CALL TO ORDER

2:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL

President Elizabeth Salveson

Vice President Kate Favetti

Commissioner Douglas S. Chan

Commissioner F. X. Crowley

Commissioner Jacqueline P. Minor

President Elizabeth Salveson presided.

REQUEST TO SPEAK ON ANY MATTER WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION BUT NOT APPEARING ON TODAY’S AGENDA  (Item No. 2)

Jarmee Thieu, states she has made numerous inquiries with the Department of Human Resources EEO unit regarding her EEO investigation and is experiencing significant delays in receiving her determination letter.  She is requesting CSC to look into this matter.

Gail Byrdsong, SEIU Local 1021, states “today I want to talk about the staffing shortages and the delay in hiring particularly in the Department of Public Health (DPH) but it is a citywide problem.  We have a few staff members here to speak about it who work on the front line to tell you how it is effecting not only staff but the clients that they serve.  We would like to know why there is a major delay with staffing.”

Brenda Barros, states “I want to talk to you about promotive lines.  There are many classifications that are “dead end classes.”  There is no promotive lines for them.  I think I am about to be put in one.  Where I am at the hospital, my next line should be a Class 2909 but because the classification I am in [it does not allow me to promote].  We need to know what the promotive lines are for these classifications.  I need to know what the promotive lines are for Class 1410.”

Michael McDonough, states “I am a Mental Health Clinician with Mental Health Access.  My concern is with DPH HR.  Programs within CBHS and Primary Care designed with staffing ratios deliver the optimal level of service for the populations they serve.  Chronic staffing shortages, due to unfilled vacant positions, not only compromises the level of service delivered to clients, but has a detrimental impact on health and wellbeing of staff raising concerns of liability and risk.  The estimated time to fill a vacant position is estimated to be thirteen months.”

Ellen Lee Zhou, states “I am a public social worker.  I am a SEIU 1021 bargaining team member for government employees.  I have been coming to you in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.  The last time I was here was on January 6, 2020.  I reported to you about failing public policies created by politicians who are 100% democrats for forty-five years.  Mono-party democratic leaders failed to address SF’s ongoing social problems such as homelessness, drug abusers dominated public streets, public health and public safety.”

Osha Ashworth, states “I am a Business Representative for IBEW Local 6.  Based on information and rumors within our bargaining unit, we did a public records request.  The Department of Technology (DT) issued a request for proposal (RFP) through their technology market place for staff augmentation services for the enterprise network resiliency and splicer fiber projects.  There was a virtual cut in pay for our Class 7308 Cable Splicer classification [7308].  Local 6 was not noticed of this RFP.  We were told that only Local 21 was only required to be noticed for the technology market place.  We are looking for an explanation why staff augmentation of civil service classifications is not included as a personal services contract and why Local 6 was not notified.  Our secondary concern is DT maybe looking to reassign 7308 work to 5382 Student Design Trainee.  At DT our represented classification is sitting in about 50% Exempt appointments.”

APPROVAL OF MINUTES  (Item No. 3)

Regular Meeting of February 3, 2020

Action:

Adopted the minutes.  (Vote of 5 to 0)

Special Meeting of February 11, 2020

Action:

Adopted the minutes.  (Vote of 5 to 0)

ANNOUNCEMENTS  (Item No. 4)

Sandra Eng, Acting Executive Director announced that the San Francisco Fire Department requested to postpone PSC #43972-19/20 to March 16, 2020.

HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR’S REPORT  (Item No. 5)

Micki Callahan, Human Resources Director made three (3) announcements:

(1)  DHR has opened up its operations in support of the City’s emergency operations center at the Department of Emergency Management in response to COVID-19 also known as the coronavirus outbreak.  DHR has had staff there for several weeks identifying disaster service workers from departments to be deployed to assist in areas at the EEOC for community outreach, preparing communications and doing data analysis.  Most people are being deployed during their regular work hours for two weeks at a time.

(2)  DHR’s Selection and Hiring Director has deployed staff and is involved in assisting DPH in speeding up its hiring.

(3)  DHR’s report in collaboration with the Office of Racial Equity and the Controller’s Office is due to the board of supervisors by the end of the week.  That will be a useful document to look at the steps taken to eliminate the racial inequity in our City and will be speaking about the report at the Government Audit & Oversight Committee on March 19, 2020.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT  (Item No. 6)

Sandra Eng, Acting Executive Director made three (3) announcements:

(1)  A settlement agreement has been issued.  SEIU Local 1021 filed an unfair practice charge against the Civil Service Commission (CSC).  This had to do with the rule amendments regarding de-identification.  This was a valuable learning experience working with PERB, City Attorney’s Office, DHR’s Labor Relations Director and the former CSC Executive Director.  SEIU Local 1021 was extremely respectful.  The settlement agreement states the Civil Service Commission is to provide a twenty-one (21) day advance notice to a designated SEIU email address anytime there is a report, rule amendment or policy change pertaining to de-identification.

(2)  DHR included me on a conference sponsored by Smart Recruiters called Hiring Successes.  This particular conference stood out because it included not only all the type of programs available to assist employers with recruiting but there were also many private and public employers present.  What was interesting about this conference is that not only did we talk about different ways we can recruit but the subject of diversity and inclusion were all throughout the two-day conference.

(3)  At the December 2, 2019 meeting, Commissioner Chan had requested Commission staff to look into an article regarding SEIU Local 1021 and their concerns about DPH employees not being able to use their bilingual skills and receive bilingual pay.

Michael Brown, Human Resources Director of DPH was present to respond to the request and provided the following update, “DPH values diversity and employees are encouraged to speak their native language in the workplace, however when providing care, we ask to speak in English so that everyone knows what kind of care will be given, especially in an emergency department.  During the 2019 contract negotiations there was an issue that came up regarding bi-lingual pay.  There is a new provision in almost all of the contracts that changes the terms and conditions that changes how employees are compensated and the requirement of the examination in order to be certified.  Out of that there were a few nurses from ED that were not satisfied and they believed that their supervisor told them they could not speak a certain language in the workplace, which was not true.  Currently, there is a form that the manager must sign off on saying I am requesting this employee to be certified, then the individual will be scheduled for testing.”

0045-20-8

Review of Request for Approval of Proposed Personal Services Contracts.

(Item No. 7)

PSC#

Department

Amount

Type of Service

Type of Approval

Duration

41761-19/20

City Administrator

$65,000,000

The contractor will provide refuse collection services (recyclables, compostables, and trash) for City and County of San Francisco departments.

Regular

12/30/2027

45328-19/20

Controller

$2,800,000

The City seeks consultants to develop an approach for assessing required Chart Field, Set ID and Business Units from our status quo approach that includes 9 Business Units and at least 2 Set IDs in the City’s Oracle PeopleSoft 9.2 Human Capital Management (HCM) system, 1 Business Unit in the City’s Oracle PeopleSoft 9.2 Financials and Supply Chain Management System (FCSM) General Ledger Module and up to 3 Business Units in some of the other 16 FSCM Modules, perform the assessment to determine the changes needed, benefits to workflows and reporting, create, manage and implement a detailed implementation plan to execute all changes in PeopleSoft.

Regular

3/1/2026

43972-19/20

Fire Department

$5,000,000

Contractor will provide specialized Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to members of several of the City’s First Responder agencies and their dependents.  This will be a multi-agency program, and the Fire Department will take the lead on the contract.  The two agencies starting the program will be the San Francisco Police Department and the San Francisco Fire Department, with the possibility of the Sheriff, Medical Examiner, and Dispatch (DEM) participating at a later date.  The services will include, but not be limited to, specialized outpatient behavioral health services, and critical incidence stress response services.

Regular

6/30/2023

45085-19/20

Public Utilities Commission

$5,700,000

The contractor works with ranchers and farmers to use biosolids as a fertilizer.  The contractor secures all necessary permitting required for the use of biosolids as a fertilizer.  Annual fees for permitting are paid by the contractor.  The contractor manages the agronomic application of biosolids so that nitrogen added to a field to meet its nitrogen needs, the contractor moves the application operation to a new field.  When moving to a new field, the contractor is responsible for coordinating with the trucking contractor for the transportation of biosolids to the new location.  The contractor is responsible for ensuring the all country ordinances are followed during the course of operations at each field.  This includes the posting of signs, flagging of buffer areas where biosolids are not to be applied, setting up a mobile weather station, a portable toilet and a washdown station for trucks.  The contractor is responsible for the spreading and discing (incorporation) of the biosolids on each field.  Coordination with the ranchers, farmers, and county is the responsibility of the contractor.

Regular

4/14/2025

PSC#

Department

Amount

Type of Service

Type of Approval

Duration

4095-12/13

Department of Emergency Management

Current Approved Amount

$1,638,972

Increase Amount Requested

$0

New Total Amount Requested

$1,638,972

The CORES Responder Management System integrates the verification of responder credentials and the deployment of responders during an emergency.  The CORES Alert Notification System facilities mass notification and two-way communication to provide immediate delivery of customized alerts to any number of relevant recipients.  The contract will include hours for training and support hours.

Modification

6/30/2022

47199-14/15

Environment

Current Approved Amount

$5,000,000

Increase Amount Requested

$0

New Total Amount Requested

$5,000,000

Conduct technical assistance and consulting  for City Departments engaged in developing building codes, financing programs, and the design, construction and operation of new buildings, major renovations, tenant improvements and existing buildings where subcontractors for specific areas of expertise are required: research, economic, technical and environmental analyses, energy modeling, green building, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and GreenPoint Rated consulting, post-occupancy evaluation, policy and program design and implementation support.

Modification

5/31/2023

40634-15/16

Mayor

Current Approved Amount

$1,500,000

Increase Amount Requested

$750,000

New Total Amount Requested

$2,250,000

The Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) is seeking to establish a pool of qualified financial advisors to advise the City on all pertinent issues relating to particular financings and ensure that the City’s transactions meet all applicable standards of competence and fiscal prudence, while adhering to program requirements and affordable housing objectives.  The financial advisors will; provide advisory services to competitive sales, negotiated sales, private placements, and management of housing assets and/or bond types (tax bond, revenue bonds, etc.), provide financial advisory services to structuring the City’s affordable housing programs; and provide advisory services for structuring of particularly complex development proposals.

Modification

11/25/2022

47850-17/18

Police

Current Approved Amount

$1,000,000

Increase Amount Requested

$75,000

New Total Amount Requested

$1,075,000

The contractor will provide on-call phlebotomy service 24 hours a day/7days a week/365 days a year to law enforcement agencies in the City and County of San Francisco.  Contractor staff will perform immediate blood draws (within 45 minutes of call) at various locations on suspects Driving Under the Influence (DUI) who refuse to voluntarily submit to a chemical test.  These blood draws must be conducted according to specific standards that include informed consent and other legal requirements.  Procedures for blood draws on DUI suspects are different from blood draws for health reasons.  Contractor staff will also participate in evidence handling training by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and scheduled court testimony by the District Attorney.

Scope Change:

We are updating scope of work to include phlebotomy service for other criminal investigations.  Current scope of work is only for DUI suspects.

Modification

6/30/2022

4111-12/13

Public Utilities Commission

Current Approved Amount

$1,000,000

Increase Amount Requested

$900,000

New Total Amount Requested

$1,900,000

The Scope of Work consists of four (4) categories of banking and payment services: (1) Enrollment Services to help San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) increase customer enrollment in Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment (EBPP); (2) EBPP Services to help SFPUC increase its customer use of EBPP through a bank or non-bank EBPP service; (3) EBPP Services to help SFPUC increase its customer use of EBPP through its own SFPUC centered/branded EBPP service; and (4) Other options to deliver EBPP such as ATMs, Kiosks, Mobile Device, In person cash, check and/or card payments, and others.

Modification

8/31/2024

PSC#

Department

Amount

Type of Service

Type of Approval

Duration

47498-14/15

Public Utilities Commission

Current Approved Amount

$3,300,000

Increase Amount Requested

$1,000,000

New Total Amount Requested

$4,300,000

Project Pull is a summer internship program established to provide professional guidance in a work experience setting within the City Agencies to motivate students to continue their education so they may seek employment opportunities in the public service sector or other highly disciplined career fields.  Students selected from the program demonstrate an ability and interest in professional careers such as architecture, business, engineering and science.  Consultant will manage the program and advance funds for all students interns’ and team leaders’ salaries and program enrichment activities.

Modification

4/30/2021

4070-09/10

Department of Technology

Current Approved Amount

$41,000,000

Increase Amount Requested

$0

New Total Amount Requested

$41,000,000

As needed, project specific services for a variety of highly specialized Telecommunications and Information Technology (IT) projects.  Services will including system design, wireless analysis, business analysis, programming, configuration and training, software design, data and voice network architecture, and will vary depending on the requirements that are developed by the requesting department.  Services are to be provided in conjunction with the acquisition of new information technology and telecommunications equipment.

Modification

12/31/2026

4096-05/06

Public Health

Current Approved Amount

$2,122,500

Increase Amount Requested

$745,000

New Total Amount Requested

$2,867,500

Therapeutic apheresis is a procedure in which the patient’s blood is collected using automated FDA approved devices, separated into its components (RBCs, WBCs, Platelets and/or plasma) and filtered.  The suspected pathologic component is discarded, and the remaining components are returned to the patient along with replacement fluids.  Auto transfusion services are used in an effort to reduce allogeneic (blood from donor) blood transfusion.  It is indicated in a variety of surgical procedures whenever major blood loss is anticipated and it is the only acceptable method of transfusion for Jehovah’s Witness patients because blood remains in continuity within the auto-transfusion circuit.

Scope Change:

Therapeutic apheresis is a procedure in which the patient’s blood is collected using automated FDA approved devices, separated into its components (RBCs, WBCs, Platelets and/or plasma) and filtered.  The suspected pathologic component is discarded, and the remaining components are returned to the patient along with replacement fluids.  Auto transfusion services are used in an effort to reduce allogeneic (blood from a donor) blood transfusion.  It is indicated in a variety of surgical procedures whenever major blood loss is anticipated and it is the only acceptable method of transfusion for Jehovah’s Witnesses patients because blood remains in continuity within the autotransfusion circuit.

Modification

6/30/2028

42832-14/15

Public Health

Current Approved Amount

$1,960,000

Increase Amount Requested

$2,240,000

New Total Amount Requested

$4,200,000

As needed, temporary, supplemental and credential verification registry personnel services for the Medical Staff Services Departments of San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH) and Laguna Honda Hospital (LHH), as well as for Community Behavioral Health Services (CBHS).  This service assists current staff to meet unanticipated workload peaks in demand and whenever staff is unavailable to attend standing meetings.  Contractor’s staff will also support in-house staff to verify providers’ licenses, certificates and board certifications of physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists and midwives on as-needed basis.  This will include assistance with credentialing and privileging of Medical Staff (e.g., physicians, dentists, psychologists & podiatrists) and Affiliate Professionals (e.g., nurse practitioners, certified midwives, certified nurse anesthetists, physician assistants), support for Clinical Services related to Bylaws, Rules and Regulations.

Modification

6/30/2025

PSC#

Department

Amount

Type of Service

Type of Approval

Duration

47083-13/14

Public Health

Current Approved Amount

$7,480,000

Increase Amount Requested

$6,160,000

New Total Amount Requested

$13,640,000

For San Francisco General Hospital and Medical Center (SFGHMC) and Laguna Honda Hospital (LHH), provide off-site storage and retrieval services through a combination of scheduled and stat deliveries, year-round, twenty-four hours a day, seven days-a-week including holidays.  This PSC is requested for five years or more as the Department expects the need for these services to continue and funding to be available.  The services are critical to maintaining the documentation needed for treatment, evaluation, billing, and legal purposes.

Modification

6/30/2029

46615-15/16

Sheriff

Current Approved Amount

$265,390

Increase Amount Requested

$66,740

New Total Amount Requested

$332,130

Operate a shuttle service from Civic Center BART station, Balboa Park BART station, and possibly San Bruno BART station to the San Bruno Jail Facility.  The shuttle service will operate on weekends and pre-selected Holidays from 7:00 am to 2:30 pm.  The shuttle service will provide a large bus with the passenger capacity of 29; 1 driver and 28 riders.

Modification

4/30/2021

42881-17/18

Human Services Agency

Current Approved Amount

$116,378

Increase Amount Requested

$11,638

New Total Amount Requested

$128,016

This project will convert a large volume of paper case folders to indexed electronic document images ready for upload, using the Kofax Capture SML import connector.  All scanned documents will be indexed and released into the Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS), Open Text Content Services for the San Francisco Human Services Agency (HSA), Investigations Department.  This project achieves the following goals: multi-user access to case documentation, reduction of individual knowledge dependency (i.e., any worker can work on a case), support for the ability to have satellite office locations, progress toward a paperless environment, reduction in physical storage requirements, and the ability to back-up case files for disaster recovery.

Modification

3/31/2020

Speakers:

Joan Lubamersky and Daniel Sanchez, City Administer spoke on PSC #41761-19/20.

Barry Hooper, Department of Environment spoke on PSC #47199-14/15.

Bill Irwin, Department of Public Health spoke on PC #47498-14/15.

Action:

1. Approved the San Francisco Fire Department request to postpone PSC #43972-19/20 to March 16, 2020.  (Vote of 5 to 0)

2. Approved PSC #47199-14/15 with the condition the Department of Environment amend PSC Form 1, Question 6B to explain the training component and transfer of knowledge.  (Vote of 5 to 0)

3. Approved PSC #47498-14/15 with the condition the Public Utilities Commission amend PSC Form 1, Question 2B and 1E to distinguish the differences between this current personal service contract (PSC) and the new PSC related to Project Pull.  (Vote of 5 to 0)

4. Adopted the report and approved the remaining requests for proposed Personal Services Contracts; Notify the Office of the Controller and the Office of Contract Administration.  (Vote 5 to 0)

0009-20-8

Update of Proposed Personal Services Contracts Number 40794-19/20 to Correct Union Notification and Modify Duration to Five Years.  (Item No. 8)

February 3, 2020:

The item was placed off calendar at the request of General Services Agency.

Speaker:

None.

Action:

Approved the report.  (Vote of 5 to 0)

0047-20-1

Report of Future Employment Restrictions and Probationary Releases for the period of July 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019.  (Item No. 9)

Speaker:

None.

Action:

Adopted the report.  (Vote of 5 to 0)

0046-20-1

Report of Expired Exempt Appointments Under Charter Sections 10.104-16 through 10.104-18 for the Period of July 1, 2019 to December 31,2019.  (Item No. 10)

Speaker:

None.

Action:

Adopted the report.  (Vote of 5 to 0)

0048-20-1

Report of Exempt Appointments and Position Requests Under Charter Sections 10.104-16 through 10.104-18 for the Period of July 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019.
(Item No. 11)

Speakers:

Shawn Sherburne, Department of Human Resources

Osha Ashworth, IBEW Local 6

Action:

Adopted the report.  (Vote of 5 to 0)

0023-20-5

Request for Status Grant Opportunity to Class 1410 Chief Clerk for Incumbents of Class 1431 Senior Unit Clerks.  (Item No. 12)

Speakers:

Michael Brown, Department of Public Health

Brenda Barros, Department of Public Health

Action:

Approved the status grant with the condition that the decision will be held in abeyance for thirty (30) days pending notification of current incumbents in Class 1410 Chief Clerk and that Class 1431 Senior Unit Clerk classification be abolished.  (Vote of 5 to 0)

Public comment on all matters pertaining to Items #14 and #15.  (Item No. 13)

None.

Vote on whether to hold Item #15 in closed session.  (Item No. 14)

Action:

The Commission voted not conduct Agenda Item #15 in Closed Session.  (Vote of 5 to 0)

0029-20-1

Closed Session – PUBLIC EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENT.  (Item No. 15)

February 3, 2020:

No action was taken.

The Closed Session started at 3:25 p.m. and ended at 4:29 p.m. in City Hall, Room 400 and the following individuals were present:

Elizabeth Salveson, President, CSC

Kate Favetti, Vice President, CSC

Jacqueline Minor, Commissioner, CSC

F.X. Crowley, Commissioner, CSC

Douglas Chan, Commissioner, CSC

Lisa Powell, City Attorney’s Office

Reconvene in Open Session.  Vote to elect whether to disclose any or all discussions on
Item #15 in closed session (S.F. Admin. Code §67.12 (a))  (Item No. 16)

Action:

The Commission voted not to disclose the discussions held in Closed Session for Item #15.  (Vote of 5 to 0)

Action:

The Commission disclosed that it made further progress with the employee appointment and will continue the item to the Special Meeting held on March 6, 2020.  (Vote of 5 to 0)

COMMISSIONERS’ ANNOUNCEMENTS/REQUESTS  (Item No. 17)

Commissioner Favetti requested CSC staff to collaborate with DHR to provide a follow up to the concerns that were brought forth during public comment by IBEW Local 6, specifically addressing (1) Exempt Appointments in Class 7308 Cable Splicer, (2) determine if this is a quasi-personal services contract, (3) investigate the allegation and determine if the Class 7308 Cable Splicer is being used in a personal services contract and (4) report back to the Commission.

Commissioner Salveson added that she would like CSC staff to investigate if the Commission has already reviewed the Personal Services Contract from the Department of Technology involving Cable Splicer referenced by Osha Ashworth during public comment.  In addition, Commissioner Salveson requested CSC staff to check on issues raised by Jarmee Thieu and status of her determination letter regarding her EEO investigation.

Acting Executive Director, Sandra Eng responded that she has been in communication with DHR EEO regarding Jarmee Thieu EEO investigation.

ADJOURNMENT  (Item No. 18)

The meeting adjourned at 4:37 p.m.