1. Public Comment:
- Richard Sharon, mentioned meeting Commissioner Chi at an animal rights meeting. Talked about the contents of the packet he handed out to each Commissioner. It contains a list of state legislators sympathetic to passing the anti-foie gras bill in Sacramento. The packet also includes a copy of the state bill. Mr. Sharon says he is unhappy that the Burton Bill allows foie gras to phase out over 7 years. He says this is a long time for ducks and geese to continue to suffer horribly. The phase out won’t be until 2012. Sharon calls on the commissioners to take a stand separate from supporting the Burton Bill. Local Assemblymen Mark Leno and Leland Yee both support the Burton bill.
- Bob O’Brien says he has heard that part of the ‘deal’ to get the Burton bill passed will mandate that Animal cruelty charges be dropped that have been leveled against the producers of Foie gras in Sonoma.
2. Commissioner Comment:
- Commissioner Wheeler says the time frame for the bill to take effect is so long as to make it very weak.
- Commissioner Franklin says it gives the Commission the opportunity to try to do something to speed up action to get foie gras banned sooner.
- Commissioner Wheeler thinks getting an ordinance passed by the Board of Supervisors will be very difficult.
- Commissioner Eckman points out that just banning the sale of foie gras locally, or even in Sonoma County, isn't necessarily going to stop the industry from springing up somewhere else.
- Commissioner Kennedy says she sees 3 different points; 1. Can the Bill in Sacramento be amended so it doesn't take so long to go into effect? 2.Move to push for a local ordinance to ban the sale of Foie gras locally, 3. Look to ways to educate the public about the cruelty involved in the production of foie gras.
- Commissioner Franklin isn't sure about finding a member of the Board of Supervisors who will support it; she would like to look into putting a measure to ban foie gras on the San Francisco ballot. This would be a way to educate the public about how terrible the process is to make foie gras. Discussion of how to get a ballot measure.
- Supervisor Weiss wonders about the wording of the position against foie gras. We can’t ban the eating of foie gras, only the production, sales and service.
- Supervisor Kipnis say she imagines that animal rights groups were trying to get as good a bill as possible in Sacramento.
- Discussion of timing on moving forward on a ballot issue against foie gras. Commissioners agree they need to discuss ideas that have been talked about. Ron Cole comment from floor. He says that he has been told that the Burton bill had no chance of getting out of committee without an agreement for a long phase out.
- Commissioner Franklin suggests she e-mail PETA to get them involved in front of restaurants that serve foie gras. Also get in touch with IDA and Animal Nation to see if there is educational literature available.
- Request of Lurilla Harris to speak is deemed out of order because it is not time for Public Comment. Comment already taken.
- How does the Commission develop partnerships with other groups?
- Commissioner Kennedy reminds the Commission that its jurisdiction is to make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors.
- Next steps, Commissioner Eckman will contact PETA, Commissioner Franklin will kook into a ballot measure, Commissioner Wheeler will see if she can learn anything from elected officials, Commissioner Kipnis will get in touch with IDA Commissioner Kipnis points out that the bill has a section mandating no lawsuits against the foie gras industry during the phase out period. Commissioner Kipnis asks if there are any further ways of looking at the problem. It is agreed there will be more discussion at the next Commission meeting.