1. CALL TO ORDER/ AGENDA CHANGES

President Debbie Mesloh called the meeting to order at 4:12 pm. President Mesloh excused the absence of Vice President Breanna Zwart and Commissioner Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz. She reminded the Commissioners that the Commission would meet November 1 for the Strategic Planning meeting at the Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Avenue, Room 125 from 9 am to 1:30 pm, and December 6 at 25 Van Ness Avenue, Room 70 at 4pm.

President Mesloh requested a moment of silence in honor of the North Bay fire victims and survivors.

Commission Secretary Herschell Larrick asked Commissioners to make a change to the Agenda; he asked that Item 5A in the New Business “Proposed Legislation on Increased Representation of Women in City Government and Depiction in Public Spaces” be postponed to a future Agenda, such as the December 6 meeting, at the request of Supervisor Farrell’s Office.

The Commission accepted the requested change.

Action: To approve amended agenda                                              m/s/c(Soo/Ryerson/Unanimous)

No Public Comment.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Action: To approve draft minutes from September 27, 2017 Commission meeting
                                                                                                      m/s/c(Soo/Ryerson/Unanimous)

No Public Comment.

 

3. DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Dr. Emily Murase introduced Kyle Hermans, the Founder and CEO of BeCourageous, who will be facilitating the November 1, 2017 strategic planning session for the Commission. Mr. Hermans said that he is looking forward to working with the Commission.

Dr. Murase provided highlights of the Director's Report. Dr. Murase introduced three new fellows who have started at the Department: Lucy Snow, Public Policy Fellow; Molly Read Gender Equality Principles Fellow, and Nami Yokogi, Public Policy Fellow who will be working on the Gender Analysis report of Commissions and Boards. Dr. Murase gave a quick overview of the Domestic Violence 101 training that is taking place as a Special Commission meeting on Tuesday, October 31, 2017. Dr. Murase reminded Commissioners of the Combined Charities campaign.

Commissioners discussed Gender Analysis of City Departments such as Police and Public Health.

No Public Comment.

4. CONSENT AGENDA

Action: To approve the Consent Agenda.                                   m/s/c(Ryerson/Shorter/Unanimous)

1. Resolution Recognizing Lisa James and Anna Marjavi

President Mesloh read the resolutions recognizing Futures Without Violence staffers Lisa James and Anna Marjavi. She told the Commission that Ms. James, Director of Health, and her colleague Ms. Marjavi, Program Director, organized the biennial National Conference on Health Care and Domestic Violence, the leading convening of practitioners, partners, and other stakeholders working to end domestic violence in the country; and, for an audience of over 1,200 participants, provided a deep and rich offering of plenary speakers, panels, and workshops, including a session by Women’s Policy Director Minouche Kandel discussing the nexus between intimate partner violence and violence against sex workers. On behalf of the Commission and Department she thanked both for their dedication and vision.

Lisa James and Anna Marjavi thanked the Commission and accepted the resolutions.

Commissioners thanked Ms. James and Ms. Marjavi. They discussed how domestic violence affects everyone, not just those directly involved. It was also brought up that Domestic Violence is not just a women’s issue but also a men’s issue, and that as a community we need to figure out how to frame the conversation in a way that is inclusive for all.

No Public Comment.

2. Resolutions Recognizing CEDAW Women’s Human Rights Awardees

President Mesloh read the CEDAW Women’s Human Rights Awardees names and their awards as follows:

Kevin Carroll for the Leadership Award, Elizabeth Colton for the Legacy Award, Elizabeth Ferber for the Health Award, George Gascón for the Claire Joyce Tempongko Memorial Award, Linda Harrison for the Arts & Culture Award, Vanita Louie for the Community Building Award, Susan McMane for the Girls Empowerment & Education Award, and Minna Tao for the Environment Award. President Mesloh said that the resolutions would be given out at the Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women’s CEDAW Women’s Human Rights Award event on November 3, 2017.

No Public Comment.

 

5. NEW BUSINESS

1. Proposed Legislation on Increased Representation of Women in City Government and Depiction in Public Spaces.

This item was postponed to a future Commission meeting.

2. Strategic Plan Overview          

Dr. Murase gave an overview of FY16-17 accomplishments of the Department. She discussed the Department’s advocacy of Gender Equity legislation such as the 2016 San Francisco ordinance on Lactation in the Workplace; and legislative advocacy on the State level, such as SB1322 decriminalizing prostitution for exploited minors, where minors are viewed as victims instead of criminals. She announced that there are now 60 cities for CEDAW initiatives in the United States. Dr. Murase summarized the Commission and Department’s recognition of local women leaders by giving 27 Commission resolutions, 20 Women’s History Month awards, and 3 CEDAW Women’s Human Rights awards. She said that the Department engaged in women’s economic empowerment by giving 43 employer awards through the Healthy Mothers Workplace awards, 10 employers through the Gender Equality Challenge, and by participating in the Hotel Council Women in Leadership Conference which had over 400 participants. Dr. Murase reviewed the Women’s Health and Safety Services statistics. She discussed the status of the Domestic Violence High Lethality Risk Team. Dr. Murase reported on the Mayor’s Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking, and the new Safer Schools Sexual Assault Task Force. Looking forward, Dr. Murase shared the FY17-18 proposed goals of the Department. She said that the Department will continue to advocate for legislation on the local and state level. Dr. Murase reminded the Commission that the Gender Analysis of Commissions and Boards is due at the end of 2017, and that the Department is conducting a gender analysis of the Police Department recruitment of senior staff. Dr. Murase said that the Department has a continued goal of Economic Empowerment and within that context plans to rebrand the Gender Equality Principles initiative and reconstitute the Gender Equity Council by June 2018. Dr. Murase said that the upcoming Community Needs Assessment will be completed by the end of June 2018.

No Public Comment.

6. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT

No Public Comment.

7. ADJOURNMENT

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

Meeting Adjourned at 5:12 pm

Meeting adjourned in memory of Susana Robles Desgarennes.