1. CALL TO ORDER/ AGENDA CHANGES

Vice President Andrea Shorter called the meeting to order at 4:19 pm

Action: To excuse President Kirshner-Rodriguez.                                                m/s/c (Soo/Mesloh/Unanimous)

Action: To approve the meeting agenda as amended.                                       m/s/c (Mesloh/Soo/Unanimous)

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  

Action: To approve draft minutes from June 24, 2015.                                      m/s/c (Mesloh/Soo/Unanimous)

3. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Dr. Murase provided the following highlights of her report:

1. The Department hosted an employer conference on August 6, 2015, Employer 411, to educate employers on issues of equal pay, fair scheduling, and slavery-free supply chains in partnership with the Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau (Region IX), AAUW San Francisco Branch, and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Dr. Murase thanked Vice President Shorter for attending and providing opening remarks and Workplace Policy and Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Newman for her work organizing another successful event.

2. Associate Director Carol Sacco convened two Partner Agency meetings. The 2014 Annual Partner Agency Meeting was on the topic of Emergency Preparedness, including Organizational Emergency Preparedness and Business Continuity Planning. A hands-on workshop to develop continuity plans was also offered as a follow up. The 2015 Annual Partner Agency meeting focused on research and findings on preventing intimate partner violence in immigrant and refugee communities. Dr. Murase thanked Ms. Sacco for coordinating the very well attended and valuable meetings.

3. The Domestic Violence Liaison program has been launched. This program will train City employees to be a supportive presence in the workplace for co-workers who are experiencing domestic violence. So far, 45 employees have volunteered from 24 different departments. This effort began as an idea at a meeting several years ago with Dr. Murase with Vice President Andrea Shorter, Domestic Violence Consortium Executive Director Beverly Upton and Department of Human Resources Director Micki Callahan. Dr. Murase thanked Women’s Policy Director Minouche Kandel for her continued work to move this program forward.

4. The final budget for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 was approved with a significant General Fund increase for the Department on the Status of Women’s Violence Against Women (VAW) Prevention & Intervention Grants Program.  Agencies funded in the previous VAW Grants Cycle will receive a 10% increase in their General Fund Support for the upcoming cycle to foster innovation, infrastructure, and self-care in the community. The remainder of the increase will go toward funding five new programs, including an after-hours emergency response to support commercially sexually exploited children & young adults in San Francisco. All VAW Partner Agencies will also receive a 2.5% Cost-of-Doing-Business Adjustment. The Board of Supervisors additionally approved two addbacks for the Department—one to fund domestic violence prevention services for Filipina women and for domestic violence survivors in the LGBTQ community, for a total of $23,000 in support over two years. Dr. Murase thanked Fiscal and Policy Analyst Stephanie Nguyen for her work and acknowledged the strong advocacy and partnership with Domestic Violence Consortium, which contributed to the high level of city investment in anti-violence against women services.

5. Dr. Murase acknowledged and thanked the summer interns for their exceptional work at the Department. Dr. Murase noted that the Department has been served by a fantastic group of young women and thanked Ms. Sacco for her stewardship of the internship program, which has resulted in interns of very high caliber.

6. This will be the last week for Fiscal and Policy Analyst Stephanie Nguyen, who has contributed greatly to the work of Department. Dr. Murase thanked Ms. Nguyen for her service and mentioned that the position will be soon posted. The Department’s new Administrative Coordinator Herschell Larrick will start on Monday, September 14.

Commissioners stated this report had very good news to hear, especially regarding the budget increase and the inclusion of Domestic Violence liaisons in the City workforce. Vice President Shorter noted that after being at the meeting years ago where idea was developed, it is wonderful to see it come to fruition.

4. CONSENT AGENDA                                                                              

Action:  To approve the Consent Agenda.                                                   m/s/c (Soo/Mesloh/Unanimous)

1. Resolution Recognizing H. Lenn Keller for Pride Month
2. Resolution Recognizing League of Women Voters for Women’s Equality Day
3. Resolution Recognizing Stephanie Nguyen
4. Resolution Recognizing Amy Ackerman
5. To adopt the final FY 2015-2016 & FY 2016-2017 department budget, including addbacks and carryforward funding.

Commissioners noted that they originally planned to recognize Ms. Keller for Gay Pride Month in June, but due to scheduling challenges, needed to postpone. Commissioners highlighted Ms. Keller's career as the founding organizer of the Bay Area Lesbian History Archives Project.

Commissioners commended the League of Women Voters of San Francisco (LWVSF) and thanked them for their work and service to the community. Commissioners noted that the LWVSF was instrumental in bringing the Carter-Ford presidential debate to San Francisco in 1976 and urged them to bring another presidential debate to the city.

League of Women Voters of San Francisco President Ashley Raveche expressed gratitude to the Commission for recognizing their work on voter education, policy advocacy, and civic engagement. Ms. Raveche thanked the Commission for their unrelenting action on ending VAW, advancing women in the workplace, and increasing women’s representation in the public sphere. LWVSF shared their honor with all who fight for equality and invite others who want to make a difference to join them.

Karen Valentia Clopton, LWVSF Past President, expressed that in 1911, women won the right to vote in California, making our state the 6^th star on the flag towards equality.

Commissioners thanked and acknowledged Ms. Nguyen for her service and noted that she will bring her skill set to continue to advocate for women and girls.

Commissioners commended departing commissioner Amy Ackerman for her contributions and thanked her for her service.

5. OLD BUSINESS

1. Mayor’s Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking Report                                          

Action: To approve the Mayor’s Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking Report.                            m/s/c (Zwart/Mesloh/Unanimous)

Women’s Policy Director Minouche Kandel presented the Mayor’s Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking’s Human Trafficking in San Francisco Report for approval. Policy Fellow Julie Lim presented on the report in June. Ms. Kandel shared updated recommendations and explained that the Mayor’s Task Force had approved the Report today at their meeting, with the Commissioners approval, it would be published publicly by September.

Executive Director Murase remarked on the groundbreaking nature of this report, explaining that there are issues of data reliability, but we need to start somewhere. The Department plans to put out a press release.

Commissioners thanked Ms. Kandel for her work on to inform and draft the report. Commissioners asked for clarification on sources of data and whether the report will be downloadable for public. Ms. Kandel noted it will be on the website by September to be accessed by the public.

2. NEW BUSINESS

1. Nominations of Officers for FY 2015 – 2016

Action: To nominate a Vice President for FY 2015 – 2016.                          m/s/c (Soo/Zwart /Unanimous)

Commissioner Debbie Mesloh was nominated for Vice President.

Action: To nominate a President for FY 2015 – 2016.                                 m/s/c (Zwart/Mesloh/Unanimous)

Vice President Andrea Shorter for was nominated for President.

2. Elections of Officers for FY 2015 – 2016

Action: To elect a Vice-President for FY 2015 – 2016.                                m/s/c (Shorter/Soo/Unanimous)

Commissioner Debbie Mesloh was elected Vice President unanimously.

Action: To elect a President for FY 2015 – 2016.                                        m/s/c (Soo/Zwart/Unanimous)

Vice President Shorter was elected President unanimously.

3. Domestic Violence Bystander Engagement Campaign

Action: To approve the proposed outreach campaign.                               m/s/c (Zwart/Shorter/Unanimous)

Women's Policy Director Minouche Kandel introduced the subject and asked Summer Policy Intern Jenna Waldman to report on the proposed anti-domestic violence campaign slated for October 2015. Ms. Waldman shared results on her research on components of effective anti-domestic violence outreach campaigns, which included positive imagery, engaging the general public, showing different forms of domestic violence and relationships, and translation and cultural adaptation to reach broad audience.

Ms. Kandel introduced Rae Quigley of Circlepoint, to explain the neighborhood targeting to areas with the most 911 domestic violence calls, the locations of ads on the interior and exterior of buses and bus shelters, and an online campaign on Facebook and OKCupid that will be geo-targeted by zip code. Ms. Quigley showed drafts of the messages and explained that they will use focus groups to test messages and design with Latino, Chinese, and LGBTQI communities, as well as the general public.

Commissioners asked about the use of other dating sites and apps, the duration of campaign, and how they will measure success. Commissioners supported the emphasis on bystander engagement in ending domestic violence. Ms. Quigley stated that the campaign will be up for at least 4 weeks and that they will provide a report documenting the metrics and reach of the campaign.

Public Comment:

1. Bev Uptown thanked the Department for inviting the Domestic Violence Consortium to provide input, stating 25 agencies gave feedback. Ms. Upton applauded the use of dating sites and apps in the campaign, especially to reach young people engaged in intimate relationships.

2. Katharine Berg of La Casa de las Madres expressed support of the campaign and stated that their organization will conduct their domestic violence awareness month campaign to continue engagement over longer amount of time.

4. Intimate Partner Violence in the LGBTQI Community         

Summer Policy Intern Ruka Wang highlighted their work at the Department, including researching issues of LGBTQI inclusion in the domestic violence narrative. They also worked on the Request for Proposals for two budgetary addbacks, arranged for translation services for the Partner Agency Annual Conference, analyzed trends in the Violence Against Women Prevention and Intervention Grants Program, and supported Department staff in ways large and small. Ruka thanked Ms. Sacco, Ms. Nguyen, Commissioners, and Department staff for a great learning experience.

Commissioners thanked Ruka Wang for their work, comprehensive, thorough, review of these issues, and look forward to reading their brief. Dr. Murase thanked what she described as the best yet interns and acknowledged Ms. Sacco for oversight of the program and staff for supervising.

12. AGENDA FOR FUTURE COMMISSION MEETINGS

Dr. Murase explained that due to Jewish holidays, the next Commission meeting will be September 16 and start an hour earlier.

Commissioner Soo asked that the Resolution on Comfort Women be on the September agenda, as it will be heard at the Neighborhood Services and Safety Committee on the following day. Commissioner Soo also requested an update on affordability and a chance to discuss the issue of safety for women on public transit.

Vice President Shorter also supported an affordability update.

IX. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT  

Roberta Guise of AAUW San Francisco congratulated newly elected President Andrea Shorter and Vice President Debbie Mesloh. Ms. Guise updated the Commission that she is stepping down from her position as co-chair of public policy committee to focus on FemResources, a new nonprofit she started to support women in the workpace.

Commissioners welcomed Commissioner Zwart to her first meeting and stated that they look forward to working together.

 X. ADJOURNMENT                                                            

Action: To adjourn the meeting.                                                                  m/s/c (Shorter/Mesloh/Unanimous)

Commissioner Soo asked that the meeting be adjourned in the memory of Sarah Choy, former staff of the Commission on Aging, and Julian Bond of the Southern Poverty Law Center. Vice President Shorter adjourned the meeting at 5:45 pm.