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Minutes from July 13, 2006
I. Call to Order & Roll Call by Chair Richard Schulke
Present: Commissioners Richard Schulke, William Hamilton, Laurie Routhier-Kennedy, Sherri Franklin, Christine Garcia, and ACC Carl Friedman, Officer Denny (fill in commissioner)
Absent: Commissioner JR Yeager (Out of state for personal reasons) and
Commissioner Mara Weiss, DVM (unable to appear)
II. Public Comment
Eric Mills, Action for Animals – Noted latest Earth Island Journal; Announced Park and Rec. Meeting on Wed., July 26th and Informed us that Vancouver is first City in Canada to ban not only rodeos, but also outlawed roping, tripping, busting, wrestling, electric shocking/prodding, use of whips, spurs, calf roping, etc.
III. Approval/Comments of Draft Minutes
Comr. Schulke – 4B: in place of “Ammiano,” correct with “Peskin”
Comr. Franklin – 4C: corrects that she said she deals mostly with cats and dogs because there are more people here with cats and dogs
Comr. Schulke requested if someone wants to move to accept the minutes,
Comr. Franklin – moved, Comr. Kennedy – seconded, and minutes were approved by all (Comment: Great Job Comr. Hamilton!)
IV. Chairpersons Report and Opening Remarks
A. Discussion and review of meeting with Board President Peskin.
Comr. Schulke - Good to be back – Discussion with Arron Peskin resulted in small budget for commission and attendance of Rec. and Park and Health Dept. designees at the meetings
B. Adding the licensing of professional dog walkers as an agenda item.
B1. Comr. Schulke - Proposed municipal - licensing of dog walker services requiring things such as adequate insurance, safe transportation, licensing fee will be split between Park and Rec and ACC, and there will be misdemeanor charges for violations of this ordinance
B2. Comr. Friedman – Comments about ventilations and restraints voluntary suggestions/guidelines that ACC already has (not requirements) and intends on participating in the drafting of such codification. Main issue = enforcement.
B3. Comr. Schulke – Agreed and would like to move the spirit of the law from voluntary to required, added that constituents have been complaining about a need for this ordinance, and notified commission that this will be discussed at the next meeting.
B4. Comr. Kennedy – Suggests collaborating with someone on the dog advisory committee
Motion
C1. Comr. Schulke – Raised subject to change order of next Agenda item to address New Business Item 8A
C2. Comr. Friedman – Stated City Attorney was hear to discuss 8A, but she has a limited schedule
C3. Comr. Schulke –States that there must be a Motion to move/change agenda item, Comr. Hamilton moves, Comr. Franklin second, and all agreed to address 8A out of order
V. New Business
A. Commissioner Kennedy-Routhier Commission Guidelines for media contact
A1. Comr. Kennedy described the subject of “guidelines for media contact” and wanted to discuss goals of commission and how to reach those goals. Concerned about public reputation. Suggested that a group decision should be arrived at. Comr. Franklin moved to hear the item, Comr. Schulke seconded and all approved.
A2. Comr. Hamilton supported the agenda item and described the public perception of assumed “spoke person”-ness, and later stated that more specificity with what this item entailed is needed
A3. Comr. Franklin notes that discussing this item is somewhat premature without knowing precisely what we are talking about
A4. Comr. Garcia supports free speech and suggests the remedy that the precursor/disclaimer to a Commissioner’s opinion to the media could merely be beginning an opinion with “this is my own opinion.”
A5. Comr. Kennedy believed also in free speech, and at same time wonders if we “should” use this right out of concern for the impact on other departments & future success of Commission to get work done, and later expressed our need to be smart with the media.
A6. Comr. Friedman described his utmost respect for this commission, expressed the importance of media, expressed his experience with the media creating frenzies, and that guidelines will not “muzzle.”
A7. Comr. Schulke does not support having any “guidelines” for commissioners due to the chilling effect on constitutional rights, such as his first amendment, questioned the legality of such restrictive guidelines, agreed with Comr. Garcia’s comment, expressed disagreement with “formal guidelines” restricting free speech, and approved of having commissioners say that they are speaking on their own behalf
A8. City Attorney noted that the chair person should be the person who brings official commissioner opinions forward to the public, and that it was within the commissioners constitutionally protected right to speak with the media and that clarifying that you are speaking on your own behalf is suggested, and any policy by this commission would be a consensus policy so long as it does not violate any persons free speech rights. Guidelines would not be enforceable, only something like a mission statement.
A9. Public Comment:
Ron Cole – thought that speaking to the media before a meeting does not lend to a “fair and impartial” hearing.
L-Danyielle Yacobucci – media needs to be done carefully and stating that you are speaking from your own person because it inflames the public.
Richard Fong suggested looking into ethical guidelines for commissioners.
Laura Massa - Supported guidelines. Said the commissioners choose to serve on the commission and therefore choose to yield from your own egos and opinions. The commissioners shouldn't see these guidelines as an impairment to their freedom of speech, but rather a protocol, as rules of etiquette in their public lives.
Comr. Schulke moved to have this agenda item moved to next meeting, Comr. Hamilton seconded and added that he would like to see a policy in writing to vote on, Comr. Friedman suggested having the City Attorney start drafting. All Commissioners approved having the item moved to the next meeting
VI. Committee Reports/Commissioner’s Reports
Commissioner Franklin update on domestic violence and companion animal local law.
Comr. Franklin spoke with numerous people and will be having another meeting at the end of July which she will report on next month. Additionally, Mark Leno’s office has shown interest in this particular item.
VII. Old Business
A. Commission Budget
A1. Comr. Schulke discussed winning a budget for the commission to perhaps get a secretary. Comr. Friedman stated that this Commission now has a $10,000 budget to be administered out of general services.
A2. Public Comment: L-Danyielle Yacobucci says its great and perhaps the secretarial position could be a “stepping stone” to being able to work with the commission
B. Department of Health and Recreation and Park representatives attending Commission meetings.
B1. Comr. Schulke updated that he spoke with Peskin about the issue and that they will be working on getting Health and Recreation and Park representatives attending Commission meetings
B2. Comr. Friedman supported their efforts and stated that their participation will be invaluable
B3. Comr. Hamilton asked if this Commission has a say in who they send; Comr. Schulke said we could make suggestions
B4. Public Comment:
L-Danyielle Yacobucci says that the Natural Areas Plan (NAP) is not very friendly and input on who would be coming is important
Pam Hemphill stated that the NAP involves wildlife which comes under the purview of this commission and some discussion is needed
Eric Mills, Action for Animals – says that he’s delighted that Park and Rec and people from the zoo may come, he is concerned about the frogs in golden gate park and congratulated us on the budget
C. Commission Elections to be held January 2007 meeting.
C1. Comr. Schulke distinguished terms such as “calendar year” and that the Board would have to change. Discussion unsued by Comr. Kennedy, Franklin, Friedman and Schulke to describe why this election time change makes sense. Comr. Hamilton believed it to be more fair.
C2. Public Comment: none
C3. Comr. Schulke moved to have elections again in January for officers, Comr. Hamilton seconded, and all approved.
VIII. Public Comment
L-Danyielle Yacobucci says that members of the public need to bring their wildlife issues to the commission, not the rules committee
Pam Hemphill commented re: the drafting of minutes
Ron Cole suggested that there should be an e-mail address at the bottom of the minutes for people to send their corrections to
IX. Closing Review of Task Allotment and Calendar Items
A. Comrs. Kennedy and Hamilton will work on the drafting of the media guidelines with the city attorney
B. Comr. Franklin re: e-mail to minutes
C. Comr. Franklin added Domestic Violence to the agenda
D. Comr. Garcia will discuss cubicle and mail status of Commission
X. Adjournment
Comr. Hamilton moved to close meeting, Comr. Franklin seconded and all approved. Comr. Schulke officially closed meeting.
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