager Conference Room 6:00 p.m. Committee Members: Present: Arnel Junio, Alan Perez, Bianca Bedigian, PaulaClaudine Hobson-Coard, Salvador Delgadillo (arrived at 6:04 p.m.), Krystle Cansino (arrived at 6:21 p.m.) Absent: Steven Yee, Carol Sanders Staff Members: Present: Devin Stenhouse, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Rich Lee, Assistant City Manager (departed at 6:11 p.m.) Others: Present: woman [11min in] CALL TO ORDER The Meeting was called to order at 6:01 p.m. AGENDA REVIEW Officer Stenhouse states that Commissioner Yee requested that the Commissioners review items regarding the web page, but the request was made after the agenda had been created. Chair Junio has the option to address this under the Items From Board Members, Commissioners, Committee Members section. There are no changes to the agenda. ITEMS FROM STAFF MEMBERS 1. Officer Stenhouse introduces Assistant City Manager Rich Lee. PUBLIC COMMENT No public comments were made. MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION 1. Approval of Minutes from March 18, 2024. Officer Stenhouse recommends holding on approval of minutes as there are corrections to be made. Chair Junio agrees. 2. The Commission will consider relocating regular meetings to the Library | Parks and Recreation Center. (Devin Stenhouse, DEI Officer) Officer Stenhouse shares that the City Clerk has reviewed the bylaws and concluded that no location was established in the ordinances for these meetings, thus making relocation an easy process. Officer Stenhouse spoke with the Parks and Recreation Facilities Supervisor, who suggested the Art Gallery as a possible location for future meetings. Officer Stenhouse will need to check audio/visual capabilities. Other possible locations have potential conflicts with classes or operating hours. Chair Junio says he would like to visit the space and hope that most, if not all, Commissioners can visit too before making the decision. Commissioner Hobson-Coard suggests having the next meeting at the Art Gallery, and then making the decision of whether the Commission would like to relocate to that space. Officer Stenhouse will check to see if the Art Gallery is available for the next meeting. Officer Stenhouse shares feedback he has received from the public. This (City Hall) location is not central to the City. Accessing this room (City Manager Conference Room) can be challenging at times. The lighting outside may not feel adequate when it’s dark. With regard to the Library | Parks and Recreation Center (LPR), parking may not be accessible. Commissioner Cansino shares that it’s difficult for her to get up the stairs here. She also points out that having the meetings at a public space like LPR means more Commission accessibility and exposure to the public. Commissioner Bedigian believes that more people know where LPR is than City Hall. The group agrees to have the next meeting at the LPR Art Gallery to test the space. Commissioner Hobson-Coard shares that she likes the current space because the location is convenient and quiet. 3. The Commission will consider volunteering at each of the Every Kid Deserves a Bike program events. (Devin Stenhouse, DEI Officer) Officer Stenhouse provides background information on the Every Kid Deserves a Bike (EKDAB) program. The program needs volunteers to help assist with teaching children how to ride bicycles. Officer Stenhouse details the dates and times volunteers are needed. Chair Junio explains that he hopes to have at least one commissioner at each of these events. 1. Thursday, May 2nd at Parkway Heights Middle School from 12:00 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. Vice Chair Perez and Commissioner Bedigian can attend. 2. Saturday, May 4th at West Orange Library from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Commissioner Delgadillo will attend. 3. Monday, May 6th at Los Cerritos from 1:20 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Chair Junio will be available. 4. Friday, May 10th at Sunshine Gardens from 12:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Commissioner Cansino can attend. 5. Thursday, May 16th at Spruce Elementary School from 1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. 6. Monday, May 20th at Martin Elementary School from 12:30 p.m. -2:30 p.m. Chair Junio will attend. Officer Stenhouse will provide more information prior to each event. Commissioner Bedigian asks if the kids receive bike locks. Officer Stenhouse confirms they receive locks, kick stands, helmets, and a bell. 4. The Commission will review upcoming City events and consider tabling at these events (Devin Stenhouse, DEI Officer) Officer Stenhouse lists upcoming City events where the Commission can have a table/booth. • Concert in the Park – September 21 • Festa Italiana – September 29 • Farmers Market – every Saturday • Pride Celebration – June 1 Officer Stenhouse gives examples of things the Commission might need: tablecloth, giveaways. Commissioner Cansino asks what the commissioners would do at the table. Officer Stenhouse explains that awareness is the main objective. He suggests an option would be to create a pamphlet to hand out. It is an opportunity to hear community concerns. Commissioner Cansino thinks it might be a good idea to offer a giveaway (like sunglasses) in exchange for someone filling out a survey. She asks if there’s a budget for these items. Officer Stenhouse says yes. Chair Junio expresses concern about timing. The June 1st Pride event will come fast. Officer Stenhouse recommends tabling in shifts and in groups of two. Commissioner Cansino asks who is responsible for set up and break down. Officer Stenhouse explains that it depends on the event and provides details on what would be needed from the Commission. Vice Chair Perez says he would be available for the Pride event. Officer Stenhouse offers to gather everyone’s availability for future events, which will allow the Commission to decide whether to table. Commissioner Bedigian is not available June 1st. Chair Junio is available June 1st. He is confident they will have enough volunteers to participate in the Pride event. He feels strongly that the Commission should move forward with tabling at events. Commissioner Cansino motions to table at June 1st Pride event. Vice Chair Perez seconds. The Commission voted to approve the motion 6-0. Public Comment [1:05:30] Woman asks what the goal of tabling is. Is it to build awareness? What’s the plan to address concerns residents may have? Officer Stenhouse reiterates that tabling would offer exposure for the Commission. Increase awareness that the Commission exists. The purpose of the Commission is to be the ears and the voice of the population. Chair Junio suggests a subcommittee to plan for the June 1st event. Commissioner Cansino volunteers to lead the subcommittee. Chair Junio and Commissioner Delgadillo volunteer to be part of the subcommittee. ITEMS FROM BOARD MEMBERS, COMMISSIONERS, COMMITTEE MEMBERS 1. Chair Junio brings up email notifications he has received from the City. Chair Junio mentions that the email regarding the Farmers’ Market included information, a call out, about a City’s department that will be at the upcoming Farmers' Market. He likes that these emails inform the public about things they may not be aware of. He believes the Commission should be a part of the Farmers’ Market at a later date. Officer Stenhouse details the different email newsletters sent out from the City and other departments. 2. Commissioner Cansino refers to the previous minutes that mention Councilmember Nagales wanting to hear from Commissioners directly. Commissioner Cansino shares that she had a great conversation with Councilmember Nagales. She reminds everyone that the Commission had been focused on mental health previously. It seems that the Commission has moved on, and Commissioner Cansino wonders what the next topic of focus should be. She suggests putting the discussion on the agenda. Chair Junio agrees that he would like the Commission to identify a subject to focus on next. He mentions that he spoke with the Assistant City Manager of Mountain View because they are one of the few cities that have a commission similar to this one. He expresses that he wants the Commission to hit its goal of tabling at events. Officer Stenhouse shares that Councilmember Nagales has spoken to different chairs of various commissions. Council is looking for updates and check-ins at a Council meeting from all commissions. Officer Stenhouse recommends selecting a Council meeting date to provide an update. He reminds everyone that there was a decision to focus on child care as well as seniors. The subcommittees should be doing research on content. Officer Stenhouse gives an overview of City programs that cater to seniors. He gives examples of organizations outside of the City that can potentially be brought in to present to the Commission. He urges the subcommittees to let him know if there are specific individuals or groups they want him to invite to the Commission meetings. Commissioner Cansino feels the commissioners need to spend time to discuss these matters. 3. Commissioner Hobson-Coard brings up the Every Kid Deserves a Bike program. She asks if there’s help for seniors who cannot afford to buy assisted devices, like wheelchairs or walkers. Officer Stenhouse recalls that there is an organization that provides that assistance. They take donations of items like wheelchairs, walkers, and portable toilets, then host events to give those items to those in need. Commissioner Hobson-Coard mentions that Sunshine Gardens Pharmacy has something similar. Officer Stenhouse clarifies that the Commission would promote these organizations, not create a program that offers similar services. The Commission should seek to find out how to provide support for these existing organizations. Commissioner Cansino asks if there’s a day to celebrate the elderly. Officer Stenhouse believes there’s an annual Senior Picnic. Commissioner Cansino suggests that is an event commissioners can help out at. Officer Stenhouse says there is also a Senior Health Fair. He encourages commissioners to volunteer at these events and to talk to seniors to hear from them directly. 4. Officer Stenhouse recommends that commissioners either attend or listen to City Council meetings and be aware of current topics of concern for the public. He also suggests being aware of the topics of discussion at other commission meetings. Commissioner Cansino asks if there are any commissions that have recommended to Council in support of a ceasefire in Gaza. Officer Stenhouse says no commission has advocated for or against the ceasefire. He shares that a couple councilmembers have said they are open to agendizing the item. ADJOURNMENT Chair Junio adjourned the meeting at 7:46 p.m.